Two years ago, I quit alcohol for six months–and I can’t thank enough my partner for it. No, it wasn’t a New Year’s resolution. One fine night, I just decided to refrain from alcohol for a little while, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. A lot of things changed after that, and it was all for the good.
I am a 29-year-old, and I have no qualms in admitting the fact that my body doesn’t really take alcohol well after two drinks. At times, even one glass of booze doesn’t go down very well. It’s true: your body gives up after a certain age, and I accept it completely. Alcohol was affecting my health and inner strength. That’s when I was told by my partner to go without a drop of alcohol for six months, and voila! It worked and made a striking difference. After all, it’s never a bad idea to prioritize your health over everything else.
1. I felt light from within
Giving up alcohol made me feel more energized and healthy from within. It was a great soul detox for me. I felt so light that I actually started enjoying this process. The routine of drinking over the weekends and socializing went out of the window. All the toxins were flushed out of my body, and I started living a healthy life. Best part: I wasn’t missing alcohol at all.
2. My skin got better
We all would love to have healthy and radiant skin now, won’t we? Nothing bothers us more than a pimple, blemish, or unnecessary redness on our skin–especially our faces. Believe it or not, alcohol does have a negative effect on your skin. Even miniscule amounts of alcohol would show up on my face. Zero alcohol for six months gave me healthy and clear skin, and nothing made me happier.
3. I somehow also ended up making better food choices
The way you feel revolves around what you eat. So trust me when I say this: a no-alcohol resolve leads to eating healthy too. I gave up on fried and spicy starters, which turned out to be a boon for me. In fact, I even got onto a salad diet for a few months. Those six months I promised myself that my body would be the prime focus of self-improvement. A glass of wine or a can of chilled beer can be comforting after a hectic day at work, but in the long run it just does a whole lot of damage.
4. I got more productive
Hangovers! We all hate them. In fact, every hangover makes us promise that we’ll quit alcohol altogether. But when has that promise been fulfilled? Let’s be very honest: you drink your guts out, and then spend the next day regretting it. You’re just lying in bed, struggling hard to get over that hangover, with the prospect of a working day looming around the corner. I bid goodbye to all of that, and instead started cooking on weekends. Whipping up healthy food is therapeutic. I even found a passion for gardening in the process.
5. Above all, I saved a whole lot of money
Who doesn’t like a big-fat bank account brimming with savings? Alcohol is damn expensive, and cutting it out from your weekend plans will save you a minimum of Rs 3,000, if not more. I saved almost Rs 70,000 on alcohol for six months! Isn’t that great?
All in all, I realized going alcohol-free is easier than I thought. We always have that one peep who pressures you to go for another drink–that’s when your self-control needs to be in check. Don’t get stuck up on slain comments like: “What’s wrong with you?”. I also toyed with the idea of giving up on alcohol entirely, and not just for six months–as I realized I wasn’t missing out on much. Those six months helped me understand my body a lot better and came with the realization that a little self-control can be relaxing and salutary.
Honestly, I don’t miss that can of chilled beer after a stressful day at work! But yes, a Smoked Barbeque Pork Belly always helps.
GIFs: Giphy
