My Top Tips for an Alcohol-Free Life – Stepping Out of the Matrix
New Year’s Eve 2022 was the last time I drank alcohol. This New Year’s Eve was pretty much the same, except no alcohol and hangover! I still had a lovely time with friends and lots of laughs and dancing, but no bad head the day after.
Reflecting on the past year, firstly, I can’t believe I’m sitting here writing that it’s been a year since my last drink. I think that once you get into the groove of not drinking, the longer you go more effortless it becomes.
Physiologically, when you stop drinking, your nervous system starts to rewire itself. It takes around six months for this to happen. The irony is the more your drink, the more your system wires itself to compel you to drink, and vice versa.
They recently experimented with rats; the more alcohol they drank, the duller their dopamine receptors. So they’d need more stimulus (alcohol) to get the dopamine effects. When you stop drinking, your brain and the receptors rewire, so you become rewired for joy! The more you drink, the less you feel joy and the more you have to drink.
Stopping drinking alcohol is like stepping out of the Matrix. What other drug/poison is so ingrained into our society? Think about it; it’s expected that you will drink. Indeed, people assume you’re ill or pregnant if you don’t.
It’s bizarre – but you can only see it when you stop. EVERYTHING in society is geared towards you will drink, and it’s normal.
Watch any tv drama, and any successful woman on there will be reaching for a glass of wine as soon as she gets home. If you’re successful, you drink – like the two are synonymous.
Know Your Why
Personally, this is the most crucial aspect of giving up alcohol for good. Why do you want to do it?
As a health coach, I knew drinking wasn’t serving me anymore. I couldn’t live a truly authentic life if I continued drinking alcohol. It was stopping me from achieving my dreams.
What is your reason – health, wellness, affordability (I’ve saved a fortune this year)?
I did a lot of meditation and Breathwork around this – I knew that my relationship with alcohol was not serving me anymore.
My top tips for living an alcohol-free life;
- The first month is the hardest, so staying strong and practising your boundaries are critical.
- Stay away from situations where drinking is expected if you can, particularly for the first month.
- Take your car on a night out – this seems to be the only acceptable excuse.
- There are loads of great alcohol-free options nowadays; opt for them when out.
- It’s often a habit, so get your nice glass out and go alcohol-free.
The longer you go, the easier it becomes. I said I was going to do the year, but now I’ve done a year, I did try a mouthful of wine, and it tasted awful – almost like a strong sherry. Not nice, and I could smell the alcohol.
I don’t think I’ll return to drinking – I don’t need it. I’m happier without it. I’ve lost weight and saved money – it’s a win-win situation!
Let me know if you’re doing dry January this year, and how you’re getting on.