Drinking
Many people love to unwind after a long day with a drink. Some set a whole day aside, and they plan to spend the entire day drinking. Most people think that social drinking isn’t harmful to their health, and they are right. However, quitting drinking can change you in a number of ways. These 9 things happen when you stop drinking alcohol for a month.
Your Net Worth Increases
Anyone who has ever gone to a bar for a night of drinking knows that it can be expensive. Depending on where you are drinking, beers can range between $4 and $7 per bottle. Mixed drinks can run you between $5 and $10 each. If you enjoy taking a shot every now and again, it will increase your bar tab even more. If you quit drinking for a month, you can save up to $400. That’s a good chunk of change.
You Sleep Better
Just because you pass out from drinking, it doesn’t mean that you are getting a good night’s sleep. When you are passed out, you can’t get into REM sleep, which is the stage of sleep that benefits your body the most. Many people who go to bed after a night of drinking report a night of broken sleep, which also isn’t helpful for your body and mind.
Your Skin Looks and Feels Better
Alcohol causes you to become dehydrated, which isn’t good for your skin. When you become dehydrated, your skin gets dried out. This has a negative effect on the appearance of your skin. It can also make it feel dry. When you quit drinking, your skin won’t lose any moisture, which will make you look younger, and your skin will feel softer.
You Will Lose Weight
Alcohol is full of empty calories. The calories in drinks differ, but they have no nutritional value. By the end of a full day of drinking, you can have consumed over 2,000 calories. If you drink several times a month, you can start packing on the pounds. After a month without alcohol, you will find that you have lost a significant amount of weight the next time you step on the scale.
You Feel Less Distracted
If you have ever spend a night drinking, you know that the next day, you may feel that you are in an “alcohol fog.” When this happens, you can be easily distracted. Trying to focus on something can be almost impossible. The alcohol fog also makes short periods of time feel much longer than they actually are. Performing a task that takes just a minute or two can feel like you have been working at it for hours. The alcohol fog usually lasts only a day or two, but if you quit drinking for a month, your mind will be completely clear. When you aren’t in an alcohol fog, you can be more productive during the day.
Reassess Your Idea Of Fun
If you are a drinker, you likely associate all fun activities with alcohol. For example, if you are going to play cards, adding alcohol makes it more fun. If you are going bowling, it isn’t as fun without a few beers. If you quit drinking for a month, you will find ways to have fun without alcohol being involved. During this time, you might also be able to find new fun pastimes that you never thought you would enjoy when you were a drinker. A month away from alcohol can help you discover new interests and hobbies.
Stop Drinking Alcohol And You Feel Healthier
After a night of drinking, it can take up to two days for the hangover to wear off, and for you to start feeling like yourself again. You might not be hungover to the point where you can’t get out of bed, but the headaches, the sluggishness, and the overall lousy feeling can linger for days. If you stop drinking for a month, you will feel healthy all month long.
Gain Perspective On Your Drinking Patterns
When you are drinking one night or more every week, it is hard to recognize your drinking patterns. If you stop drinking for a month, you will be able to understand your relationship with alcohol better, and when you depend on it the most. This can help change your patterns if you start drinking again after the 30 days.
Sense Of Accomplishment
If you are a drinker, you have likely heard people tell you that you couldn’t stop drinking if you tried. It is often non-drinkers who say things like this. If you wonder if they are right, quitting for a month will prove to you and to the naysayers that you can stop drinking whenever you feel like it. Not only will this give you a sense of achievement, but it will also allow you to tell the naysayers to shove it the next time they accuse you of not being able to give up alcohol.
