Tell me the benefits of not drinking alcohol

[bucksfizz23]

Another Sunday hungover and I'm really considering giving up drinking altogether. I just feel so tired and mentally flat. I have loads to be getting on with but just can't find the energy or motivation. Woke up with beer fear. Slept terribly as I kept waking up thirsty. It's just a waste of time.

I seem to have fallen into a routine of not drinking on my working days but as soon as I finish for the week which is on a Thursday I drink consistently each night until Monday again. I have to admit I really relish and look forward to sitting down when the dc are in bed and having a drink in front of the telly. It relaxes me and gives me a nice buzz. But my eating and sleeping habits are definitely impacted by it. Last night was our Christmas work party and I definitely over did it more than I would at home.

So if you have given up alcohol together what benefits have you seen mentally and physically? Do the miss having a drink at social occasions or to relax in the evening?

Avoid invisible damage until it's too late damage to your liver.
More money !!

I’ve been mostly off alcohol for about a year and gave up for all those ‘next day’ reasons the OP said.

I still occasionally really crave that buzz you get when a drink hits the spot, but when I actually think about it and weigh it up against everything that follows, it just doesn’t seem worth it.

I started off with non alcoholic beers but rarely bother with them now. It is mostly habit.

I still drink but I have one or two and that's it because I can't tolerate being hungover and the time it wastes.

If I'd drank too much last night I'd have still been up early with the kids but tired and grumpy. I'd have eaten an unhealthy breakfast and drank loads of coffee and be feeling puffy and bloated now. As it was, I had one end of the day beer, was able to get up early do a gym class, have a decent brekkie, take the kids out to see friends etc. I feel energetic and in a decent mood. My skin is also 100% better than when I used to drink more.

I'm no saint, I drank far too much for far too long and totally understand where you are.
Take baby steps. Try to plan something on a weekend morning that you can't do or won't enjoy hungover. Might encourage you to have a few less the night before which is a good start.

@CathyAnne91 please tell me a nice AF red wine!

Also considering giving up - tolerance so high a bottle of wine barely notices.

Mainly weekend drinker. Agree with everyone about the next day regret.

No hangover
Better skin

Just reading about anxiety etc and I actual feel really low today because I have that awful heavy hungover feeling. I just can't tolerate it anymore and get little enjoyment out of it.

I gave up drinking three years ago. These are the benefits I’ve noticed:

Logistically easier to go on nights out.
Better sleep.
No dark circles under my eyes.
Better skin.
Brighter eyes.
Reduced anxiety.
Weight loss.
Less puffiness in the face.
Feeling of being control.
No hangovers.
Full recollection of good times - not just a pissed haze.
Fewer UTIs.

The absolute joy of waking every morning without a hangover.

More cash. The cost of alcoholic drinks is eyewatering.
I’m not teetotal but prefer being able to get to / from somewhere in the car without the faff of public transport, so I’ll have one half of decent beer and that’s fine.

I stopped drinking almost one year ago. Hangovers were horrific. I found I was reaching for a glass of something when stressed. Even though I wasn't drinking much it really affected me.
I have better skin and love not waking up with a sore head and worrying about what I may have said the night before
Yestersay I drove to and from a wedding in Central London with our kids. So nice to be able to leave when we wanted. I was so proud that I still enjoyed myself.

No session depression!

I’ve only ever been a social drinker when I did drink and never got blottoed as I don’t like the feeling.

however I haven’t drank for years, it’s never crossed my mind to have one. I enjoy socialising still, but never have to worry about cabs or how I’m getting home. I never worry about what I’ve said or how I’ve behaved, I never worry about booze breath. I sleep well and don’t get hangovers. I enjoy just being me.

as I’ve never used it to unwind I can’t say, but I personally like a nice bath and getting my pjs on to chill, never really understood how a drink can do that for you but plenty of people do it so it must do something!

For me it just gives me a chilled, happy, slightly dopey feeling. That's the only way I can describe it. It's not stress relief as such, it's more enjoyment like what I'd get from eating a chocolate bar or something.

I tell myself when it's just one or two at home it's not an issue, not like getting bladdered with friends, making a tit of myself, putting myself in dangerous situations and then writing the next day off. But truthfully even my 'just one' at home is creeping up and I do notice my sleep, bowels and energy levels change for the worse.

One think l really appreciate at this stage of my life..and always have..was growing up in a home where neither of my parents drank alcohol. Hearing stories from my friends of bad experiences from their childhood and sometimes reading stuff here l think it's a great gift to give your children.

I stopped when I had an operation earlier in the year. Can I ask what you drink instead of alcohol?

I was starting to get worried about the red veins on my nose, they were starting to be really obvious. I’m pretty happy about the fewer calories too.

The ad men have done a superb job of convincing the masses they cannot have fun without alcohol. It’s absolutely bullshit.

Since quitting in January I have lost two stone in weight without trying/dieting, going from size 14 to size 10/12. My skin is so much better. Far fewer broken veins, spots or blotches.

My digestive system is normal for the first time in years. I have saved around £2k in money. My mental health is in a better state than it’s ever been.

I haven't drunk since last December. Everything is easier. I love being able to drive whenever I want. Not even considering my last drink. I'm also a much more patient mum.

I'd feel so much better if I didn't drink.

Unfortunately white wine tastes too good, so I'll carry on.

I'm on my 4th week of no alcohol. I usually drink on Friday and Saturday nights. I like remembering my evenings better and I'm really hoping to lose weight. I have no intention of stopping drinking full stop and am really looking forward to the wine I have ordered for Christmas. That said, I think that it will be positive for me personally if I don't return to drinking every weekend and every day on holiday.

When I stopped drinking, I added up all the money I would spend in month on alcohol and then booked a holiday that I would HAVE to use that money on. I estimated it was £500 a month so booked Thailand for three months time. I couldn’t go back to drinking otherwise I’d have had nowhere to stay when we got there. It was a really good motivator! Plus I got a holiday I couldn’t have dreamed of saving up for when I was drinking. I’ve not drank for 5 years now so it really worked!

I agree with this. My parents hardly ever drank and I realise now what great role models they were in that sense

What a great strategy!

I used to relish drinking too relax, like you - after giving up six months ago I realise I never really enjoyed it at all. If you'd told me that at the time I would have thought you were bonkers. I had a stressful job and really thought alcohol helped me unwind. I would look forward to it.

After giving up I realised it was the idea of drinking that I liked. In reality when I drank it made me feel tired, I didnt actually feel relaxed I felt anxious (apple watch showed me how much my heart rate increased when drinking) I only felt physically relaxed if I drank quite a lot, and when I drank quite a lot I would feel self conscious about whether it showed.

Since not drinking, I don't go to as many parties - honestly I find them boring. But what I have found is I have so much more energy and headspace to do other things instead. I go to restaurants a lot more - I can afford more adventurous food without the drinks bill. I have started going out salsa dancing and to see live music, ballet and poetry. All things that before would have got in the way of the drinking.

Overall though I honestly feel calmer and happier most of the time. I no longer need to look forward to a drink too relax because I don't feel that stressed in the first place. I suspect a big part of that is I sleep better, I'm more well rested.

Other benefits - skin is noticeably better, PMS has reduced, I seem to have so much more time.

I would say most of this kicked in after about a month so you need to stick with it. Also, believe it or not from the above I wasn't a big drinker. I was a 3-4 drinks on a weekend night and 2 on a weekday, maybe 3 or 4 days a week total. I didn't expect the benefits to be this significant at all.

For me personally I’ve gone through periods of not drinking (a few months at a time) and I’ve never felt any better for it. So whilst I try not to drink in the week and usually still do dry January it’s not worth it giving it up! I really enjoy my wine. I’m slim, healthy, don’t seem to get a hangover (unless I’ve gone too far) so it seems to agree with me. Plus a bottle of nice wine is less than a tenner so in the grand scheme it doesn’t cost that much.

I didn't used to drink a lot but it was regularly every weekend without fail. I'm on a healthy diet and have been 4 weeks without alcohol. I have lost 1 stone and do feel better for it. The wake up is less foggy.