I quit drinking for a year

7 hours ago

The author quit drinking for a year after being triggered by the idea of 'damp January,' a variant of Dry January where people drink less instead of abstaining entirely.
Not drinking was surprisingly easy because eliminating alcohol as an option removed the mental effort of deciding whether to drink, unlike when occasional drinking was allowed.
The author realized that cravings for alcohol were often just a desire for 'a thing,' which could be satisfied with substitutes like dessert or tea, reducing the struggle.
Alcohol negatively impacted sleep, and abstaining led to noticeably better sleep quality, highlighting its short-term effects as an 'anti-nootropic' that impairs next-day functioning.
A downside of not drinking was reduced enjoyment at social gatherings centered on alcohol, as it felt like missing out on a shared experience of lowered inhibitions.
Other effects included minor benefits like saving money and some weight loss, but the primary change was breaking the mental association between wanting something and choosing alcohol.
After the year, the author didn't immediately resume drinking and considered quitting forever, ultimately deciding to drink rarely while avoiding constant negotiation over alcohol.
The author advises others to experiment with quitting drinking to gain full information on its personal impacts, emphasizing the underrated short-term effects, particularly on sleep.

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