journal no. 006
These days I’m striving to find more balance in my life. One of the areas of my life that was in need of a bit more balance was my relationship to alcohol. I consider myself to be a social drinker and this summer was jam-packed with social events, so you can probably do the math on how much I had been drinking. After a few months of back-to-back parties, bar hopping, concerts, and travel, I was feeling more sluggish than usual, not seeing any progress with my workout routine, and honestly drowning in hangover anxiety.
I put myself up to the challenge of doing a “Sober September” — not a drop of alcohol for 30 days. I’ve gone without alcohol for two week spurts purely by accident in the years that I’ve started drinking, so to be this intentional about eliminating something from my lifestyle was entirely new. I was excited going into the month simply to see what the benefits to my physical and mental health would be. I stocked up on some tasty alcohol alternatives, let my close friends know what I had planned to do, and went into the experience with an open mind.
The first weekend was the most challenging, especially since it was Labor Day weekend and belated Pride events were happening all over my neighborhood. I was worried that I wouldn’t be as interesting or nearly as sociable without some liquid courage. I eased into that first Friday night with a Coke in hand, wondering if anyone in the bar could tell that I wasn’t under the influence. I slowly noticed my anxiety melt away into relief as I looked forward to a hangover-free Saturday morning.
Over the course of the month, I discovered numerous benefits to being sober. My energy, quality of sleep, memory, and cognitive functions had all improved—it was like I had been pulled out of a fog I had been stuck in for months. My workouts started contributing to results I was proud of and my body felt less bloated and inflamed. By the fourth week, I felt like my relationship to alcohol had completely changed. I felt like an immensely healthier and happier version of myself. It was eye-opening to know that I could feel as good as I did without relying on alcohol to alleviate anxieties.
While I haven’t made the decision to cut alcohol completely out of my life since ending my “Sober September,” I have definitely become more cognizant of its effects on my health and wellbeing. I’ll continue to practice moderation when I do drink and go on more cleanses throughout the year (I’m planning for my next one to be 60 days). If you’re inspired to cut back on alcohol as well, consider these tips to keep you on the right track.
Please note: If you’re worried that you have a serious drinking problem, please seek help from a medical professional or join AA for support and guidance.
stock up on alcohol alternatives
There are a lot of alternatives to alcohol available these days, from herbal tonics to adaptogen-infused beverages. You can make your favorite cocktails with their ‘zero proof’ counterparts and they’ll turn out just as delicious!
set a weekly limit
A good way to assess how much you’re drinking is to set a weekly limit that you can realistically stick to. Once you’re able to stay under that weekly limit, consider lowering that limit week by week.
plan activities that aren’t dependent on alcohol
There are so many activities out there to partake in that don’t involve alcohol at all. Use this time to try something new with your friends: go on a hike, take a cooking class, or even explore your creativity with an art project.
hold yourself accountable
Let your close friends know what your gameplan is, it’ll help you stay accountable and they’ll serve as your support system. If they decide to join you on your cleanse, even better!
reward yourself along the way
Cutting back or eliminating alcohol doesn’t need to be a painful, serious experience. For every goal you achieve, take a moment to reward yourself in some small way—maybe that’s with a gift purchased with the money you saved by not buying a drink!
