Truth be told, I have a love-hate relationship with alcohol. I’ve been known to enjoy a nice glass (or three) of wine every now and then; and although I’ve been consuming alcohol for more than a decade, I still can’t seem to strike the right balance. So, starting on November 5th, I decided to kick drinking to the curb until the new year, and here are the reasons why…
- Physical Health
First and foremost, I promised myself that I would get back to my ideal weight before the end of the year. Food blogging has taken a toll on my body (an 18-pound toll within the last 8-10 months, to be exact). Drinking has played a huge role in my unhealthy lifestyle, and one of the easiest modifications I can make to my diet is cutting out all the extra, empty calories.
And, in case you haven’t noticed, HANGOVERS REALLY SUCK! My body simply can’t deal with the after-effects of alcohol anymore. I used to go out till 1 or 2 a.m. on a Thursday night and be at work for 8:30 a.m. the next day, no problem. Now, a few drinks the night before, and I’m reaching for the Tylenol first thing in the morning! Hangovers went from lasting 2-3 hours in my 20s to an ENTIRE DAY in my 30s!
- Mental and Emotional Health
While I’ve never suffered from any sort of mental illness, I take mental and emotional health very seriously. Alcohol is a depressant, and the correlation between drinking and a depressed mood is well-documented. I listen to my emotions, loud and clear; and bottom line, alcohol messes with my head! I am an over-thinker and a ruminator by nature, so adding alcohol into the mix is not a good combination. As a blogger, every time I post a picture of myself, I feel that I am ‘putting myself out there’. The day after drinking, I doubt myself (even more than I already do) and am super self-conscious about my posts (that is, if I can bring myself to post at all)!
- Work and Productivity
Right now, I can’t really afford to drink – not in the monetary sense, but from a productivity standpoint. I could drink when I had free time, but time is no longer a luxury that I have. I work a busy, non 9 to 5 job, usually have professional networking or media events to go to after work, and spend my entire weekends creating content, networking with other bloggers, editing photos, writing, catching up on outstanding emails, and running errands. With no time to spare even on the weekend, I can’t lose a whole day nursing a hangover in bed!
- Moderation is a Challenge
Lastly, moderation, in general, is difficult for me. I have a very all-or-nothing type of personality. With that, there’s good and there’s bad. On the one hand, my extreme personality makes me super passionate about things (case in point, the amount of focus and dedication I bring to my blogging career). But on the other hand, it also means that I do a lot of things to the extreme, including drinking at times. Once I start drinking and having fun, it becomes a slippery slope. (I am probably making myself sound like a full-fledge alcoholic at this point. But, hey, full disclosure.) So as counter-intuitive as it seems, I actually find it easier to say “no” altogether, than attempt to drink in moderation.
So, that’s what I’m up to until the end of the holidays! What about you guys? Resolutions don’t have to be for the new year, so what are some current improvements you hope to make?
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Love this post! Keep it up, this inspires me!!
Thanks, Gabi! I hope I’ve inspired you to join me 😉
I can relate to every point on this list and couldn’t agree more! Thanks for this post. Very real and honest.
Thanks Kristen! Glad to know others can relate as well. Makes me feel less strange because I always get weird reactions when I tell people. Thanks for reading! xoxo
It’s nice to give up drinking every now and again. I remember when I gave it up for the 7 weeks. (I’m sure you remember.)It was easier than I thought it would be. I had a goal in mind and stuck with it. People do tend to look at you funny when you tell them you aren’t drinking.
Keep up the good work! Don’t worry the new year will come quick and you can have a nice glass of bubbly! 🍾
Of course I remember. I couldn’t believe it was possible until I tried it myself! We should do it at the same time, lol! Can’t wait for NYE, but at the same time, I don’t really miss it!
Yes it is much easier when alcohol is given up at the same time. There are too many temptations around! It will be nice to bring in the New Year with a drink though. That will be a drink well deserved.