This January, I am celebrating two years without alcohol! And let me tell you, never in a million years did I think I would be in this place. I was always the friend who was down to grab drinks, go to happy hour, or just go out in general. I thought staying home was boring and lame. People who didn’t drink made me uncomfortable. I thought alcohol was necessary to enjoy my life, yet, here I am, two years without booze, and I am so much happier, lighter, and more confident in myself.
I know that the sober-curious/alcohol free movement is super trendy right now, and I’m all for it! So, I wanted to share my thoughts and my journey to help inspire others if they are thinking about ditching the booze.
First, let me start by saying, I do not think drinking alcohol makes you a bad person. The majority of my friends and family drink, and I love them and think they are amazing! I also had an amazing time throughout my twenties drinking and living it up with my friends, but for me personally, alcohol just wasn’t really making me feel good anymore. I hated being hungover every weekend, I hated waking up the next day wondering what I said or did, and I hated the anxiety I felt after drinking. So, I decided to make a change.
I decided to quit drinking in January 2022. This decision came after the pandemic, when I was drinking heavily because there wasn’t much else to do. Everything was shut down and I was working from home, so after work my roommates and I would just start drinking. I’m sure many people can relate to this and I frequently hear people express the same sentiments. Then, during the holidays of 2021, I felt like I was just drinking constantly again. Like, every party, gathering, and event revolved around drinking. And the next day, every time, I would ask myself “Why?”. Why did I feel the need to drink so much? Why couldn’t I control myself? I would frequently overdo it and feel awful the next day. I wouldn’t workout, I would eat shitty food, and just lay on the couch. Ugh. I hated it.
I had been seeing a lot of the alcohol free movement online and it had sparked my interest. I really admired the women (and men) who didn’t drink and woke up fresh the next day, not having to worry about what they did the night before.
It was New Years Eve 2021 that was the final straw for me. We had a low-key hangout at my friends house, yet I still overdid it and woke up extremely hungover. My first meal of 2022 was McDonalds (lol ew). So, I made a promise to myself that I was going to quit drinking. And it was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself.
This might be hard to hear for some people, but alcohol is not a stress reliever. I frequently used to have a glass of wine or a seltzer to wind down after a stressful workday. I used to look forward to it every evening after work. I was like, yes, I can finally r-e-l-a-x. But I still felt anxious. As I was drinking my wine, I would go over the day in my head and be like “Should I have said that?”, “Did it come off the wrong way and now this person is mad at me?”. This is my usual social anxiety (shout out to all my anxious peeps that know), but the alcohol would just exacerbate it. I didn’t realize this until after I quit drinking. Alcohol doesn’t relax your nervous system. Alcohol is a depressant, so it actually disrupts the neurotransmitters in your brain, which can end up causing more anxiety. If you like to use alcohol as a way to wind down after work, here are some things that helped me break that habit:
Take a hot shower! So simple, yet effective. Literally, visualize the day washing off of you and melting away. Water is an extremely cleansing element, so showers naturally help to clear energy. Use this to your advantage and set your intention before entering that any stress and negative energy from the day will be washed away. If you wash your hair in the shower, spend a little extra time giving yourself a head massage. Specifically around the temples and forehead where we naturally hold stress.
Movement. I can’t emphasize this enough. Movement is so important and the most natural stress relief you can find. If you’re feeling strong, lift some weights or take a spin class. Join a gym that offers group classes! Having an instructor to guide you through the workouts is so helpful (shoutout to Wellbee Fitness!) If you’re feeling tired, you can still get movement in. Go for a walk outside. Do some gentle stretching. Foam roll. Shake it out. Stomp your feet. Literally, any sort of movement will help to clear energy.
Make a mocktail. Again, so simple and effective. Put it in a pretty glass so it feels special. Add some things that will ACTUALLY help to relax you. My favorite mocktail recipe is coconut water, an LMNT packet, tart cranberry juice, and an herbal supplement called “Nourished Nerves” that promotes natural relaxation. A friend of a friend also recently started her own company called “JUJ Bitters” which is a supplement that helps stimulate digestion and promote gut health. I’ve been loving adding it to my mocktails. It feels so good to make a drink that I know will not only help relive anxiety and stress, but is also good for my health! I’ll link all the products below.
Journal. This simple practice helps me so much. I am a highly sensitive person (as I’m sure many people reading this are), so throughout the day, I tend to go through a roller coaster of emotions. I also tend to absorb a lot of other people’s energy which I feel is “stuck” to me at the end of the day. I ruminate on scenarios and conversations that I had and it’s so hard for me to get out of my head and relax. Journaling throughout the day or at the end of the day helps me to process all of the thoughts and emotions that are swirling around in my head. It forces me to describe what I’m feeling and helps to release those emotions from my body. I literally feel like a weight has been lifted after I journal.
Gua Sha. Gua sha is a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice which helps to move around stagnant “qi” (or life force energy) and blood through the body. This helps to promote healthy energy and good blood flow. A Gua Sha tool is a small, flat object that is used to rub and massage the skin. I got mine on Amazon, which I linked below, but you can also use a spoon. I like to massage my forehead, brows, jaws, and shoulders, which helps to relieve tension and relax my face.
Quiet time. It is so important to get in a few minutes of quiet time every day. This means no stimulation. No phones, computers, TVs, lights, noise, etc. Just sit quietly in a dark room for a few minutes every day. I know this might be difficult (especially if you have kids) but make it a priority. Wake up a few minutes earlier than normal. Sit in your garage, living room, closet, or even your car. Don’t look at your phone and don’t have bright lights on. Just sit in the darkness and quiet and breathe. Listen to a guided meditation or some relaxing music. Let your nervous system get back into the “rest and digest” state.
You can even do ALL of these after work everyday! My usual routine is to take a walk after work (or stretch if I’m feeling lazy), then take a hot shower, and make my mocktail while I’m cooking dinner. If I’m feeling extra stressed I sit in the dark and Gua Sha my face and shoulders. I bring my journal to work with me so I can write out and process my thoughts and emotions throughout the day.
These simple (and affordable/FREE) practices have helped me immensely. You don’t need expensive products or anything fancy. Just making a conscious effort to do the things that regulate your nervous system will be a MUCH more effective stress reliever than alcohol. Trust me. Be disciplined in your practices and you’ll be a much happier, calmer, and peaceful person all around. I can’t tell you how much better I feel WITHOUT BOOZE. I’m happier, more active, eating better, more present, and overall more at peace. If you’re feeling the call to go alcohol free, I hope these tips will help you along your journey. And remember, it’s about PROGRESS, not perfection.
With Gratitude,
Ariana <3
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