From a fatter wallet to a smaller waistline, giving up alcohol can have a tremendous effect on your life. Use this opportunity to break free of habits - like pouring a glass of wine (or three) every night - and give your body a short detox.
Navigating Social Situations When Giving Up Alcohol
Chances are that you’ve been in a situation where alcohol was present, and you had to decline. How did that feel?
Whether we want to admit it or not, alcohol helps make situations less awkward. First dates, talking to strangers, dancing in clubs - doing all these things sober will make some people feel inevitably awkward, and that’s okay!
It will happen. People will ask you why you aren’t drinking. It’s your choice whether you want to explain your particular situation or if you want to simply respond with, “I don’t drink.”
If you feel as though you need a better answer for someone, it’s perfectly fine to say something like, “I want to be fresh tomorrow morning,” “I have a long drive home,” or even say, “I’m taking antibiotics.”
You don’t OWE anyone an explanation, and it’s perfectly appropriate to say, “I’m not drinking tonight,” and leave it at that.
Be firm. Be committed. You will get through it. You don't have to give in to peer pressure.
Better Sleep
Many people are under the false impression that alcohol makes you sleep better. While it may be true that alcohol helps put you to sleep, it degrades sleep quality and decreases restorative REM sleep.
As the National Sleep Foundation explains, levels of the sleep-inducing chemical adenosine rise to help you nod off, but then crash, waking you up.
Mocktails You Can Order
People who have chosen sobriety have found that walking around with a glass of water might welcome too many questions about why you’re not drinking. If you’re not in the mood to explain yourself, order one of these drinks:
Seltzer with lime (mock vodka soda or gin and tonic)
Shirley Temple (mock cosmopolitan)
Coke or Diet Coke (mock rum and coke)
Seltzer and Cranberry Juice (mock vodka cran)
Ginger beer (mock Moscow mule)
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