Invite friends to go to the movies, go for a hike or pick up pickleball. There are many mocktails that allow you to enjoy a tasty beverage without any side effects or try non-alcoholic beer. Explore your options to find one you enjoy, increasing your chances of success. If you are reading this, you may be questioning your drinking and trying to decide whether you should quit drinking; I get this. It’s an episode that shouldn’t be missed if you are a woman over 40 fighting the struggle of letting go of alcohol and drinking.
You’ll have more energy to do things you enjoy.
If alcohol consumption falls, the immune system will return and heal itself. One of the effects of long-term alcohol use disorder is strained relationships with the people around you. Getting drunk is a trigger for arguments, confrontations, and emotional distance. It can be more challenging for you to lose weight if you still consume alcohol.
Struggling with Addiction? Summa Health is Here to Help.
If you deal with any of the skin conditions mentioned Alcohol Use Disorder above, sobriety can be your beauty secret. Fitness and an active life are so important to weight loss and overall health. Mixed drinks are worse once you add in all those sugars and other carbs.
Maintaining a Healthier Diet and Weight
The best surprise in sobriety has been finding a new group of like-minded people. Sobriety is a great connector, and making friends in sobriety has been one of the best surprises of ditching the drink. My social calendar is full of fun alcohol-free activities and events. I have friends that still drink alcohol and I have new friends that don’t. Getting sober was a lonely journey at first, but finding community has made all the difference. For me, sobriety meant a much improved relationship with work.
Dare to Address Addiction: How to Take the First Step in Getting Someone Help
Having a casual drink list five benefits of living alcohol-free at the workplace is often a cause for people breaking their sobriety streak. Try to find a work environment that is alcohol-free and encourages sober curiosity. It might not seem really easy at first but many workplaces are now sober curious and offer an alcohol-free work environment.
- Alcohol consumption can strain relationships and lead to conflicts with loved ones.
- Abstinence from alcohol consumption can generate various social advantages, including enhanced interpersonal relationships, improved psychological well-being, and heightened efficiency.
- I am so excited to share a few reasons why I love living an alcohol-free lifestyle.
- If this is the case, go with it, it’s better to cave in to a bag of giant buttons than a bottle of wine.
Keeping oneself distracted by the goal of staying fit is often a great help when trying to stay away from alcohol. With the goal to stay physically fit in mind, it is easier to resist alcohol and fight any urges. Moreover, exercise helps strengthen the mind and body which is extremely helpful in fighting off any urge to drink alcohol.
Boosting your immune system
Now that I have cut out alcohol, I’m better hydrated and naturally find myself drinking more water, sparkling water, and fruit-infused water. While the exact cause of depression isn’t known, it is thought to be caused by an imbalance of the brain’s neurotransmitters – the chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells. While there are many effective treatments for depression, the typical approaches like therapy and antidepressants don’t necessarily work for everyone. Stress is inevitable and a natural part of our modern lives. This time of year, it feels like our world is gray and gloomy, bright sunshine will never reappear and the cold winds dampen our spirits at every turn. Avoid activities that are centered around alcohol and replace them with new hobbies or activities you enjoy.
- Plus, alcohol impairs your body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients from foods.
- But in fact, we don’t need it and you can have fun without alcohol.
- If you’re not ready to give up alcohol just yet, but still want to make a positive change to your health, check out these low-calorie alcoholic drinks.
- Many people use this fresh start to their advantage and begin modifying the habits and behaviors that are no longer serving them in hopes of propelling them forward in achieving their goals.
- Alcohol can exacerbate and even cause long-term depression and anxiety.
Stopping drinking alcohol can result in improved fertility
Being able to socialise without alcohol is an excellent skill to have. The company you keep and whether other people drink alcohol around you will also affect your drinking habits. Being alcohol-free is a long journey and keeping the company of like-minded people will make it a success.
How to Stop Drinking Temporarily or Forever
Socializing without alcohol can feel intimidating at first, but many people find that it leads to deeper, more meaningful connections with friends and loved ones. When you’re not focused on the next round of drinks, you can engage in more genuine conversations and stay present in the moment. Those who suffer from IBS may especially benefit from not drinking alcohol, as one University of Washington study found that those who binge drank often experienced worsened symptoms the day after indulging. We’re not just talking about the obvious health benefits here. We’re discussing a profound transformation that can affect your entire life. From the emotional stability you gain to the financial savings that accumulate — the benefits are diverse and often surprising.
- It can cause the body to stop burning fat and increase hunger, and consuming alcohol for an extended period of time can also lead to other health concerns like raised blood pressure, insulin resistance, etc.
- But what if you could choose to live a life alcohol-free?
- In a UK survey from July 2020, a third of the people admitted to having increased both the frequency and the amount of alcohol they drank during the country’s first lockdown.
- Unhealthy alcohol use is often said to “run in families,” due to both genetic and environmental factors.³ Breaking the cycle of intergenerational alcohol use is an empowering experience.
- Beyond that, once damage is done to the liver, a prolonged immune response increases inflammation in your liver.
I will leave you with this, ask yourself what alcohol provides to you in your life that is positive and makes you feel alive as you age. I abused alcohol to feel, think, celebrate, grieve, and out of boredom. Hindsight has proven to me that drinking gave me no benefits, and going alcohol-free has given me more than I ever dreamed. Alcohol is one of the most expensive drugs that you can buy, with a simple pint of beer typically costing a few dollars and cocktails often being double or triple that amount. That means every time you go out for drinks, you can spend a considerable amount of money. There are people out there eager to support those who need it.
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