Perhaps you have wondered what your life would look like if you did not participate in drinking culture. Maybe you are not completely ready to take the plunge into sobriety.
If this resonates with you, you may be considering a sober-curious lifestyle. In order to learn more about this way of life and how you may benefit from it, keep reading.
What is “sober-curious?”
Have you ever taken a hard look at your drinking habits and relationship with alcohol? What about wondering what your social life may look like without alcohol? Or have you simply noticed that you feel a certain way before and after drinking?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I suggest you take a closer look at the sober-curious lifestyle.
Being sober-curious is exactly what it sounds like: you are curious about sobriety. This means you would cut alcohol out of your life entirely for a period of time to see how your body reacts to it.
However, for a variety of reasons, you may not feel completely ready to ditch drinking altogether. Sober-curiosity is not restrictive, you can tailor your alcohol usage to your exact lifestyle.
Why be sober-curious?
Some of you may be wondering why you would simply limit your drinking instead of going completely sober. The hard truth is that alcohol is not easy to avoid. In fact, many social gatherings are centered entirely around alcohol, not to mention a celebratory champagne toast every now and then.
If you do not have a reliance on or addiction to alcohol, you may simply wish to limit your levels of drinking. And that is completely okay, too! Investigating your relationship with an addictive substance is never a bad idea.
Benefits of being sober
There are countless ways putting down alcohol can benefit you. These range from physical to mental to emotional effects. Making the conscious effort to be sober (or maybe even drinking less!) means you will see changes in different ways. Some of these changes may include the following:
- Weight loss
- Decreased blood pressure
- Increased levels of energy
- Feeling more well rested
- Decreased levels of depression and anxiety
- Less brain fog
- Stronger memory
Steps to leading a sober lifestyle
Although cutting ties with alcohol may not be easy, there are plenty of ways you can make it easier. If you find yourself struggling with what to do after quitting alcohol, try out a few of the following.
- Learn a new skill or hobby: Nothing gets your mind off of something quite like taking up a new hobby. Now is the time to invest in yourself. Take the time to find a class you have always wanted to take, like ceramics, and see what you can learn.
- Control your surroundings: If you are newly sober, a bar is probably not the best place for you to be hanging out. Regardless of your intentions, temptation is a powerful thing, and you may end up giving into old habits.
- Use your support system: Family, friends, local support groups, and other loved ones all want to see you succeed. Utilize every support system that you have to get through this period of your life.
Is it right for you?
The only one who can decide whether putting a pause on drinking is the right choice for you is you. Friends and family can make suggestions and doctors can offer observations, but sobriety comes from within.
Regardless of how your relationship with alcohol is, it is important to remember the risks that come along with drinking. Addiction and alcoholism are scary, but they are not something you have to face alone.
If you or someone you love is struggling with their alcohol intake, I encourage you to explore this with a trained professional. Getting sober is tough, but it may be the right choice for you.