The real benefits of stopping drinking
The benefits of stopping drinking are huge, and I can confirm that myself. For most of my early adult life, going to the pub with friends after work was the ‘set in stone’ routine. It was what we did. No matter if at a pub, a get-together, a party, or simply relaxing, chances were as near as damn it that booze appeared, and generally, it got the spotlight.
It was not the basic hangover from hell, that got a hold of me and made me come to a decision to quit drinking. It was more of a blend of not relishing it as much, and more significantly, feeling awful whenever I was consuming alcohol.
Not really a surprise when you consider that, despite the sexy packaging.
Alcohol is just attractively packaged poison!
All alcohol is just attractively packaged poison.
Someplace along the road, even with just a lager or a cheeky glass of red or white wine, I began to get immediate migraines and it took me about 12-18 months to recognize that drinking and I were no longer good friends.
I understood the notion that I might feel a lot better on the wagon, I merely undervalued the true benefits of stopping drinking.
As soon as I quit drinking the stress and tension that I had fought throughout the 10 years previous frittered away dramatically. When I stopped overthinking it, other advantages began to take place. It made the choice to quit drinking permanently an effortless one.
My objective for this blog post is not to function as a benevolent do-gooder. If I have understood nothing in my years on this planet it is that everybody needs to work out their own way out of the alcohol trap. I just intend to impart my unique story of daily life after problem drinking.
1. I make fewer terrible choices
I am no stranger to making bad choices in life, and I still do it, but they are tiny compared to what they used to be. The majority of my poor choices occurred after twelve o’clock at night and because now I am an hour or more into deep slumber during that part of the night the chances have been slashed significantly.
If you a need explanation of what a poor choice is, as a basic guideline anything that entails spending money at that time of day (or deciding to call someone) after 12 am is possibly a terrible mistake waiting to happen.
2. Full of energy
The stress and anxiety that went along with my mornings after was a lot more harmful to me than a conventional headache and hung around a lot longer than the hangover for sure. I am anxious naturally, but today if I feel nervous I go for a workout, attempt and beat it out of me or chill out at home and have fun with my family and the results are incredible.
3. Success and achievement come easier
Kind of an obvious fact, but waking 7 mornings a week with a lucid mind and instantly considering what I am planning to do that day, and possessing the stamina to do it, is a life-changing thing. This compared with that floundering sensation of “oh my God, I think I will die”.
Because I have gotten rid of those horrible mornings, now when I set objectives, I hit them or at the very least try my utmost.
4. I have fewer friends, but better friends
Drinking did make it simpler to meet new friends, I am not going to make believe that didn’t happen. However, from the folks I encountered though drinking alcohol I think I can count on one hand who I still have a great see on a day to day basis.
It’s true that I make fewer friends these days, for the basic truth that I do not head out as much, but when I make a connection with somebody today, the connection survives.
5. I am in control of my spending
There was no “shut off” button when I headed out in practically every facet you can possibly imagine. Even the evenings I attempted to keep it to a quiet one I burned through my cash like a crazy person. Another one of the benefits of stopping drinking is I do not need to stress over making it to payday in one piece.
6. My career has taken center stage
I have been self-employed my entire life. Incorporate this with my former alcoholism and I was constantly chasing after spare cash and not my life goals.
Not too far back I used to think that doing work that you loved was set aside only for the “fortunate few.” Now I recognize that this is not the truth, it simply requires precision, and in my case, alcohol made that inconceivable.
7. Benefits of Stopping Drinking: Look & Feel Better
When I quit drinking alcohol I shed fifty pounds of fat, crazy right? It definitely one of the benefits of stopping drinking but it was not simply the calories from the alcohol, but junk food just fell off my radar. I seldom experienced the desire to eat anything after my evening meal.
No snacks required!
Due to the fact that I had more stamina, I also began to depend on my own 2 feet for transport, and to this very day, I still stroll and walk practically everywhere I go. Put these things side by side and I am a lot happier and no longer languish around the house with an unpleasant look on my face. The face I had when I was struggling with another hangover from hell.
8. It’s easier to hit the gym
There is no way I will claim that on a daily basis I leap out of bed and sense a stinging need to head for to a Zumba class or attack the health club. However, because I am not battling a killer hangover, the majority of mornings I do just that.
I never thought about myself a jogger, but about a year ago I made a decision to jog home after work and I have not quit doing that since.
9. I have more brain power
It took a long time to get over the monotony that I encountered when I got rid of the only regular pastime I had for near to 10 years. However, quickly afterward I began reading books, writing blogs and expanding my brain again.
I used to like being creative when I was a child. When I began consuming alcohol regularly, that ended. Over 10 years I did nothing regularly but drink. If article writing has shown me the benefits of stopping drinking, it is that you need to stay with it, each day for the innovation to arrive.
10. Sleep is my friend
Many folks state that they do not require a full 8 hours rest to function effectively at work. I typically respond to that nonsense with, “if you perform well without it, just imagine what you might achieve with it?”.
I am not a specialist on the topic, but there is no getting away from how good I feel when I had a decent night’s sleep.
Never in a thousand years would I have believed that one day I would call myself a teetotaler. One of the unexpected benefits of stopping drinking is I do not grieve my drinking career whatsoever. I had some really amazing moments with some similarly amazing friends.
I just decided to quit drinking when the advantages of living a life on the wagon, greatly exceeded the s0-called ‘perks’ of a few beers with the guys.
Ready to quit drinking yourself?
The only thing I can say in closing this benefits of stopping drinking blog article is… It’s nowhere near as hard as you imagine. A happy, sober life is just that.
If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask.
For more information on the Stop Drinking Expert program – click here.
