While your 20’s are some of the most exciting and turbulent years of your life, your 30’s are for settling down and becoming a full-fledged grown-up. Numerous studies have shown your cognitive development finally peaks in your early 30’s, which means your confidence, mental ability, overall growth is bound to soar. However, to take advantage of these fulfilling years, you’ll have to carefully monitor your health and implement an in-depth self-care routine to aid your body through unavoidable physical changes.
The older you get, the more bodily changes are bound to occur. In your 30’s you’ll likely experience a slowing metabolism and wrinkle build-up, but it’s nothing a healthy lifestyle can’t fix. After some self-reflection, you may find yourself with a long list of changes to implement, starting with your alcohol consumption habits.
Although an alcohol-fueled all-nighter may be tempting, your body can’t bounce back the way it did in your 20’s. Hangovers become increasingly brutal, your mental health is more likely to feel the negative impacts, and any medical conditions you’ve procured may be exasperated as your body struggles to fight-off alcohol-induced sickness.
Instead of spending multiple days unwell after a single night of drinking, consider kicking your alcohol habits to the curb in your 30s to fully enjoy the best years of your life and form long-term healthy living habits.
Reasons to kickstart your alcohol-free lifestyle
Re-evaluating your relationship with alcohol is essential as you step into your 30s. Cutting back or eliminating alcohol from your life can help you feel more clear, both physically and mentally. After all—living a healthy, balanced lifestyle is fulfilling and sets you up for long-term success.
Like countless others, if you struggle with binge drinking, delving into sober living can boost your self-esteem, spark newfound joy, and save you heaps of hard-earned money. However, maintaining sobriety is no walk in the park, especially if you have a history of substance abuse. If you’re struggling to keep up with sober living, consider enrolling in addiction programs that can provide you with the help you need.
Rediscover yourself
Consuming alcohol can turn a quiet and reserved person into a wild and chatty party animal. It’s not uncommon for people to feel like they’ve become someone completely different after a few drinks. If you’re regularly drinking, you may feel a loss of self as you try to distinguish between sober and drunk you.
If you’ve spent your 20s in an alcohol-induced haze, it may be time to ditch the alcohol and engage in reflective self-discovery. Being sober allows you to re-calibrate and pursue personal growth. By building a strong sense of identity, you’ll be able to create a full and happy life for yourself.
Save money
Sobriety can positively impact numerous aspects of your life, from physical and mental health to your financial situation. Funding an alcohol habit can be expensive, especially if you’re frequently drinking. By choosing to live a sober lifestyle, the funds you’d usually put towards purchasing alcohol can go towards other expenses like self-care necessities or emergency funds.
Sleep better and feel energized
Many people feel like drinking can help with deeper, faster sleep. However, alcohol disrupts REM sleep, a restorative stage of sleep. When you wake up the next morning, you’ll feel the effects of this lack of deep sleep on top of body pains and pounding headaches from the hangover. Instead of using alcohol as a sleep aid, consider taking natural, non-habit forming melatonin supplements as a sleep aid. You’ll wake up every morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Leave “alcohol anxiety” behind
If you drink alcohol regularly, you might be all too familiar with the feeling of waking up in the morning, worried about the things you might’ve said and done the night before. Choosing to abstain from drinking means spending your mornings productively instead of scrolling through your phone looking for evidence of risky texts or late-night purchases. Sober living reduces stress and regrets giving you nights to remember instead of nights you’ll forget.
Enjoy the present moment
When you’re having fun, time flies. When alcohol is involved, time passes even quicker. Drinking can often make you feel as though you’re floating through life, but never entirely in the moment. When you engage in long-term sobriety, you’ll feel grounded and more balanced. The time you spend with your friends and family will feel more meaningful as you practice mindfulness and enjoy every moment.
Build healthy coping mechanisms
Many people rely on alcohol to forget a hard week at work or deal with a challenging life event. While it may start innocently, you may become addicted to the numb feeling alcohol provides when you want to avoid dealing with the hard parts of life. By choosing sobriety, you’ll have the opportunity to develop healthy coping mechanisms. Alcohol will no longer be a dependence, and you’ll gain the strength to deal with anything that comes your way.
The bottom line
The road to sobriety is not an easy one. When you see your friends and family enjoying themselves with a glass of wine, it’ll be all too tempting to partake and fit in. However, while being sober can feel like a daunting choice, the impact it has on your life is unparalleled. Cutting out alcohol can enrich your life and give you the 30s of your dreams.
Leave a Reply