To join Kayla’s online community and signup for her alcohol-free 1,000 Hours Dry challenge, head over to @1000hoursdry on instagram. Overall, we hope all of these tips will help you stay alcohol free in the coming year. Remember, it’s a marathon and not a sprint – success always comes off the back of failure and isn’t always the clearest of paths.
A 2023 University of Washington scientific study revealed that
- Kayla is the founder of 1,000 Hours Dry, an alcohol-free community and host of The Dry Life Podcast.
- In addition to being found in food products, xylitol is often found in products for dental care, like toothpaste and mouthwash.
Being sober enough to put your PJs on might not sound like a big deal, but it sure feels good in the morning. You know that yoga class you keep saying you’ll go to? That family trip you promised to organise? Or alcohol free lifestyle that book idea you’ve told everyone about, at least a hundred times? When you take action and cut out alcohol (a willpower-sapping, confidence-destroying, time-sucking drug) you set off a whole chain of events.
How To Live A Life Without Alcohol That Is NOT BORING – Featuring Zach Reeder, Fit Recovery Coach
Embrace the ones you’ve learned and allow yourself to get curious, exploring what works best for your unique journey towards better mental well-being. This is your opportunity to dive deep, try out new practices, and discover the ones that resonate with your soul. Trust your intuition and be open to the possibilities that lie ahead. Celebrate the progress you make along the way and be gentle with yourself when faced with challenges. You have the power to transform your relationship with alcohol and create a life filled with joy, fulfillment, and emotional balance. So, let curiosity be your compass, and let the journey toward better mental health be one of self-discovery, growth, and infinite possibilities.
The Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
But if your liver is processing alcohol, it may not give your blood sugar the needed boost. While scientists continue to actively research how to slow or prevent age-related declines in physical health, they’ve already discovered multiple ways to improve the chances of maintaining optimal health later in life. Taking care of your physical health involves staying active, making healthy food choices, getting enough sleep, limiting your alcohol intake, and proactively managing your health care.
- I felt as though everyone could see my obvious it was like; everyone can see me as if I was an x-ray.
- One study found that among men 55 to 74 years old and women 60 to 74 years old, current smokers were three times more likely to die within the six-year follow-up period than those who had never smoked.
- And you can’t really change who you are fundamentally, you just kind of are stuck with what you have.
- And you don’t have to necessarily be like, one or the other.
- Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer.
Benefits of sober socializing for friendships
This education not only strengthens your resolve — it also arms you with facts and figures to counter any societal pressures or misconceptions. Going alcohol-free doesn’t have to mean compromising on taste. The world of non-alcoholic beverages is vast and exciting.
Where every TV show every movie, every social gathering, like it’s glamorized everywhere. I’m the same way that it used to be for cigarettes with all the stars smoking and you know, sophisticated women smoking and it being the thing to do. And one of the things I’ve noticed on 1000 hour dry, your community is, there is more accessible education, about the dangers of alcohol than I see in a lot of other places and really quick, like digestible format, but facts. There is still a lot to learn, though, about how people age and what habits support healthy aging. Scientists are exploring these questions with studies that look at physical, mental, and cognitive health. You can be a part of scientific progress by joining a clinical trial or research study in person or online.
You might have to decline offers of drinks. It’s perfectly okay to say, “No.” If someone continues to pressure you to drink alcohol, it might be time to assess whether this person has your best interests at heart. No matter what your reason is for considering a sober-curious lifestyle, there are many health benefits to limiting your alcohol consumption. If you are struggling with substance abuse, consult with your primary care physician. For more tips on health and wellness, or to schedule an appointment with a family medicine physician, please call 1 – 888-MY-DMG-DR (1−888−693−6437) or schedule an appointment online.
Be ready to respond to triggers
You know, that like, the way that we’re talking to you, you’re so talented. You’re, you were born a star, you’re so intellectual, you know. Like, I know, I was thinking about how I grew up and how I was spoken to and, and what I thought I was good at, right? Like I was always told, like, you are so smart, you are so pretty You are so this, and then you really come to believe that this is what I am, this is this identifies me right. And then if I’m not good at it, then I must just suck at it. And so I’m the kind of person and I’m trying to I’m this is where I’m in a fixed mindset, and I’m trying to grow.
The basal ganglia, a part of our brain involved in habit formation, strengthens the association between drinking and the context in which it occurs. With enough repetition and strong enough rewarding experiences, alcohol use becomes more and more automatic over time. If someone asks why you’re not drinking, have a few responses ready. You can keep your answer simple, like, « I’m driving tonight, » or “I have an early start tomorrow.” You can also say that you simply don’t feel like drinking, and that response would be enough. From office happy hours to dates over drinks, it can seems that nearly every social event revolves around alcohol.
