Are you starting to question your relationship with alcohol? You are definitely not alone. The sober curious movement is rising and I believe that we will see even larger numbers of young adults choosing not to drink in 2023.
The sober curious movement seems to be the new trend. People are beginning to explore their relationship with alcohol. Many are testing the waters of an alcohol free lifestyle.
As a newly sober curious girl myself, I am going to give you a first hand account of some of the benefits an alcohol free lifestyle can bring you. You are going to hear about the unexpected, and positive, benefits you can experience when joining the sober curious movement.
Whether you want to try a 30 day alcohol free challenge, cut back on alcohol as a New Year’s Resolution, or give up alcohol completely the sober curious movement has a place for you!
This post is all about the 11 reasons to join the sober curious movement in 2023.
Life-Changing Reasons to Join the Sober Curious Movement
Please remember that everyone will have different experiences when giving up or cutting back on their alcohol consumption.
1. No More Hangovers!
This one is obvious! You guessed it, no more drinking means no more hangovers and amazingly, no more hangxiety. This one was HUGE for me!
Hangxiety is an increase in anxiety experienced the day after heaving drinking. There were countless mornings when I would wake up hungover and just know that my anxiety was going to be at an all time high.
If you’re reading this article I would almost guarantee that you’ve woken up one morning and thought: I’m never drinking again. Between the pounding headache and the nausea, it just didn’t seem worth it.
Before I joined the sober curious movement and actually explored my relationship with alcohol, I thought that these feelings were just the price we pay for a fun night out. This doesn’t have to be the case anymore.
2. More Creativity
I have noticed a direct correlation between drinking alcohol and creativity. Whenever I drank, I spent the next 1-3 days in an unmotivated haze.
Since giving up alcohol, I have noticed a huge spike in my creativity. As a blogger, this has been extremely beneficial. But, this improvement can help us all alike no matter what field you are in.
Without alcohol, there is more time to pursue the hobbies that you’ve always wanted to try but never get to. Your brain will be working as it should without the limitations that alcohol brings.
3. Save Money
Okay, who doesn’t like to save some money? Drinking alcohol is expensive. As much as we want to normalize and accept binge drinking culture in our lives, there are so many negative impacts.
Once I stopped drinking, I was able to save a significant amount of money. No longer afraid to check my credit card after a night of drinking.
Take a second to think about how much money you spend on alcohol each week, month, year. It adds up quick! Put that money towards something that will bring you closer to your goals.
4. Understand Your Relationship With Alcohol
This is SO important for anyone trying to cut back on their alcohol consumption. Many people start drinking in college and then never really stop.
This was definitely the case for me. Before I joined the sober curious movement, I couldn’t even remember the last weekend I had without a drink. I needed to change that.
When you stop drinking alcohol, it allows you to actually feel your emotions and understand why you were reaching for that drink in the first place. You will begin to notice how prevalent drinking culture is.
We go to a wedding, we drink. We go to a funeral, we drink. We get a promotion, we drink. We have a hard day at work, we drink. Drinking is everywhere. This is one of the reasons it can be so challenging and scary to remove yourself from the world of drinking. But, you can do it!
The beauty of the sober curious movement is that it does not have to be black and white or one size fits all. It truly is an exploration that will look different for everyone. You may discover that you want to give up alcohol completely. Good for you! Or, you may want to start off with a 30-day dry challenge. That’s amazing too!
No matter what you decide, I recommend taking a step back and just observing your relationship with alcohol.
5. Increased Hydration
It is no secret that alcohol dehydrates us. It is one of the main reasons we experience hangovers the next day. Alcohol is depleting our bodies of our water source.
Instead drink a water or order your favorite mocktail, your body will thank you later.
When you stop drinking alcohol, you will notice significant increases in your hydration. Let’s just say way less dehydration headaches!
Related Article: 5 Inspiring TikTok Accounts To Watch When Giving Up Alcohol
6. Softer and Clearer Skin
Who doesn’t want softer and clearer skin? Without alcohol in your system, your skin will be more hydrated and healthy.
When you cut back on alcohol, you may notice firmer skin, less bloating in your face and neck, and an overall healthier complexion.
Bonus: If you’re like me, you probably fell asleep with your make up on one too many drunken nights. Without alcohol, you’ll remember to complete your skincare routine properly each night. Hello, radiant skin!
7. Weight Loss
Even the “healthy” versions of alcohol leave us consuming an abundance of empty calories. A glass of wine has approximately 120 calories. A bottle of beer has about 150 calories. And those vodka sodas we all know and love have around 135 calories.
Multiply those calories by the number of drinks you typically consume during a night of drinking and that’s a lot of empty calories.
Aside from the alcohol, a night of drinking is frequently accompanied by a night of over indulging in other unhealthy food choices. I am way too familiar with the late night fast food trip or pizza delivery.
Then, to fight off the hangover the next morning, a calorie dense breakfast sandwich or greasy burger is always thought to be the best cure.
It’s a no-brainer that when you cut out alcohol, you can accomplish your weight loss goals quicker.
8. Better Quality of Sleep
Many people believe they can fall asleep quicker and easier after a few drinks. This may be true for many of us. However, the quality of sleep is directly impacted.
Have you ever woken up after a night of heavy drinking and felt lethargic for the rest of the day? This is very common. Drinking impacts our REM stage of sleep, which can leave people feeling tired no matter how many hours of sleep they’ve had.
Since joining the sober curious movement, I have noticed shocking improvements in my sleeping patterns. I used to always wake up in the middle of the night. Since I cut back on my drinking, I sleep right through and wake up feeling refreshed and energized for the day ahead.
9. Confidence Booster
This is probably my favorite improvement since joining the sober curious movement. So many of us choose to drink because we believe it enhances our experiences. Whether that be to loosen up, let our boundaries down, or be able to have conversations with people we wouldn’t dare talk to when sober. I used to think that alcohol gave me confidence.
The sad truth…it doesn’t. It’s an illusion created by the alcohol.
Surprisingly, I feel more confident when I don’t drink. There is something empowering about choosing not to drink. You remember exactly what you said and did during a night out. You know exactly how you got home. And, you no longer have to send those anxiety-ridden texts asking if you did anything embarrassing the night before.
You will feel more confident because you are finally taking the steps to choose a life that is better for your overall mental and physical health. Nothing screams confidence like honoring your authentic self and being true to you.
10. More Energy
Giving up alcohol can result in higher levels of energy. Between the improved quality of sleep and better health choices, you will feel well rested and eager to tackle the day.
You may notice that you are operating with not only higher levels of energy, but also more positive energy. You will have the time and motivation to focus on things that bring you real happiness.
11. Better Overall Health
When we stop drinking, we allow our bodies to self regulate and heal. We may begin to notice improved mental and physical health. Here are a few examples:
- Reduce anxiety
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve heart health
- Liver repair
- Reduce risk of heart disease
- Boost immune system
- Less vulnerable to depression
The sober curious movement is trending all over social media. There are so many positive reasons to give up alcohol. Whether you are suffering from anxiety, trying to lose weight, or looking to boost your confidence taking a break from alcohol could be the answer for you.
This post was all about the 11 unexpected benefits of giving up alcohol. Will you be joining the sober curious movement in 2023?
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