Seven Benefits of Living a Sober Life

It has been four years since my last drink. After several decades of being a regular social drinker, I decided to stop entirely in April of 2021. I eat healthier, sleep better, and have more energy. I’m more alert and focused. I experience less stress and anxiety. I feel better. Bye-bye, happy hour. Hello to a happy life.

Alcohol is ubiquitous in society. Despite the increased interest in sobriety, alcohol continues to be a socially acceptable mind-altering substance. It is all around us. Drinking for all sorts of occasions is still considered normal.

But what started to not feel normal for social drinkers like me were the negative impacts as we age. Our bodies become less efficient at breaking down alcohol. I began to notice this in my mid-to-late 50s. Just having one or two drinks negatively impacted my quality of sleep, and I would often feel sluggish the next day. My body was telling me something. I decided to listen.

As my ability to tolerate alcohol decreased, it increased anxiety symptoms. Alcohol disrupts your brain chemistry, lowering the level of calming chemicals. The way for me to deal with the increasingly adverse effects on my mood, anxiety, and body was to give it up entirely. Eliminating it has yielded so many benefits.

The benefits of being sober are numerous and can significantly improve one’s overall quality of life. I started to notice how much better I felt without it.

Here’s my list of the benefits of living a sober life:

1. Improved physical health

Being sober has improved my overall physical health. Alcohol interferes with and impedes your body’s absorption of vitamins and nutrients. When you stop drinking and focus on a healthier lifestyle, your body will absorb nutrients better. I’ve created new, healthy habits to replace my old routine. Instead of meeting friends at a bar, I go for regular walks and hikes. Sometimes I do this solo, other times I have a partner, and sometimes I participate in a local meetup group.

2. Improved mental health

Being sober has helped to reduce stress and anxiety. It has also greatly improved my overall mental well-being. Ditching alcohol has been quite a boost to my overall mood. It has led to a greater sense of inner peace and contentment. It has resulted in enhanced concentration and better mental health.

3. Better and more consistent sleep

One of my favorite parts of not drinking is consistently getting a good night’s sleep and waking up feeling clear-headed, well-rested, and full of energy every day. One of the biggest things I appreciate is relaxing mornings with a nice cup of coffee. It’s a great way to start my day.

4. Greater Self-Awareness

Being sober has allowed me to gain a greater sense of self-awareness. It has changed how I think and feel about myself. I better understand what triggers me. I’m able to assess situations and the environment around me more accurately. I’ve developed better coping mechanisms. I make better decisions, leading to less regret. I spend more time engaging in self-reflection, writing, and journaling, which has helped me better understand my thoughts and feelings.

5. Increased savings

Alcoholic beverages are expensive. Not going to bars and restaurants has undoubtedly saved me money. I like having all that extra money in my bank account.

6. More comfortable with who I really am (no masking)

I’m no longer using alcohol to unwind from a stressful day or to fit in with other people in social situations. I’m a shy introvert, and drinking was a way to help me navigate and tolerate certain social gatherings. Rather than trying to fit into an extroverted, neurotypical world, I’ve embraced my introversion and neurodivergence. I am becoming more comfortable with being different. It is who I am. I embrace the authentic me and don’t care what others think. I no longer put on a mask to make others comfortable. The desire for external validation continues to diminish.

7. Improved quality of life

Choosing sobriety has had a profound impact on my overall quality of life. I experience greater joy, fulfillment, and contentment. Life isn’t always easier or less challenging without alcohol, but my mind, body, and soul are better equipped to handle it.

Oddly enough, sobriety has given me everything alcohol promises. For all the supposed “fun” alcohol claims to deliver, I actually achieved it by avoiding it altogether. Alcohol simply has no relevance to my life anymore. I’ve made room for so many other wonderful things. I don’t feel deprived; I feel liberated.

My sober journey has been part of a process of examining nearly every aspect of my life. I’ve been working on making a series of changes regarding how I choose to live going forward. Embracing sobriety has been part of that process.

I’d like to think I’ve increased my odds of having a longer, healthier, and happier life. I feel like a whole new version of myself in so many ways. I’m pursuing a wonderful, joyous, fulfilling, and happy life.

Aim high. We’re all worth it.

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I have lived in my car since August 2023. You can follow my adventures on Facebook and Instagram