For years I tried to cut back on how much I was drinking.
I knew I was drinking more than I should – the government guidelines seemed ridiculously low – but it wasn’t as if I thought of myself as a ‘problem drinker’.
I was stuck in this limbo world – I wanted to cut back but the more I tried to do so, the harder it seemed to be.
And, of course, I thought it was because I lacked willpower.
So I decided to take a complete break from alcohol for a few months.
This was easier said than done – I had to work up to it!
What I thought I was missing out on
I had some major fears about taking a break, including that I would no longer be able to:
- Unwind at the end of a stressful day
- Share a nice bottle of wine with my partner
- Have fun when socialising
- Deal with negative emotions (anger, annoyance, frustration – being a menopausal woman!)
However, I’d been reading about other people who had decided to quit the booze and they were singing the praises of an alcohol-free lifestyle.
To be honest, their claims of a happier, healthier life free of alcohol were quite annoying, particularly when nursing a hangover on a Sunday morning.
But they were also convincing enough that I had to test it out for myself to see if life could be better if I ditched drinking.
What I’m actually missing out on (and it’s all good)
I decided to take three months off initially.
But I felt so good that I extended that break and now, more than two years later, I’ve joined the ranks of those spouting the benefits of being alcohol-free. (Sorry if you’re reading this on a Sunday morning, nursing a hangover.) 😊
The greatest surprise was that I had a new list of things I was missing out on and they were all positive.
I was missing out on:
- Hangovers
- Poor sleep
- Spending too much time thinking about drinking
- Hazy memories of the night before after drinking too much
- Concerns about my physical and mental health
- My menopause symptoms being worse after a night of drinking
- Dark circles under my eyes
- Extra weight
- And the list goes on …
If you’re wondering if my original list of concerns became my reality – they didn’t.
I still socialise, my partner and I still connect over a drink or two (mine are just AF), I have fun (in fact more fun and I remember it all) and my connections with others are stronger and more genuine.
Want to be free of thinking about drinking all the time?
If you are looking for help to get back control of your drinking but are worried that you’ll give up everything you enjoy, feel free to book in for a free discussion call to find out how I can support you.
And, by the way, I support women who want to cut back as well as those who want to stop altogether.