Top 9 Benefits of Not Drinking Alcohol

Some people drink alcohol because it makes them feel more confident and comfortable in social situations. But, people that depend on alcohol to get comfortable in social situations have social anxiety. When such a person decides to abstain from alcohol, it’s no longer an option in such predicaments. Therefore, adjusting can be difficult at first. However, the person will eventually develop confidence and acquire skills that enable them to connect with other people in more enjoyable and meaningful ways without alcohol. This can feel empowering and even lead to the establishment of authentic connections without what people call ‘beer goggles’ that are used to distort interactions.

Alcohol has many empty calories that add the bodyweight of the consumer. Additionally, a person that consumes alcohol makes unhealthy food choices. Therefore, ditching alcohol can affect your overall health positively.

What’s more, nursing a hangover in the morning means a person can’t engage in healthy activities like a morning run or going to the gym. Giving up alcohol enables a person to stick to a healthy routine that involves regular exercising. Other health benefits of quitting alcohol include improving your heart health, reducing the risk of cancers, preventing damage to the liver, and improving the immune system.

Even giving up alcohol for a day can help you challenge your daily habits. Research has shown that taking part in Dry January alone can help individuals reduce their drinking. Participants of this study reduced their drinking days on average from 1.3 to 3.3 every week. Their monthly drinking frequency dropped on average from 3.4 to 2.1. 80 participants reported having more control over their drinking.

Abstaining from drinking alcohol for 31 days can show an individual that they can have fun, socialize, and relax without alcohol. What’s more, individuals that abstain from drinking even for some days can make better decisions regarding their drinking and even avoid getting back to drinking more than they desire.

Many people with a drinking problem have difficulty sleeping. When it comes to quality sleep, alcohol consumption compares to adding salt to an open wound. Alcohol affects REM sleep negatively. This is the most restorative sleep phase. What’s more, alcohol ruins the circadian rhythms. Quitting drinking benefits sleep tremendously. This, in turn, helps the mental health of a person. Many people report having better sleep after ditching alcohol.

Drinking alcohol as a way to deal with painful or difficult emotions hinders a person from learning healthier and effective strategies for dealing with them. When a person ditches alcohol, it longer becomes an option for them when facing difficult situations. As such, a person can now focus on improving their mental health and learning adaptive ways of going through tough moments. What’s more, binge drinking as a way of dealing with painful emotions can damage the ability to address difficult situations healthily. Ditching alcohol, even for a few days, can shed light on why and when a person uses it to cope.

People that sleep better have more energy during the day. But, quality sleep is not the only reason a person feels more energized. Abstaining from alcohol can elevate energy levels. Alcohol consumption depletes B vitamins supply. These vitamins are important for sustained energy.

Just like other nutrients, B vitamins serve numerous purposes in the body. That’s why a person can notice a positive impact on mood and energy when they quit drinking.

When a person ditches alcohol, their skin looks better. That’s because alcohol dehydrates the body. This leads to loss of the plumpness of the skin cells. Consequently, alcohol consumers get older-looking, tired skins. As such, not drinking alcohol gives a person a better-looking skin. It’s not surprising that some people that don’t drink alcohol look half their age.

Research has shown that alcohol affects hydration status, muscle recovery, and motor skills when analyzed from the athletic performance viewpoint. Drinking alcohol after heavy workouts can magnify the delay in muscle soreness. That’s because it slows down the recovery process while increasing soreness. Drinking alcohol makes it difficult for athletes to achieve the progress they would achieve from training without the negative effects of alcohol on their body and muscle recovery.

More often, alcohol consumption leads to regrettable situations and embarrassing moments for some people. Individuals that drink too often or excessively are likely to have problems in other life aspects. Unfortunately, people that consume alcohol don’t realize how it’s affecting their lives. For instance, a person that drinks too much alcohol might not realize that they spend less time with family and friends because they are always nursing a hangover. They might also not realize that they are slugging at school or work due to excessive drinking.

For such people, leading an alcohol-free life can lead to improved relationships, better academic performance, fewer legal and financial problems, as well as, increased self-confidence.

Not drinking alcohol can lead to numerous benefits including better sleep, more energy, and reduced risk for liver problems, heart disease, and different cancers. Thus, though it’s not easy to stop drinking when a person is used to having alcohol in their system, these benefits should convince them to try. Check out Lifehackerguy for story on one of the reasons why someone has stopped drinking alcohol!