Why I'm Taking a Break From Alcohol (and What That’s Got to Do With Wellbeing-Driven Productivity)
It’s official. Me and booze are “on a break”.
I’ve decided to share my reasons, plan, and experience (this will be more than one article) in the hope that doing so might provide some helpful information to anyone who is sober-curious.
Setting the Scene
In preparation for writing this article, I thought about the length of my drinking “career”. It turns out I’ve been drinking alcohol fairly consistently for 30 years… that’s a long time!
I’m not an alcoholic, but I acknowledge there have been periods of heavy social drinking in my past, particularly in my twenties when I was climbing the corporate ladder in the finance sector. Entertaining clients was a big part of my job; a solid pair of “drinking boots” was part of the uniform.
These days, I drink far less. I typically have a few glasses of wine in the week and an occasional “big celebration” boozy night out (probably two or three times a year).
Why I Drink
When I think about my reasons for using alcohol over the past three decades (which somehow sounds worse than 30 years), it has either been as a social lubricant or to relieve stress and anxiety.
My social awkwardness and tendency to struggle with stress and anxiety made a lot more sense when I was diagnosed with autism at age 43.
It’s always been more about the ritual than the taste of alcohol for me, and that’s significant when it comes to forming new habits.
Why Now?
I worked hard to improve my health last year. I lost three stone, established a weight training routine at the gym, and started running again, but it never occurred to me to stop drinking until recently.
After a rare boozy night out (fuelled by Pinot Grigio and social awkwardness), I was so hungover that I couldn’t go for the long run I had planned. I ate beige food for 24 hours and felt physically awful. It was like I had poisoned myself (I suppose technically, I had). This was my first hangover since working on my health, and honestly, I was shocked.
Was it worth it? Did the alcohol help me enough to make the after-effects worthwhile?
Here’s the truth: it made socialising easier, but only during the first two glasses of wine. When I consider the “morning after” anxiety and the physical effects of the hangover, the answer is no, it was not worth it.
That horrible hangover got me thinking about alcohol as a stress reliever, too; does it really help? It feels nice when you are stressed and take your first sip of wine, so that’s a tentative “yes”. But going for a run is just as effective at relieving stress. And you don’t get a hangover from a run. So, for me, there are better, healthier solutions to stress relief.
This led me to a bigger question: could living alcohol-free be the missing piece of my wellbeing jigsaw?
The Missing Piece?
Last year was transformative – I am so much healthier than I was – but I am not where I want to be yet. While I acknowledge my age is presenting some health and wellbeing challenges (hello, perimenopause), I still feel there is more I can do. Getting healthy has been about establishing healthy routines and rituals – I know how to do this. Maybe an alcohol-free lifestyle is the next step.
There are obvious links between alcohol and wellbeing-driven productivity. When I am not drinking (I have taken breaks before), I look and feel better, exercise more, am happier, and get more done.
Considering all of this now is the perfect time to take a break and potentially transform my relationship with alcohol.
The Plan (ish)
I am committing to a 28-day break from alcohol, with a view to extending it to 90 days and then perhaps longer. I’m not ready to commit to the idea of being alcohol-free for the rest of my life, but for the first time, it is an idea I am willing to entertain.
At the time of writing, I am over two weeks alcohol-free and have just returned from an alcohol-free holiday. It was surprisingly easy not to drink, even when everyone around me was.
Research and Support
Although my first two weeks without alcohol have felt surprisingly easy, I am aware that challenges lay ahead. As such, I have been inhaling books about taking a break from alcohol (a.k.a. “quit lit”) and watching lots of inspiring videos. I’ve also joined a free online community to get some accountability and additional support.
I’ve compiled the most helpful resources in a database, which you can access below.
What Now?
I’m excited to find out how this alcohol-free experiment will affect my wellbeing and productivity. If you’re sober-curious or contemplating a break from alcohol, take a look at the resources I shared and then, if you’d like to, join me in this experiment. Let me know your thoughts.
Important Note: If you have concerns about your alcohol use or think you might be dependent on alcohol, please consult with a healthcare professional for advice related to changing your drinking habits.
