Life-Changing Benefits of Quitting Alcohol

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The Sneaky Substance Subverting Your Creativity

Alcohol. It's a substance that most adults have a relationship with in one form or another. It's been a ubiquitous companion to humanity for millennia, and my journey with it, like many of you, is deeply personal.

For me, the pop of the cork from an oakey chardonnay or a clean, crisp sauvignon blanc in the summertime, preceding the glug glug glug into a crystal clear stemless glass, meant instant relaxation, social fluidity through hours of mingling and small talk, and the end of a long day.

These benefits are served almost instantly through the golden, translucent medium that is a fine white wine. In younger, poorer days, two-buck-chuck did the trick. As I progressed along my career trajectory, my reward for additional stress and longer hours was the ability to buy a nice bottle to wash away the woes of the day or to imbibe with a dear friend outside after work until laughter and soon-to-be-forgotten stories filled the space between us, washing away the tension of life.

Even as I write these words, now almost a year without alcohol (except for one 'experimental' evening, which I will describe in detail later), I would be remiss to pretend these descriptions of fermented relaxation have no hold on me. It's okay to struggle with this decision, and it's okay to have moments of doubt. This 'experimental' evening was a deliberate choice to test my resolve, and the experience was eye-opening, to say the least.

The acceptability and availability of alcohol for recreation means that choosing to quit is a deviation from the norm. But it's a deviation that brings a profound sense of freedom. It's an awkward path, primarily due to the social limitations not drinking has and will continue to create. Your social challenges are real, and it's okay to feel them. But remember, you're not alone in this societal struggle, and the path to sobriety is liberating.

Alcohol accompanies friend time, networking time, milestone celebrations, and relaxation at home. For many of us, alcohol makes socializing more interesting, ramps up our ability to make small talk, laugh at jokes that aren't funny, and be a more extroverted, bubbly version of ourselves.

Quitting drinking to avoid the downsides that alcohol promises to deliver takes more than willpower alone. Each person's journey to quitting alcohol is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's essential to try different strategies, such as seeking professional help, joining support groups, or finding alternative activities to replace drinking and finding what best suits your individual needs.

Why I Chose to Omit Booze From My Life

Drinking alcohol is a shape-shifting habit, but you have the power to shape your own path to sobriety. Stress manifests as anxiety, and at different life stages, the expectations we must manage can scale our anxiety levels through the roof. Alcohol seemed to be a helpful ally for many years of my life.

Your grandmother or your alcoholic uncle may have said to you that alcohol in moderation is good for you, but they were looking for recruits to make their problem drinking a team sport.

Generational trauma loves alcohol because the numbing effects are an excellent cloud behind which we hide all family secrets. The truth is no amount of alcohol is healthy or beneficial, though the sales and marketing engine behind alcoholic products would have us believe otherwise. The science is in, and the science is as follows:

• Alcohol is known to be a depressant, impacting the brain's ability to process emotions and can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety over time.¹

• Alcohol use can result in brain shrinkage, particularly in areas associated with creativity and memory, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.²

• Alcohol causes inflammation and damage to the digestive system, which can lead to issues like liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastrointestinal problems. These effects are exacerbated by regular consumption, even at low to moderate levels.³

• Alcohol disrupts REM sleep, which is crucial for creativity, problem-solving, and cognitive function. According to the National Sleep Foundation, even small amounts of alcohol can reduce overall sleep quality by 9.3%.⁴

• Alcohol consumption impairs the brain's ability to engage in divergent thinking, the process crucial for generating original ideas and novel solutions.⁵

• Alcohol consumption disrupts hormonal balance, which is particularly relevant for women. Hormonal imbalances can affect mood, energy levels, and wellbeing, impacting productivity and creativity.⁶

• Hangovers are the body's way of letting you know you have poisoned yourself.

The list goes on infinitum, and I am not interested in lecturing, simply pointing at the copious evidence pointing to alcohol consumption as a poor lifestyle choice. If you, like me, are interested in maximizing your healthspan and lifespan, not to mention your creative prowess, removing the substance from your life is a no-brainer.

The Benefit of Omitting Booze

Quitting alcohol will profoundly transform your personal and professional life, offering immediate and enduring rewards that significantly elevate your performance and satisfaction. Below are some reminders of why embracing sobriety can be a game-changer, especially for creatives and knowledge workers:

1. Creativity: Alcohol's clouding effects on the brain are well-documented. By cutting out alcohol, you clear a path for enhanced mental clarity and focus. This means quicker thinking, sharper decision-making, and more efficient information processing. The result? A significant boost in productivity and innovation is essential for those in creative and knowledge-driven fields.

2. Emotional Connection: Sobriety allows a more profound connection with your emotions, enriching your creative expression and interpersonal relationships. This authentic emotional engagement fuels creativity and strengthens collaborations and relationships, laying a foundation for more prosperous, meaningful personal and professional interactions.

3. Energy: Removing alcohol from your routine improves sleep quality and more consistent energy levels. Well-rested individuals enjoy enhanced concentration and stamina, enabling them to tackle demanding projects and engage more fully in daily activities without the slump often caused by alcohol-induced sleep disturbances.

Compounding benefits lead to long-term improvements in quality of life:

1. Deeper Personal Relationships: Clear communication is crucial to personal and work relationships. Sobriety removes the misunderstandings and miscommunications often fueled by alcohol, leading to healthier and more productive relationships. This clarity and sincerity can form stronger connections based on mutual respect and understanding.

2. Clarity of Purpose: With a sober mind, your vision for your future sharpens. You'll find it easier to set and adhere to goals that align with your values and aspirations. This newfound focus can drive you to more tremendous success in your career and personal life, fueled by a clear understanding of where you want to go and how to get there.

3. Overall Wellbeing: Life without alcohol opens doors to new interests and passions or allows you to revisit old ones with a fresh perspective. This exploration can lead to a powerful sense of purpose and fulfillment, invigorating your life with new challenges and satisfactions that go far beyond what alcohol can offer.

These changes come with time, and you will find that some friends and even family will no longer share much of the same interests. This realization can be saddening, but with more emotional attunement gained from removing the dulling effects of alcohol, clarity around your choice of close relationships will bring more meaningful interactions and deeper connections with those whom you love and who love you back without alcohol as the bridge to connection.

Options Beyond Booze

Note that I am not recommending one course of action over another. Still, my own personal experience and exploration of alternatives to alcohol have aided in omitting the substance from my own life. All medications, whether plant-based or otherwise, come with side effects, and there are legal issues to consider depending on your locale. Additionally, consult a medical professional to understand the implications for your health. With that being said, here are 4 alternative methods for achieving a more relaxed and creative state of mind without the long-term side effects of alcohol.

THC offers therapeutic advantages, such as alleviating pain, anxiety, and depression, which are often linked to alcohol dependence. Careful use, with attention to dosage and strain, can help manage stress and enhance creativity. Additionally, micro-dosing psychedelics like psilocybin or LSD could improve mood and creativity without the intense effects of higher doses. Legality around the latter is a grey area, but there is increasing research in this space, though therapeutic use cases are becoming more widely legitimized in the mental health community.^7,8

Expanding your toolkit with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and meditation could also prove valuable. CBT effectively addresses addiction by transforming negative thought patterns and behaviors, helping manage triggers and stressors linked to alcohol use. Finally, meditation enhances mindfulness and emotional regulation, supporting sobriety by reducing stress and improving the brain's response to anxiety and cravings.

Whether you choose to replace alcohol with an alternative substance for the near or long term, adding holistic practices to your daily routine will create a more secure and resilient sense of self.

Choosing activities that do not involve (or revolve around) drinking will make this process easier; this may initiate a chain reaction of clashes with friends who don't understand your choice not to partake. Consider this a filter for finding the friends who see you for you and not only the superficially bubbly you that emerges only under the influence of bubbly (or your preferred poison).

One Day at a Time

Alcoholics Anonymous is an incredible organization that offers support and wisdom to reformed and recovering drinkers the world over. One of the tenets of AA is that the journey to recovery from alcoholism is taken one day at a time. I am not an AA member, but I am an enthusiast.

There was a day a couple of months ago that caused me to break my non-drinking pattern, which lasted nine months to that date, mostly entirely without struggle.

This day was a day in which a heavily social occasion demanded the extraverted side of me, which was not feeling the vibe of socialization until I accepted one and then two glasses of my favorite golden libation, chardonnay (on a hot summer evening to paint the scene further). By glass number two, I was fully aware of the potent elixir's magic taking hold of my social mojo.

No longer was I awkwardly searching for something to do with my hands while chit-chatting with strangers about things I would forget goldfish style in the summer evening air.

Gliding from one circle of strangers to another, under the subtle giddiness of white wine influence, I realized that I never enjoyed this type of activity except with a glass of something "to take the edge off" in my hand.

The next morning, I was not hung over from the moderate party vibe induced by way of booze; rather, I was spiritually depleted and angry at myself. That is until I realized I had no desire to repeat the consumption but a renewed sense of certainty that alcohol never offered anything good, the contract always demanding a piece of me for a brief moment of social levity, which I can go without easily.

I may never truly enjoy parties or socializing where drinking is the focal point. Alcohol makes for truly forgettable conversations, and being sober makes partaking in these conversations painful to the point of forgoing them entirely. I am an introvert who hid behind a social mask made possible by booze. This realization is self-knowledge, a powerful and necessary ingredient in personal development.

I would love to hear about your journey with drinking and the impacts both positive and negative on your own personal and professional life. What has worked and hindered your creativity and personal growth? Drop a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

That’s it for this week. Stay tuned for the Friday digest from TheTechMargin, this week will feature my top AI tool recommendations for maximizing your creative flow and productivity.

Cheers (without the booze but with plenty of gusto)!

Sonia a.k.a. SuperSonic

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1  World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol

2  National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

3  Boden, J. M., & Fergusson, D. M. (2011). Addiction, 106(5), 906-914 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03351.x

4  National Sleep Foundation https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/how-alcohol-affects-quality-and-quantity-your-sleep

5  Jarosz, A. F., & Wiley, J. (2012) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2012.04.001

6  Emanuele, M. A., & Emanuele, N. V. (1998)

7  Segev et al., 2018, European Journal of Internal Medicine

8  Prochazkova et al., 2018, Journal of Psychopharmacology; Kuypers et al., 2016, Journal of Psychopharmacology