10 Awesome Things That Happen When You Decide to Quit Drinking
What do most social gatherings have in common? Alcohol. Whether you’re attending a wedding, birthday, or holiday party, chances are, there will be alcohol there.
While having a few drinks on occasion isn’t bad, it’s estimated that over 15 million US adults have an alcohol use disorder. And this doesn’t only manifest in traditional alcoholism–a large portion of that 15 million engages in binge drinking.
Whether you drink every day or binge on the weekends, alcohol is affecting your life in more ways than one. Many times, you won’t even notice how it’s affecting you until you quit drinking.
Do you want to know more? Keep reading to discover 10 things that’ll happen once you stop drinking alcohol.
1. You’ll Save Money
The first thing that will come apparent when you stop drinking is just how much money you were spending on alcohol. Drinks as well as tips for bartenders all adds up, and you could be saving hundreds of dollars a month!
2. Your Health Will Improve
It’s no secret that alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis. But did you know there are many more health risks to worry about when you abuse alcohol?
Drinking to the point of blacking out can increase your risk of developing dementia later on in life. Heavy drinking can also increase your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers.
Since your decision making and reaction times are compromised, heavy drinking could also lead to things like car crashes and alcohol poisoning. Once you quit drinking, your risk for these things diminishes, and you can enjoy a healthy life.
3. You’ll Look Younger
When it comes to looking young, hydration is your best friend. Both regular use of moisturizer and drinking enough water can help keep your skin elastic and youthful.
But drinking alcohol dehydrates you, meaning that your skin will lose its elasticity and become wrinkled. Alcohol can also reduce the lifespan of your organ’s cells. When this happens, your body ages faster and the effects can be seen in your health and your appearance.
If you have a nice head of hair, that’s just another reason to quit drinking. More info has been coming out showing that alcohol can lead to hair loss.
4. Your Mental Health Will Improve
Do you struggle from anxiety or depression? You may try to self-medicate with alcohol, but this can only make things worse in the long run.
Drinking can actually rewire the brain in a way that makes you more susceptible to anxiety. Once you start drinking to in an attempt to solve your mental health problems, you’ll likely start binge drinking and build up a tolerance, making you drink more to get the same effects.
Slipping into alcoholism has an adverse effect on your mental health. You may ruin friendships, need alcohol to feel good, or do things you regret under the effects of alcohol.
5. You’ll Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Have you ever passed out right away after a night of drinking? Chances are, you didn’t sleep very long, or you woke up still feeling tired (and hungover).
That’s because of drinking results in poorer sleep quality and less time in the REM sleep stage. When you stop drinking, you’ll notice an improvement in your sleep quality, and you’ll be able to wake up ready to face the day.
6. You’ll Be More Productive
If you’ve ever made the mistake of drinking on a work night, you’ll know how hard the next day can be. You’ll likely feel tired (from that low-quality sleep), foggy, and hungover. All these factors make you less productive.
If it happens too often, your job may even be at risk! Conversely, quitting drinking will help you be more productive both during and outside of work.
7. You’ll Experience Less Regret
We’ve all been there–you drank a little too much and did something you regret. But when you abuse alcohol, these instances may happen all too often.
You end up waking up the next morning feeling embarrassed or guilty. These aren’t fun feelings for anyone to have, but it can be even worse if you already suffer from anxiety or depression.
Learning how to drink moderately or quitting drinking altogether will eliminate these situations. You’ll no longer drink until you make bad decisions you later regret.
8. Losing Weight Will Be Easier
Losing weight and getting in shape are common goals for people across the country. But sometimes it seems like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t lose weight.
If you’re a heavy drinker, alcohol may be to blame. Every alcoholic drink has extra calories and no nutritional value. Not only are you drinking tons of extra calories, but you’ll be less likely to exercise if you have a hangover.
Once you quit drinking, you’ll notice that it’s easier to lose weight. You aren’t getting those extra calories and that quality sleep you’ll get will help give you the energy to exercise.
9. You’ll Enjoy a Better Sex Life
We all experience some sexual encounters that are not-so-great. However, heavy drinking can lead to an increase in subpar sex.
Alcohol affects both men and women. In men, it can lead to erectile dysfunction. In women, it can lead to vaginal dryness. And in both, it can cause reduced sensitivity.
You won’t have to worry about these side effects when you quit drinking, so you can enjoy a better sex life than you did when you drank.
10. There Will Be More Time at Your Disposal
How many hours do you spend at the bar? How long does it take you to get rid of a hangover? If you add these up, you may be surprised just how much time you spend drinking every week.
You’ll suddenly have so much more time at your disposal when you quit drinking. You may finally have time to pursue your hobby or catch up with old friends.
Quit Drinking Today and Enjoy the Benefits
Don’t let drinking dictate your life any longer. There are so many great benefits when you quit drinking that can’t be overlooked.
So, what are you going to do with all that extra time and money? Check out why you should consider traveling!
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