I’ve never been a big drinker. Yes, in college I’d buy a keg, throw a big party and have a couple too many beers, along with a hangover the next day. I also drank tequila for the first, and last time, when I turned 21. As I grew older, my drinking also matured and I became quite responsible in any social setting. But even with that awareness and control, there are side effects of having even one glass of wine. So I made the decision to take a break from drinking and here’s what happened.
Tons of energy.
One of the negatives of drinking alcohol is being zapped of any and all energy. Once I’d have a few sips of wine, forget about getting anything done; I’d just want to sit on the couch and watch Real Housewives of New York City. In addition, my sleep had always been disturbed and waking up was a bit more challenging. But all of that changed once I took a break from drinking. Rather than pour that glass of wine at five o’clock, I could get a ton of stuff accomplished, become tired naturally, have a solid night of sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
The bloated belly is gone.
While taking a break from drinking there was an immediate effect on my bloated belly, it’s gone! Alcohol can not only cause some weight gain, it is also be very bloating; which can make it difficult to look and feel your best in some of your favorite clothes. In addition, feeling good about how you look is a real boost to self-esteem and there’s nothing wrong with that. Plus, there are less cravings for high fat foods when alcohol isn’t involved.
Improved mood and overall happiness.
Too often, waking up after drinking even a couple glasses of wine the night before can be daunting and bring on feelings of regret and unhappiness, sometimes even depression. Basically, feeling like crap. Since alcohol is actually a depressant, this makes perfect sense. But the complete opposite happens when you don’t drink. An alcohol-free life helps to improve mood and overall happiness as you wake up excited about the day instead of down and out. I also found that I was more present instead of clouded; which also makes for better health and wellness.
Lesson learned.
After taking a moment for myself and a break from alcohol a lesson was learned. Yes, it’s perfectly ok to enjoy a cocktail with your girlfriends, at a celebration, or even at home relaxing by yourself with a book. But the lesson I learned was drinking can become a habit and take a negative toll on your life before you even realize it. Being able to step back from drinking and really experience all of the wonderful emotions we are capable of having naturally is pretty special and I highly recommend it.
