Around 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year in the United States.
It’s a deadly addiction, and even when it doesn’t cause death, it can completely control people’s lives.
That’s why you should choose sober living. It can significantly improve your physical and mental health, helping you to take your life back.
That’s not all. In this post, we’ll tell you seven ways in which quitting drinking can improve your life.
7 Reasons Why You Should Choose Sober Living
Here’s what a life without alcohol could look like for you.
1. You’ll Have More Energy
Alcohol is a depressant. This means that is has a tranquilizing effect, making you lethargic or even sleepy.
That’s why having a few drinks often makes you want to take a nap. However, it’s usually poor quality sleep, as you’re likely to wake up in the middle of the night.
If you stop drinking, you’ll immediately feel more energetic. You’ll also be more well-rested, as you’ll be able to sleep better at night.
2. Your Skin Will Appear More Youthful
Drinking alcohol is terrible for your skin.
It dehydrates you, making your skin drier and flakier than usual. It also has an inflammatory effect, making your face appear puffier. It can give you breakouts, too.
On top of all of that, it can cause premature aging. If you drink too much alcohol on a regular basis, your skin will become damaged and wrinkled. As a result, you’ll look older than your years.
If you stop drinking, your skin can start to recover from these negative effects and repair itself.
Eventually, it will become clearer, younger-looking, and more evenly-toned.
3. You’ll Lose Weight
Alcohol is loaded with calories.
Just one beer has around 150 calories alone. If you’re drinking several of those every day, they can quickly add up. Before you know it, you’ve exceeded your required daily intake through drinking alone.
Those are completely empty calories, with no nutritional value whatsoever.
Not to mention the extra food you eat when you’re intoxicated. It’s not only weed that gives you the munchies. Alcohol does, too.
We’ve all felt those cravings for greasy, sweet or salty food when we’ve been intoxicated. For many, late night fast food is a standard ending to a night out. It goes hand in hand with drinking.
People tend to eat too much when they’re drunk. That’s why switching to sober living can help them to lose weight. In some cases, people completely transform their bodies by giving up alcohol.
Quitting drinking could help you to look and feel better, shedding extra pounds and taking control of your body.
4. You’ll Have More Free Time
Drinking and taking drugs can be a hugely time-consuming part of your life.
As well as taking time to acquire and consume your substance of choice, you also need to spend time recovering from it. The after effects can be debilitating, sometimes putting you out of action for a day or more.
If you kick the habit, you may be surprised by how much more free time you have.
You won’t have to spend hours in bed nursing a hangover. Instead, you can get up and get out, and put that time to use by doing things that you enjoy.
You can also use that newfound free time to improve your life by learning a new skill or meeting new people. All in all, you’ll be much more productive without alcohol.
5. There Will be Less Stress on Your Body
There are numerous health risks that come with drinking alcohol.
It has dangerous effects on the liver, which can result in liver disease or even failure. It also increases your risk of diabetes and heart problems.
Take better care of your body and enjoy the health benefits of sober living. If you find it difficult to wean yourself off alcohol on your own, seek help from a professional service, such as Muse Treatment.
6. Your Relationships Will be Better
Often, the people you drink with aren’t your closest friends. You might even find that drinking and partying is a central part of your friendship. When that connection is taken away, you may not have much left in common.
Plus, when you’re drunk or high, you may do or say things you regret. These drunken actions can be extremely damaging to your relationships.
That’s how many people who suffer from alcohol addiction eventually push their loved ones away.
Leading a life without alcohol means that you can be a better parent, partner, friend or relative and treat the people around you much better. It also means you take care of yourself more, too.
7. You’ll Have More Money
Have you ever wondered how much money you spend on alcohol?
Checking your wallet or bank account after a night of drinking can be painful.
When you’re intoxicated, you lose your inhibitions. This means that on top of spending more than you should on drinks, you may also make other frivolous purchases.
The last thing you need when you wake up in the morning is to find out you’d made a ridiculous drunk purchase the night before.
If you go tee-total, you’ll never have to worry about that.
Spending money on alcohol can feel like throwing money down the drain. Aside from a hangover, what do you really gain from it?
Cutting alcohol out of your life means you’ll save money. You’ll also be able to make better financial decisions to ensure you spend it wisely.
Get Help with Recovery and Start Sober Living
Kicking the habit isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. There is professional help available.
From meetings and counseling to inpatient rehabilitation centers, there’s a whole range of options out there.
You can get involved with a community of people who are struggling with the same issues as you. They’ll give you the help and support you need to make a change and stick to it.
For more help, read our post on how to find the best addiction recovery program for you.
