365 Days Alcohol-Free!
I can’t believe it.
365 days alcohol-free.
A whole year.
Not a single sip.
Not a single time caved into peer pressure.
Not a drop.
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you’re new here, I choose a personal goal every year that will challenge me, teach me, and change me. This year, I chose to give up alcohol because I knew it would be really hard. Alcohol is so ingrained in our society, and I started to notice a few habits in myself: drinking to celebrate and also to numb. Drinking in public, not because I wanted to, but because everyone else was.
At first, it was really hard. I started the challenge right after Thanksgiving last year, so my first month looked like saying “no” during holiday parties, on New Year’s Eve, and then, of course, we pretty much went right into a pandemic after that. I could have used a drink… or ten.
As I went along, though, it got easier and easier the more I said “no.” And the more I learned. And the more I grew. Pretty quickly, this challenge began to cause a ripple effect in other areas of my life.
Here are my biggest takeaways from my 365 days alcohol-free:
Progress: I realized that alcohol had become a way for me to escape from the world when it got hard. It wasn’t so much about the alcohol itself; it was the habit of associating a drink with turning off and disconnecting. As an entrepreneur, there are so many ups and downs. When I would feel overwhelmed, I’d just want to forget about everything for a second. It became all too easy when friends invited me to go for a drink or when I had wine in my kitchen. I told myself I would forget about work for the time being, go have a drink, and then later, I would come back to what was overwhelming me. The thing is, though, I never did come back to it. And that, I learned, was a problem. This challenge taught me that I had a habit of escaping. I say had because I kicked that habit: Removing alcohol for a year taught me to face overwhelming issues instead of running from them, and that facing them leads to progress. The only way out is through. It’s no coincidence that this has been the best year our business has ever had.
Confidence: I never expected this challenge to be a test of my confidence, but it was. There have been so many times over the last year when I’ve been in social settings and people have attempted to pressure me into having a drink or have questioned why I would ever do something as ridiculous as abstaining from alcohol for a year. I really had to stick to my guns and learn how to say “no” with confidence. I found that the more I said “no” to alcohol and peer pressure, the easier it was to confidently say “no” in other areas of my life. This challenge taught me that I had been doing a lot of “yes” on the outside when my body was screaming “no” on the inside. Now, instead of automatically committing to something, I ask myself: Do I really want to do it?
Discipline: A lie I’ve told myself for years and years is that I don’t have discipline. When I chose this challenge, it seemed impossible. How could I possibly abstain for a whole year?! The greatest test of discipline came during quarantine. I was stuck at home, feeling overwhelmed, and then I’d go on social media and see everyone posting pictures of drinking at home. It took a lot of willpower not to join them. This challenge has taught me I’ve been wrong about myself all along: I do have discipline. I have lots of it. And I’m excited to see what I can accomplish now that I know this to be true.
Health: There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Alcohol isn’t healthy. Since cutting it out, I’ve slept better, I’ve lost weight, my skin feels more hydrated, my mind feels clearer. The challenge helped me become more in tune with my body. It reminded me that what we choose to put in our bodies—and what we choose not to put in them—matters. I began eating healthier because of this challenge. I began sleeping more because of this challenge. I picked up a habit of drinking a ton of water daily because of this challenge. I started to notice the direct impact my actions had on my health. Had I not cut out alcohol, I’m not sure if I would ever be as in tune with my body as I am now.
Early mornings: One of the greatest surprises for me in this challenge has been the weekends. Instead of waking up with a headache from wine night with my friends, I wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed… and early! I started doing more in a weekend than I had ever done before. I started treasuring my mornings. I started to realize how much waking up early can make a difference in one’s day. I always had a dream of regularly getting up before 5 a.m., but my “you don’t have discipline” voice told me I could never do that. Next thing you know, I’m waking up at 6:30 a.m. every day… then 6… then 5:30… then 5… and now, 4. I love my mornings. They’re when I am my most creative. They’re when I’m at my most inspired. They’re actually when I’m writing this blog post to you.
I’m so grateful for my courage in choosing this challenge. I’m grateful that even though I knew it would be really hard, I chose to do it anyway. I’m also proud that I made it public. Alcohol is one of those “taboo” things that you’re not supposed to talk about. There is shame associated with alcohol. Why? I know so many people in my life who question their relationship with alcohol. So many people who ask themselves the same questions I’ve asked myself. It is healthy and normal to question why you do the things you do. It is healthy and normal to wonder if a habit you have is hurting you. Talking about it helps us feel less alone.
There is still one question I have left to answer: Will I ever drink again?
The truth is, I don’t know. And I don’t feel the need to decide. Here’s what I do know: I love not drinking. My relationship with alcohol has changed. Should I drink, I will be more intentional about that choice. Should I drink, it will never be because I am being pressured or because I want to escape. That, I know, with certainty.
I’m still working on choosing my personal challenge for 2021. I’ve got a few ideas, and you’ll be the first to know when I narrow it down to one. In the meantime, I encourage you to think about doing a challenge of your own. What is something you can do that will challenge you, teach you, and change you?
Hugs through the screen,
Kristen
PS: Have you heard of our LIVE show every Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET? Think of it as real talk. Our leadership team and I share the challenges we’re navigating as leaders and take questions from you! You can register here: https://bit.ly/3kWe2kT. It’s the same link each week. Hope to see you there!
