Drinking

For the past six years of my life I’ve rarely drank. Through University I was a classic binge drinker. I wouldn’t drink casually on an evening; I was more the guy who would drink excessively a couple of nights a week to fit in with the crowd and do what I believed was ‘fun’.

In the past six years I’ve changed. I’m not here to patronise you and tell you not to drink as occasionally I still drink too.  If I’m at a wedding I’ll drink the Champagne for the toast or have a celebratory drink with close family. Maybe even a pint from time to time with a friend.

Stopping drinking regularly has contributed to growth in my life which perhaps I wouldn’t have achieved if I would have chosen a different path. You may drink regularly and still achieve and that’s great I commend you however for me it took this change to find balance in everything I do. Drinking gave me a mental fogginess; wasted days and limited my creativity. It may be doing the same to you and you don’t even realise it.

I’ve made huge improvements in my professional, social and family life since I pretty much stopped drinking. My health as a whole has improved too.

Health:

I used to suffer badly with hangovers. It would usually start with a poor night’s sleep which would mean I would struggle to leave the sofa throughout the day. This would regularly drag into the next day too. A two day hangover some call it. Often coined in a way where it’s a honour badge; it felt the opposite to me.

Night’s out would usually be on a Saturday meaning Sunday would be wasted and Monday would be back to the office. Does this sound familiar?

Since not drinking l, Sunday can be the most fulfilling day. Baking healthy recipes, walking with my wife & daughter, gym session, blog post writing & mentally preparing for the week ahead. Psychologically starting your week on the front foot as opposed to recovering from a hangover can do wonders to your mental wellbeing too. The Sunday dread tends to evaporate, the more fulfilling day you have.

Not only this but how do you eat when you’re hungover? I used to cycle sausage sandwich after sausage sandwich or chow down something healthy before reverting back to anything which my stomach allowed. Drinking (in excess in particular) can derail body composition and overall health.

Time:

Binge drinking night outs are a time exhaust. Not only will a night out last between 4-8 hours but the long term effects in my experience would escalate well into the next day. I would either be in bed struggling to sleep or on the sofa trying to make a day of it. Even if I did manage to venture outside the lights would be on but nobody would be home.

This was a huge time investment into a night out drinking. Could that time be better spent?

Six years on and that time is better spent with my daughter, my wife, reading, writing, cooking, creating and using the time in a way of which I will be thankful for for years to come.

Sleep:

I have always struggled with sleep, and drinking would make me far worse. Laying awake after the night out clicking on my phone, ears ringing from the loud music.  Failing to stay in bed past 7am despite only getting home at 2am. Struggling through the day and finally falling asleep to wake up still feeling groggy the next day. This may be a familiar feeling for many.

My sleep has improved considerably (despite now having a young daughter) since I stopped drinking regularly. Even if you still have a late night it’s much easier to function and enjoy the next day without the fogginess drinking brings. Not only this but I accomplish so much more the next day.

Balance:

I’m a firm believer in balance. If you realistically want to be a good husband, father, business owner and maintain a strong level of health and wellbeing, then balance is important. Balancing everything you want to do can be overwhelming and sometimes the scale may be a little more uneven (work deadline).

The key for me was removing aspects of my life which upset the balance completely. Drinking was the main catalyst of change. I feel as though I have more time, and the time I have, I spend more wisely on things which will improve me as an individual and my life as a whole.

Issues in life typically surface when someone has too much emphasis in one area. They may spend 15 hours a day at their computer and this will impact their social life and likely their health (weight gain, sleep deprivation). Alternatively someone may be an incredibly keen gym goer to the level they are there twice a day. This will certainly have impact on other areas of your life (unless you’re a personal trainer).

It’s totally ok to be just ‘good’ at a number of things and not ‘great’. Try find a balance which works for you and remove anything which could upset that balance. Drinking was the one for me.