I have learned a lot from my month without drinking. Alcohol is enjoyed by many on a daily or weekly basis and after talking to most of my clients about it brought up some interesting discussions. Some people would not be bothered about never having a drink again for the rest of there lives. However, most people laughed at the idea of taking a month off.
This definitely felt like a win to me but it all depends on where your start point is. With dry January around the corner I wanted to do a post on my experience without alcohol in October and the difference it made. Hopefully you find this helpful if you plan to give it a go!
It is the only drug that if you don’t take it, people thing you have a problem. “Chris Williamson”
I wanted to discuss the benefits I have felt and the negatives I have experienced over the past month. Living somewhere in the middle for the next year will be the aim with a more balanced approach to drinking as its been far from balanced up until this point.
What did I expect?
I had previously taken on 1 month before 2 years ago in 2020. I was training for a triathlon and thought this would be a good time to stop drinking for the longest period since I was about 16. This was mostly to maximise training time and which was previously taken up by lazy mornings on the weekend recovering from a few drinks.
This time around I was not training for anything specific but had slipped out of an exercise routine that I wanted to return to. Off the back of 3 holidays the previous month in which I had over-consumed in all of them, now seemed like a good time.
I was looking forward to the challenge of breaking one routine for another. What appealed to me was having more productive weekend and maybe even saving some money as well.
The benefits I found
For the first week I found myself on a high and willing on the usual benefits in to existence and exited about giving this a go.
The benefit I have found the most useful is the quality of my sleep has improved. This has really helped me stay focused during the day while allowing me to recover from exercise and avoid afternoon crashes. Feeling tired and sluggish from the evening before was not something I missed.
I did find myself more productive during the week and especially the weekends. I was getting up earlier and getting on with usual tasks. Being able to rely on the fact that I would feel my best the next day helped out me in a better mood and reduce bad habits.
My resting heart rate dropped several bpm which was a big positive. Normally my heart rate increases while I drink and the following 12 hours. Alcohol makes your blood vessels dilate which means the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body to maintain volume. Keeping the same ratio of blood in the body is very important for normal functions.
The negatives
The main negative experienced was around social events and gatherings. I picked a month which was fewer in social events anyway but did feel like I “missed out” on one or two celebrations or events, through simply not sharing the same energy and enthusiasm as everyone else. (not having a drink after 36 holes of golf and celebrating a team win was tough.) This is what makes October and Sober October and dry January good months to choose!
Another negative I found was the price of non-alcoholic beers. Although I did not drink nearly as much, I would tend to have a beer or 2 and the pub averaging around £4 and a few during the week where a 4 pack would almost cost the same price.
I was also more likely to have sugary drinks like coke or lemonade instead. This was definitely not a healthier alternative as I would usually only have 1 or 2 a month.
Alternatives to alcohol
Top 5 non – alcoholic drinks
- Big drop citra IPA
- Peroni
- Brewdog IPA
- Heineken
- Guinness
As well as the choosing other options when at home or in the pub I was also trying to find alternatives to actually going to the pub. Spending Friday nights doing a social activity like going to the driving range or trying something new like rock climbing. I realised there were other ways to socialise and see friends without going for a drink.
Thoughts and tips
I was very happy not to use alcohol as a means of dealing with stress which is often a go to for many people. I could have easily taken this opportunity on a Saturday evening after a car accident or even long day at work. iIf I didn’t give in to that anital urge, had a glass of water and waited 30 minutes, my craving for alcohol had pretty much gone. Saying no to any urge is never easy but drinking can be very habitual.
Also having the realisation that just because it was a weekend I don’t have to reach for a drink or maybe not have a drink every time I go out to socialise. The thought of waking up early the next day with a clear head seemed more appealing. Thinking about the benefits of sacrificing short term pleasure for longer term game was a motivator for me.
A more balanced approach is definitely the aim going forward. I look forward to the busy social occasions and summer evenings and weekends. But I also look forward to a week or 2 weeks without drinking from time to time. This also feels like something I would feel comfortable committing to each year.
I think this is something which I encourage everyone to give a go especially with dry January around the corner. You can learn so much from the experience of giving up something for even a short period. If you’re thinking of having a break and giving dry January a go then I wish you the best of luck! You may come out with the same opinions and positive mindset that I did.
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