Quitting binge-drinking for good led to some surprising and some not so surprising changes in my life…
1. I wake up with positivity
The sound of my alarm wrenching me from my slumber is no longer followed by an intense sense of impending doom. When I was drinking, dark thoughts followed me and were especially potent when I first woke up. One of the first big changes I noticed after quitting booze was the absence of those negative morning thoughts.
2. My memory improved
I had a habit of warning people that I had a “terrible memory” and that I would probably forget their names. A couple of months after giving up alcohol, I was no longer having massive black outs and I also noticed I could remember people’s names! I was writing fewer notes to myself and checking my calendar a lot less. The anxiety associated with being ‘forgetful’ started to evaporate. I now feel I can rely on myself so much more.
3. I learned how to say “No”
As a drinker, I was the biggest people-pleaser on the planet. I’d say “Yes” to everything even if I didn’t want to do it. This would often lead to me being flaky and cancelling last minute. Once I stopped boozing, I found it so much easier to say “No” and that it is indeed a full sentence. If something doesn’t sound like it’s my sort of thing or doesn’t add benefit to my life then I’m simply not doing it.
4. I know when it’s time to go home
At one shady point in my life, I was heading to the bars for 8 pm. I was at the club for midnight until 5 am. Then, slinking off to the afterparty until 8 am. Sometimes I would be raving in some random kitchen until the sun was well and truly up in the sky. I still get PTSD from the memory of walking home looking an absolute state and avoiding eye contact with joggers in the park. Cringe! I can’t quite explain how, but there is now a voice in my head that whispers “It’s time to head home”. Alcohol would have silenced that voice with a shot of Sambuca. This version of me very much listens. Drake once said that nothing good happens after midnight and I’m inclined to believe him.
5. FOMO is no more
Something that would get me into the pub and keep me there was the fear of missing out. I was in love with the fantasy of the perfect night out. The idea of meeting the most wonderful people and falling in love with a mysterious stranger on the dance floor. I craved the dopamine I got from the possibility of new experiences. We all know reality can be quite different. Actually, the most amazing connections happen when you’re fully present and coherent. The best people you’re going to meet are those who share your hobbies and interests. I still do enjoy going to the pub but I can choose the best time to go and be fully present for the people around me.
6. Losing weight
I guess this one is obvious but I’d like to point out that it wasn’t instantaneous. In the first few weeks, I stayed the same weight and even gained a pound or two. My main focus was abstaining from alcohol, not losing weight. I noticed that I was craving sugar a lot more. My body was used to getting quite a lot of the stuff from sugary alcoholic drinks at the weekend! That being said, after some time, people started to comment that I’d lost weight. Inches then began to come off and then the pounds did too. Weight loss happens when you stop drinking due to consuming fewer calories from booze and unhealthy hangover food. It also happens from being able to stick to a healthy lifestyle. What a wonderful side effect of being on the wagon!
7. I can finally commit to the gym
When I was a binge drinker, I liked the idea of going to the gym. I even bought the cute outfits to wear to the gym. The gym girl aesthetic was such a vibe. But deep down I knew I would choose a weekend in the pub over an exercise routine. The fact is I needed more and more recovery time from my drunken escapades. Hangovers were bleeding into the working week so the gym kept getting put on the back burner. Now hangovers are a thing of the past, I’m really showing up for myself at the gym. I make it at least 3 times a week and I actually enjoy it.
8. My career is moving forward
Alcohol has a great way of making you feel like you are stuck in the mud. You may take the odd step forward but then it makes you stumble a few steps back. I felt like I was coasting through life and I blamed it on stress, fatigue, anxiety and my bad memory. Actually, the reason I couldn’t progress how I wanted to was that I was stuck in a cycle of binge drinking and hanging. Since going dry, my mind has cleared, I have a refreshed sense of motivation (hence this blog) and I have actually started to take action. They might be baby steps but we only need to improve ourselves by 1% a day to make a huge change over time.
9. I don’t suffer fools gladly
Back when I was regularly drinking, I’d end up chatting with anyone and everyone if it meant I could stay out longer. From pervy old blokes, to married men who really shouldn’t be talking to me, to people who had bad intentions. Don’t get me wrong, I also chatted with a lot of amazing people but alcohol removes the filter you need to bypass the idiots. As I no longer desperately need to stay out drinking, I no longer suffer fools gladly. I simply don’t engage with them anymore.
10. I have more free time!
When you’re not losing your weekend and beyond to hangovers, you have a lot more time on your hands! I choose to use this time wisely. I spend it with good friends, hiking out in nature, at energy-filled exercise classes, reading interesting books, cooking delicious meals from scratch, working on my career and writing blogs like this one. All of these things bring me so much more joy than drinking myself into oblivion.
Thanks for reading!
I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
What are some things that have changed for you since giving up alcohol?
Much love ~
Cher Reynolds
