This week I’m continuing to explore the idea of an alcohol free lifestyle, and will be going into more detail about the benefits of going alcohol free. This follows on from the video I shared on social media (and as last week’s SNAP) following Alcohol Awareness Week, which was about taking stock of where you are with alcohol – which received lots of great feedback and comments.
The traction the article got tells me that alcohol is on a lot of people’s radars – either that they want to drink less or are even thinking about cutting it out. There were a huge amount of remarks and comments on the posts, from people who have given up alcohol. What was really interesting is that not a single one of them talked about what they had lost.
Focus on what you stand to gain
None of the people who commented, who had given up alcohol said:
- “I don’t see friends anymore.”
- “I’ve become boring.”
- “I feel like I’m missing out.”
Instead, they talked about what they’d gained and the benefits of going alcohol free. Some of the gains they mentioned included: increased strength, autonomy, control, clarity of thought, energy, mood, motivation, purpose, and a strong sense of who they were. That’s already a lot of benefits!
What’s the one thing you’d love to have more of? Is it perhaps energy, mood or motivation? I can pretty much guarantee you that if you give up alcohol, you will gain that thing.
Benefits of going alcohol free – after a month
I’ve talked previously about gains in things like control, autonomy and opportunity. Now I’d like to explore some of the physical benefits more. Below is a summary of what actually happens to your body if you do decide to stop drinking alcohol. After one month, you can already expect to see some major benefits.
Improved sleep
One of the key benefits is that your sleep patterns will improve, which in turn has many positive knock-on effects. Benefits linked to better sleep include improved cognitive function from the additional REM cycles of sleep, meaning you’ll be more productive and better able to learn and problem solve. (You have less REM sleep – the most important type of sleep for our body and brain – when you drink alcohol). You will have more control over your emotions and behaviour. And, anyone struggling to lose weight will be better placed to manage their food and drink intake, because sleep balances the hormones, ghrelin and leptin, that make you feel hungry or full. After drinking alcohol our ghrelin levels (the hormone responsible for hunger) go up and leptin (the hormone that makes you feel full) goes down.
Improved hydration
Another set of benefits after one month comes from the improved hydration you will experience. When you drink, you lose around four times as much liquid compared to the amount you actually drank. Cutting out alcohol means your mood and concentration will be more stable and any headaches are likely to subside. You won’t suffer from other effects of dehydration such as lack of motivation and fatigue. This means you will have more energy to tackle your everyday tasks.
Other benefits after one month
Other benefits you can expect to see after one month include the results of the reduced calorie intake, clearer skin and improved liver function.
Benefits of going alcohol free – long term
The benefits of not drinking in the long term, including all of the ones mentioned above, but there are many more according to the research of the Priory, please take a moment to read the full list, but additional benefits include:
- Your memory will begin to improve. Alcohol is proven to hinder the part of the brain that deals with memory (the hippocampus)
- Your stomach will feel better. Alcohol irritates the digestive system causing symptoms such as indigestion and acid reflux. You’ll also be better able to absorb nutrients and store vitamins and minerals
- You’ll reduce your blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to alcohol consumption. This is known to be one of the main causes of heart disease
- Your liver will be healthier. Over time, your liver fat levels will reduce.
NB: This is a clinically reviewed list of the benefits that can apply to anyone currently drinking alcohol in any quantity, who stops, and not just relevant for alcoholics or very heavy drinkers.
Take a small step
So, if you or someone you know is in that headspace of thinking about giving up alcohol or getting on top of it in whatever sense that means (we discussed in the previous article on alcohol awareness what might constitute problem drinking and how to create your own benchmark), focus on the benefits of going alcohol free. Based on my experience having now been over 12 years alcohol free, you aren’t losing anything (unless you count hangovers and poor decision-making as a loss, which I imagine you probably don’t).
Then, if you do think that this might be something you are keen to try, why not take a small step to get you on that path? It is a journey and a small step or action like this can get you on that path. I’ve recently recommended Rich Roll’s podcast, which has another episode on alcohol-free living, with Ruari Fairbairns ‘The Limitless Power of an Alcohol-Free Lifestyle’ but there is plenty of content out there. Find one that resonates with you. Or, you can do something like take the Alcohol Aware Drinking Check as a first step to see where you stand with alcohol.
Stay tuned for more tips
I appreciate that this is a big topic. If coming along on this journey towards an alcohol free lifestyle interests you, stay tuned for more discussion and tips. Next week I’ll share with you the key to setting up the right environment for success. This worked for me and has worked for a lot of people I’ve spoken to around alcohol.
