It’s been hot, hot, hot in my part of the world and it got me thinking what a brilliant time of year it is to take a break from booze.
.
Obviously alcohol-free living is amazing all year round, but there’s something about the summer months that makes hangovers especially awful and clear-headed sobriety extra wonderful.
I know summer brings its fair share of boozy events – from holidays and weddings, to beach trips and BBQs. But honestly, you can totally do all those things without alcohol (and I’m willing to bet you’ll have a better time NOT drinking.)
If you’ve been toying with the idea of having an alcohol-free summer, here are 10 reasons that might sway you in the right direction….
1. You’ll be a better parent and partner
Cutting out alcohol frees up your time immensely, so you can finally get round to those things you keep promising (but failing) to do. Maybe it’s taking the kids camping again or an impromptu trip to the beach. Sobriety gives you the time to build better relationships with those you care about most.
2. You’ll make some massive personal breakthroughs
Taking a few months off from drinking will give you a lot of clear-headed clarity about you and your life. You’ll start to see where you’re making bad decisions and you’ll have the time to address problems, rather than drinking your way through them. It’s time to start creating a life that you don’t need to numb out or escape from.
3. You’ll have more energy
Alcohol seriously disrupts your sleep. When you combine that sleep deprivation with a hangover, you feel pretty sluggish and awful. Sober, you start each day off on the right foot and you’re far more likely to do things like exercise and eat proper, nourishing foods.
4. You’ll look better
The vanity argument for stopping drinking motivates a lot of people and rightly so. Alcohol dehydrates the skin, increases redness and can make you puffy and bloated. Basically, it’s not a good look, especially in summer when you don’t want to be wearing tons of makeup. (I wrote about the beauty benefits of sobriety in more detail here.)
5. You’ll be able to eat more ice cream
Here’s a quick bit of calorie maths for you: a large glass of wine contains approximately 200 calories. That’s the same as eating a doughnut. A bottle of wine has around 600 calories, the equivalent of 3 doughnuts. By cutting out booze you can trim down without having to go on a strict diet. Bring on the ice cream!
6. Socialising alcohol-free will sky rocket your confidence
Being able to socialise sober is a really good skill to have – there’s something incredibly powerful about realising you can handle events and have a good time without alcohol. Don’t make assumptions about what it’s going to be like. If you’ve not been to a party sober since you were a teenager then you’re probably a little out of practice!
7. You’ll have more spare cash
When you’re drinking, you throw money down the drain every single day. If you’re buying a few bottles here and there, it can quickly add up without you knowing. I did a poll of some of the women I’ve coached and on average, they saved £350 in six weeks – that’s $446 US dollars. Don’t put this spare cash in your piggy bank – spend it on yourself! You deserve it.
8. More headspace
When you’re trying to moderate, you have that constant ‘Will I? Won’t I?’ battle. Taking a summer break from drinking takes that issue off the table. There’s no need to waste hours wrestling with yourself because you’ve already made the decision; now you’re free to focus on other things.
9. Less drama, more zen
An alcohol-free summer means you won’t have any booze-fuelled meltdowns that you’ll have to apologise for later. You’ll also skip the emotional hangover that comes with drinking. That alone is pretty much worth it, because that morning-after anxiety, guilt and regret is incredibly draining.
10. You’ll make the most of your holidays
Lying in your hotel room feeling ill is not a good way to spend your hard-earned time off. Without a hangover, you can get out there and explore. And with that free time, who knows what new things you might discover, or what exciting life experiences could be waiting around the corner.
Alcohol affects our lives in surprising, sneaky ways.
I think you’ll be amazed at how much changes when you take a proper break from booze. Get out there and enjoy summer while it’s still here – no drinks required 🙂
32 responses
Another good post Kate. That’s it, I’m signing up to a sunny sober summer. it’s my birthday tomorrow and I intend to enjoy it without the usual prosecco celebrations. If it’s hot and sunny, I’m looking forward to an evening picnic
and swim at the riverbank with family (alcohol free.) If the weather sucks, I’ll go to the cinema and see Wonder Woman (bet she doesn’t drink.) Wish me luck!
You can do it Sadie! Have a great birthday – it’ll be more special without booze 🙂
SSS…sunny sober summer! I am in. I am looking forward to a lovely AF summer filled with lots of wonderful experiences that I will be 100% engaged in without any of the trappings of drinking too much. Sadie, Wonder Woman was great you must see it. I saw it with a group of my best girlfriends, and then had dinner afterwards. I did not drink, which is a first with this group, and I had the most wonderful time, remember every funny story and all the laughter and felt like Wonder Woman myself in the morning! Thanks Kate for your amazing perspective on this lifestyle and all the support and love you provide and promote here. Happy AF Summer to us all! C
Thank you very much – cinema booked so looking forward to it!
Nobody has ever summed up EXACTLY what was happening to me!!!!! The guilt, the anxiety, being a less than perfect partner, no energy, so stressed, can’t excercise or eat right, OH MY GOSH THANK YOU! I was beating myself up emotionally leading to more self medicating!!!! Number 9! Omg number 9. Thank you for this. I thought I was the only one. I’m a professional that works so many hours. I thought I was just not handling the stress of everyday life! I know now that my way of coping was making it so much worse!
You’re definitely not alone in feeling this way Jean. Go for it – you will really feel the benefits 🙂
I Am really struggling to give up the booze my partner of 25 years has finally had enough and gone to his dads cut out the wine last night and just had beers absolutely rattling this morning anyone any advice Also my skin feels like it’s crawling is this a symptom of alcohol withdrawal?
Jean,
Omg you literally took the thoughts right out of my brain and wrote them down. I’m so done w booze. My partner got mad at me last night and I’ve now said forget it and am ditching the drink. Not worth losing the love of my life over a bottle of poison. We are all wonder women ladies and can do this. Kate, I can’t wait for your 7 days to reset class. Sign me up!
YOU took the words right out of my mouth!!! I lost a love and I am only now realizing it was the drink speaking that turned me into someone I am not, day-to-day.
I am DONEDONEDONEDONEDONE!!!
Great reasons!! Looking forward to my first Free summer in probably 20 years. Thanks for all your support Kate. You just made my day!
Go for Sadie! You’ll have a great summer 🙂
This is so true! I have only (re)begun my journey but I had the most amazing 4 day staycation with my husband and kids this weekend. I was up early, enjoying my coffee and running around later with the kids. I wasn’t grumpy and hungover, and I know my kids were definitely enjoying the new me. I will say though, I ate a TON this weekend. Or so it seemed. Most weekends I barely eat and just drink beer, so maybe I just ate normally? ok maybe except for that giant chocolate bar I ate over the course of 4 days. Yikes! Ha. Love your blog and THANK YOU for it. 🙂
Several sober summers in, I look forward to another one. It won’t be perfect, it won’t be stress free, but it will be free from The Fear- the dreadful self analysis, guilt and depression that to me waS FAR, far worse after drinking than any physical hangover. I’d recommend being proactive and kind to yourself- new treats, new adventures, new plans….not just living your old life without the booze.You can and you will !
Proactive is good advice. I’m going to make a list of a few things to do and some day trips I’ve wanted to make. One new thing a week, even if it’s simple should be a treat.
Eating less or more is more common when you stop drinking. Enjoy comfort food and when you feel the urge to drink, it could be your body craving sugar. Frozen fruit pops are a really good treat to kick the sweets craving and aren’t super unhealthy, just a bit high in sugar. Trader Joe’s has really good lime pops that I love and Dole makes good fruit pops too.
I have lost my daughter through my drinking…. she chose to go and live with her father…. I feel destroyed and so ashamed by this and don’t know how to obtain sobriety…. I want this but need some kind of support…. my husband drinks 10+cans of fosters every day and smokes weed! I hate it all with a passion! I need some moral support here…. and am grateful for any suggestions……. thank you so much sober world xxxxxxxx
Dear Lucy,
I can relate to how you feel. Please don’t give up. The bond between a mother and child can endure many things and you can get her back when she sees you make positive and healthy changes.
Many prayers and good vibes to you.
lily
Lucy,
Don’t give up. I have stopped drinking many times–20 days here and then I fall off. I drank this weekend and it was very bad. My 90 year old Mom asked me to never drink again. That’s it. I’ve got to do this. I am done. 1 hour at a time, one day at a time. I am so much happier and all when I am not drinking. The benefits are tremendous. I usually beat myself up. No use. Haven’t blogged here since last summer but I am back. We can do this and your relationship with your daughter is so damn important. I am hopeful for you!!!
Jayne
Hi Lucy,
I hope you are checking in and being kind to yourself.
Jayne
I am really happy to have just gotten this email. I am on day 25 of not drinking. My plan was to get to Vegas after my first dry off since I was 21 (I am 37). Now that I am here, I don’t really want to start again. I am super nervous about a bach party this weekend with my booziest of all boozy friends. I love drinking with them. BUT I love no hangovers and I am finally feeling like my skin looks magnificent.
Also, I know there is some debate on this, but non alcoholic beer has been great for me. At a hot day with a BBQ or after a long work day. I have one and it takes the craving for a drink away, and then, you don’t get buzzed and so you don’t want a second one. Plus they are only 65 calories.
Danielle,
Yay to many sober days!:):):) I try super hard not to focus on my count as I found that for me I was obsessing (whatever method works, just make it work) let’s just say that you,and I are on a similar timeline 🙂 Anywho your comment caught my eye as I was sitting here eating my lovely, nutrient packed lunch with a glass of alcohol free white wine. For me killing off a craving with an alcohol free beverage has proven to be AMAZING. As you said, you do not want another after the first. It satiates that naughty demon for me. I have also found that after a particularly stressful shift (chosen career…bartender) having that alcohol free option has saved me from squashing all of the hard work I have put towards my sobriety. May you have a wonderfully “present” time at the party.
Stay strong, and rock on!
Muriel
I need some motivation from you. I would really like to do your sober school this summer. You seem so happy!!!
Thanks Kim. The next course starts on July 10th. I’ll be emailing some more details about it soon 🙂
Summer can be tough, seeing people clink glasses on a patio. And sober me says, you can still be at the patio with friends, but with soda water in the glass instead. And those moments when people look they’re having an amazing time.? It often doesn’t end well – people get sloppy, dumb decisions are made, phones, wallets go missing, accidents happen. And at best, the next day is fairly horrendous with a bad hangover. If anyone is reading this, and is really struggling, a pet makes a huge difference in getting sober. You just want to be present with this animal that needs only the simplest of things to stay happy. Thanks Kate, I always love your posts.
Thank you so much, Kate. Your blog is such a help to me. I drink very little now but only after disastrous results in the past. I wish that I had gained wisdom early as you suggest in your blog regarding rock bottom. My goal is for a sober and happy summer. I wish all of you peace, happiness, and strength in leading an AF life wherever you are in the world.
I need help. I can’t take this anymore. I am hungover yet again. I can’t do this by myself anymore. I can’t stand having this same conversation over and over. In the past year I have had too many Day Ones to count. I’m beginning to think I will never be able to do it. I’m so scared, sad and at a loss.
Hi JSN – if you’d like some more help and support to stop drinking, check out my free video series starting next week, or join my 6 week coaching programme. I’ve worked with lots of women just like you… and they all think they can’t do it in the beginning! Here are the details:
thesoberschool.com/summer
thesoberschool.com/course/
I’ve so been there! I am there now. Tried so many times I think I’m one of the people who will never get it. But I can’t continue the way I was. So I’ll start again today. Prayer helps me, but I’m seriously thinking of seeking out some counseling. Someone to hear me. Is this am option for you?
This is a fantastic site run by Kate. Some really great comments from woman all over. We all have the same guilt of what we have done, or that we have used alcohol to numb, de stress or forgot. However, this site and so far the seven day course is all about mindset. I feel so much better after a week with nothing. It eats away at too much of your quality time. Everyone on the comments should be incredibly proud of yourselves. I am so looking forward to the six week course on the 10th July. Thank you Kate x and to those who have taken the time to comment as they do inspire
Thanks Lynn! 🙂
Signed up to sober school starting July 10th I feel it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made did not think I was ready but Kate made me think I can do it and I hope I can with the right support xxx ps the money for the course bothered me until I worked out how much I have spent on alcohol both at home and out with friends in last 12 months and then realised it was a no brainer
This sounds amazing!
I just need to figure out how to deal with the first 24-48 hours being sober. Usually I’ll find any way to get even one drink in before bed, or I will lose my mind.
I don’t want to waste the last half of summer being drunk or hungover