Clear Headed: What I Discovered after Three Months Without Alcohol

When I decided to take a break from alcohol at the start of "Dry January", I had no idea how much it would change my daily experience. What started as a simple health experiment has turned into one of the most enlightening journeys of self-discovery I've had in years.

Five Unexpected Upsides

1. Weight Loss

I've tried countless diets over the years, but apparently, the secret weight loss formula was sitting in my liquor cabinet all along. Ten pounds have mysteriously vanished from my frame without changing anything else in my routine. My pants are looser, my face looks slimmer, and I didn't even have to download a single fitness app.

2. Significantly Improved Sleep

One of the most immediate and welcome changes I noticed was in my sleep quality. Those first few nights without a nightcap were admittedly rough – I tossed and turned, checking my phone at 2 AM, wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake. But by week two, something magical happened. I started falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer. No more mysterious 3 AM wake-ups staring at the ceiling. No more groggy mornings feeling like I'd barely rested. My sleep tracker (which previously displayed graphs resembling the Rocky Mountains) now shows deeper sleep cycles and fewer disruptions. According to the Sleep Foundation, alcohol might help you fall asleep initially, but it significantly disrupts your REM sleep – the phase where your brain processes emotions and consolidates memories. Without alcohol interfering with my sleep architecture, I'm waking up actually feeling refreshed instead of just slightly less tired than when I went to bed.

3. Dramatically Improved Mental Clarity

Remember when you could finish a thought without forgetting what you were talking about mid-sentence? Yeah, me neither—until now. My brain feels like it's been upgraded from dial-up to fiber optic. I can focus on tasks for longer than 15 minutes without my mind wandering off to contemplate what I should have said in that argument from 2012.

4. Increased Energy levels

Prior to stopping, 5 PM meant one thing: a strong urge to stop working to relax, and yes, maybe have a drink. Now, I'm good until six and have stable energy all the way through. 

5. More Optimism and Resilience

The strangest side effect? I've become more positive and resilient. Things that used to trigger anger or sadness now barely register. Traffic jam? "Great time to catch up on podcasts!" Monday morning meeting? "What a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues!" I'm not sure if this is healthy or if I've joined some kind of happiness cult, but it is working.

The Less-Than-Rosy Reality Checks

Social Awkwardness is Real 

When my friends invited me on a wine tour, I briefly considered what my role would be. Professional grape observer? Designated driver for increasingly loud companions? I ended up skipping it altogether. Admittedly, I did have a legitimate excuse not to go—a previous commitment. My former self would have hopped through hoops to change it so I could go to the vineyard with friends.

Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative: If you want to spice up your margarita mix with a tequila alternative look no further than Ritual's Zero Proof Tequila Alternative. Add's a tequila-like taste—with a bit of spice—and without the alcohol.

Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative: When in the mood for whiskey you might try this one. I liked on the rocks. It's less close to the real deal than the tequila alternative (IMO)—it has too much of a vanilla flavor to pass for whiskey. Still a good choice, though if you were a whiskey lover. 

The NA beer market is more mature than the NA spirits market, and thus there are some excellent options that very closely mimic the real deal. Here are my favorites thus far: 

Beero Edge Hill Hazy IPA Non-Alcoholic Beer is a significant improvement over the typically tasteless NA beers, such as O'Douls. You can drink Beero and virtually not realize your drinking a non-alcoholic beverage. It's that good.

Guinness Irish Dry Stout Non-Alcoholic Beer is outstanding. I've always enjoyed a good Guinness, especially since I've traveled in Ireland a bit and have visited the brewery in Dublin. It tastes just like Guinness, but without the after affects. It served us well on St. Patrick's Day!

A major turning point in my journey came when a friend recommended Allen Carr's "How to Stop Drinking the Easy Way." I was skeptical at first—how could reading a book possibly make quitting alcohol "easy"? But Carr's approach of dismantling the psychological dependence on alcohol rather than focusing on willpower resonated deeply with me. By the final page (yes, I actually finished it), I experienced what Carr calls the "moment of clarity"[1]—a profound realization that I wasn't giving up something valuable but freeing myself from a trap. The book helped me see that alcohol wasn't adding to my life; it was taking away from it. I haven't needed a drink since reading the last sentence. More importantly—I haven't wanted one.

I'm not swearing off alcohol forever. I can imagine enjoying a glass of champagne at a wedding or having a wee dram at one of the many fine whiskey distilleries in the Scottish Highlands. But what's surprised me most is how much more connected I feel to myself without it. It's like I've been experiencing life through a slightly blurred lens for years, and someone finally handed me the right prescription.

The trade-off has been worth it. I feel more in control, more present, and frankly, more myself than I have in years. As Dr. George Koob, Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, puts it: "Even taking short breaks from alcohol can yield significant health benefits, including improved sleep, better hydration, and reduced inflammation."[2]

Studies from the University of Sussex found that 71% of people who participated in "Dry January" slept better, and 67% had more energy.[3] Meanwhile, research published in BMJ Open shows that taking just one month off alcohol can lead to lower blood pressure, reduced insulin resistance, and decreased cancer-related growth factors.[4]

So here I am, three months without drinking and counting. Not perfect, not preaching, just pleasantly surprised by the clarity that comes with choosing sparkling water over spirits. Who knew sobriety could be so... sobering?