Enjoying an occasional drink is perfectly fine, but do you know what’s even better? Quitting alcohol entirely. In case you’re stuck on why this is the case, here are some improvements you can expect when you make the decision to stop drinking.
Improved Digestion
Most people aren’t aware that alcohol can irritate your digestive system, causing problems such as acid reflux and gastritis. Once you quit drinking, you’ll experience these problems far less frequently. You’ll also feel much less bloated, and your body’s ability to absorb nutrients will improve.
Enhanced Mental Clarity
While everyone knows that drinking ruins your decision-making when drunk, this can continue into the next day. It slows down cognitive functions for a while after your last drink, so quitting alcohol helps clear this mental fog. You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to stay on track.
Increased Energy Levels
Due to the sleep disruption it causes, alcohol can leave you feeling sluggish and tired. Thankfully, this isn’t permanent; your energy levels naturally increase when you stop drinking. You’ll feel more motivated to tackle daily tasks and engage in physical activities, improving your overall quality of life.
Clearer Skin
When you eliminate alcohol from your diet, you’ll probably notice that you have much clearer, healthier skin. As Vogue reports, alcohol causes dehydration and inflammation, leading to skin breakouts and dullness. This will all be gone when you go sober, allowing your skin’s natural glow to flourish.
Better Sleep
Alcohol is terrible for your sleep cycle, especially if you go to bed drunk. It will cause you to wake up frequently during the night, so when you stop drinking, this will all stop. You’ll also experience deeper, more restful sleep, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
Weight Loss
One of the most annoying aspects of drinking alcohol is that it contains so many empty calories, so even if you eat healthily, you’ll likely still gain weight. So, when you stop drinking, it’s much easier to achieve a calorie deficit, and you’ll have more energy to exercise, too.
Stronger Immune System
A lesser-known disadvantage of drinking alcohol is that your immune system takes a serious hit from it, making you more susceptible to illnesses. This is why when you stay sober, you’re far less likely to become sick, as you’ve given your body’s natural defenses a much-needed break.
Improved Liver Health
One of the most significant benefits of quitting drinking is that your liver will finally have a chance to recover. The liver works hard to process alcohol, and continuous drinking prevents it from keeping up. So, consider quitting drinking, and your risk of liver disease will drop significantly.
Better Relationships
It’s a sad reality that alcohol can strain relationships with family and friends due to the increased likelihood of arguments or poor social decisions when drunk. Upon going sober, you’ll find that you can focus more on nurturing these connections and making amends, improving your social life drastically.
Financial Savings
People who drink regularly tend to forget that they’re pouring their savings down the drain. It’s an expensive habit, especially when you go to bars regularly, so upon quitting, you’ll be astounded at the amount of spare cash you have to spend on savings or wholesome activities.
Reduced Anxiety
Commonly known as ‘beer fear,’ alcohol can cause immense feelings of anxiety and stress, especially during a hangover. Once you stop drinking, you’ll likely find your general stress levels decreasing, and you’ll be able to wake up each morning without regretting decisions from the previous night.
No More Hangovers
Arguably, the biggest benefit of quitting drinking is that you’ll no longer have to deal with hangovers. It’s likely that, when hungover, you stay in bed all day in pain, feeling miserable and maybe even sick. Thankfully, you’ll never have to deal with this again when you’re sober.
Improved Heart Health
Few people realize that alcohol consumption can greatly increase your risk of heart disease. By giving up drinking, you will do wonders for your cardiovascular health. Your blood pressure stabilizes, and your heart functions more efficiently, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
More Free Time
When drinking, it’s difficult to recognize how much time it steals from you, spending hours upon hours in bars and clubs. Quitting alcohol gives you back this valuable time, and it will likely give you a newfound appreciation for how many hours are given to you each day.
Better Hydration
Alcohol is terribly dehydrating for your body, and most people neglect to drink enough water to counteract this, leading to headaches, brutal hangovers, and other negative effects. When you quit drinking, you’ll only need to drink a regular amount of water, making proper hydration far easier to achieve.
Increased Productivity
Due to the hangovers, irrational thinking, and brain fog that it causes, alcohol can ruin your ability to stay focused and productive. Once you stop drinking, you’ll notice that these hindrances disappear; you’ll find it much easier to concentrate on tasks and achieve your goals.
No More Regrets
Most people have drunk too much alcohol on occasion, finding themselves acting stupidly. It’s a horrible feeling to wake up in the morning and remember the awful things you said or did, but thankfully, you’ll never have to deal with this again if you put down the bottle.
Better Friends
Sadly, when people drink alcohol in excess, they gravitate towards other people who do the same. This can lead to relationships with no foundation other than heading to the bar and getting drunk. So, once you quit, you’ll create more functional and genuinely engaging friendships.