I Went Sober for 21 Days and Here's What Happened

Check out the full article on my blog here.

Anyone that follows me on socials knows how much I love an Aperol Spritz, and as a very sociable person, I’m constantly out and about in situations where drinking alcohol is usually involved.

But, over the last 12-18 months I’ve started to notice my body is starting to react differently to alcohol, and I’m not able to tolerate it as well as I used to. A few years back I used to be able to bounce out of bed straight after a night out drinking, hop on over to the gym and despite a hangover, still have a really strong session and productive day. Nowadays, I feel so groggy and awful the next day that I really struggle to get anything done beyond ordering coffee and avocado toast.

So, after endless attempts of going cold turkey, I decided to sign up to do 3 weeks of 'Sober October' (before an occasion on the 21st) and give it a real go. Here were my findings, good & bad, for anyone that’s curious or considering taking a break too:

LIKE ANY OTHER WITHDRAWAL, THE FIRST 2 WEEKS WERE TOUGH

I’m only a social drinker, so wouldn’t consider myself an “addict” of any sort but the first couple of weeks were really, really hard. 

I made an effort to still socialise, which I think is really important, because if you don’t you’ll probably get cabin fever and end up wanting to let off that built up resentment/ boredom on a big night out. 

But socialising without alcohol is different - and you need to prepare yourself for that.

Going for drinks just isn’t the same, and I started to realise without alcohol, the concept of socialising at a busy bar or pub is literally a group of people standing around chatting for hours, which seems so strange!

Although it was tough at first, I found that it forced me to socialise in different, more meaningful ways; going to events, chatting over coffees and dinners, going for walks, to workout classes etc etc. I found that the new, different ways in which I was engaging with people was actually much more meaningful and enjoyable when I had a clear mind, and no alcohol in my system.

SOBRIETY MAKES YOU UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF YOUR TIME AND WHERE YOU SHOULD BE SPENDING IT

By taking away alcohol from situations, I realised that without it, some places are nowhere near as fun. And, if I’m out somewhere where I have to drink to have a good time, I probably shouldn’t actually be there in the first place!

This sounds really obvious, but it’s so easy to say yes to invites for drinks and parties all the time, because of "FOMO", and not even think about whether you want or need to go to that event and drink.

It really made me reflect on things & appreciate my time more. Now, I always consider where I’m going, who with and whether I actually want to go, before making any decisions on invitations out. 

I DIDN’T LOSE ANY WEIGHT, BUT I DID SEE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH BENEFITS

Despite the amount of calories I was saving by not drinking tonnes of Aperol Spritz (around 200 cals per glass!) and sugary cocktails, I didn’t actually lose weight from cutting it out, which surprised me, because it was one of the first things people would always ask about when I would tell them I’d gone sober.

However, I did notice significant health benefits, such as my fitness levels increasing massively - my workouts were way better and stronger, and I was running faster and for much longer. My skin was also super clear and glowy. Plus, I was more conscious of what I was eating, as I never had ‘hangover food’ cravings.

SINCE FINISHING MY 21 DAYS, I ACTUALLY HAVE LITTLE DESIRE TO DRINK ALCOHOL

After completing my 21 days, I would have thought I’d be so excited to drink again, yet I’m almost the complete opposite!

I actually now quite dislike the taste of most alcoholic drinks and only keep drinking to events and occasions where I think it'll be worth it. When I do have a drink, it’s either with close friends or family, and I stick to some sort of spirit and a mixer, not wine and definitely no shots! 

For me, a person that used to go out & drink heavily 3+ times a week, this is a monumental shift for my productivity and general wellbeing. I’m not sure on whether I would strictly give alcohol up completely, however I have already cut back massively, and restricted it to more special occasions - so we'll see. 

IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT TAKING A BREAK FROM BOOZE, HERE’S SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH:

Soda Water is your new best friend.

The perfect drink to get you through. It looks like it could be a mixer, so people don’t ask too many questions (because trust me, people always ask SO many questions when you say you’re not drinking), and it’s easy to sip slowly so you don’t end up quickly getting tempted to move onto cocktails or wine.

Join a Facebook group to connect with like-minded people and hear great success stories.

I joined Club Soda, which is a huge Facebook community dedicated to people that have taken the leap to sobriety, at all different stages. If you’re ever unsure of anything, it’s great to be able to ask a huge network of people that have gone through the same steps as you and come out the other side.

Tell your friends and family in advance.

It’s important to be upfront with people and get as much support as you can. Nothing’s worse than feeling strong in your mind about a decision and having your friends try and tempt you away because it doesn’t fit with their plans.

If you’re really serious, don’t go to those big events where you know you’ll wobble.

Save yourself the hassle and just don’t go. If you do go, then try and plan something else to go to at some point in the night, so you have a good reason to leave before it gets out of hand.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress post-detox, but feel free to ask me any questions below!

Best,

Emily