what can shift in 30 days?
A super common question I hear is, what did you experience in the first 30 days of alcohol-free living? So I came up with this list of 30 reasons in less than 10 minutes, and it isn't all-encompassing, but it gives you an idea of what you might experience.
Fear. I wasn't confident that I could do it.
Hope. I saw glimmers of a new way of being that was easier and more peaceful.
Strength. Not drinking for 30 days showed me how strong I could be.
Loneliness. I felt disconnected from my friends and like I was the only one that had this thing.
Sleep. I sometimes slept through the night, and the 3-am-scaries abated.
Colors seemed brighter.
Excitement. I realized that cutting out this one thing was opening some doors.
Waking up without a hangover or thinking about drinking was a huge relief.
Time! I started sewing, painting, and finally, I had time to weed and take care of the garden.
Bored. What do you do at 5 o'clock? (See #9)
Energy. I felt physically energized.
Air smelled better.
Engaged. I started to realize I was more present for the people around me.
Stomach issues disappeared.
My eyes brightened up, and their sparkle came back.
My face lost some of its fullness.
My psoriasis cleared up.
I had been having pain in my hands, and that disappeared.
My runs got easier.
My middle-of-the-night thirst decreased.
My almost daily Advil habit practically disappeared.
My morning cough subsided.
My hands were less shaky.
I stopped sweating as much.
Anxiety lessened. I didn't worry about what I'd said, bought, or texted.
I saved money. About $10 per day!
I ate healthier.
My integrity improved. I did what I said, and I stopped acting outside of my values.
I felt aligned and integrated with my values.
My marriage began to improve.
All that said, the first time I completed a 30-day sobriety challenge, I made it to 32 days. And then, thinking I'd kicked the problem, I had become a normal drinker and could moderate. Moderation didn't work for me. After a few months, my drinking resumed to pre-challenge levels, and I decided to try again and take it one day at a time. Maybe, you'll have a different experience. Maybe you'll find that 30 days convinces you to keep that alcohol-free lifestyle. Perhaps, you'll reflect and come to a healthier relationship with alcohol and keep it in your life on your terms.
For me, worrying about if I would buy a bottle of wine on the way home from work, or have a cocktail at a dinner out with friends, started taking up so much brainpower. So, it was easier to take it off the table. And, I had a list of 30 reasons why to come back to when my resolve got shaky. What are your reasons? Ready to find out?
