How to Be Healthy Without Quitting Alcohol
It does not have to be black or white
Three years ago, I quit drinking alcohol and did not have another sip for 14 months.
I felt great. And the truth is, I only started again because I opened a restaurant and wanted to test our wine and cocktails.
The thing is, I felt guilty every time I drank.
My goal was to maximize my impact, and to do that, I needed to be healthy. And drinking is bad for you… So, what am I doing?
I wasn’t wrong, but life does not have to be so black or white. It is still possible to be healthy while consuming alcohol.
1. Control yourself
First of all, obviously, if you are drinking every day or going on frequent benders, you are going to destroy your health.
You must control yourself. Put some sort of restraints on your drinking.
If you drank yesterday, you probably shouldn’t drink today.
If you had a drunken night out last weekend, you probably should skip a couple.
If you feel bad after having a beer, maybe it is best to have a glass of wine instead.
Drinking becomes really bad when you go on benders (multiple days in a row) or drink every day.
So, don’t do that.
2. Tea is the best
I have an obsession with tea, partially because I want to be Uncle Iroh, but also because they make me feel good.
You can pick your teas based on the benefits you want. It’s like equipping yourself with a superpower.
The right green tea will reduce inflammation and control your blood sugar levels.
A nice dandelion tea is excellent for your liver and kidneys.
Ginger and turmeric tea are good for your stomach, reduce inflammation, and boost your immunity.
Tea is an easy way to boost your health.
3. Work out consistently
I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m a personal trainer or have the best solution for you to lose weight, increase your strength, or anything like that.
What I will tell you is that you should work out consistently and have a good variety of workouts.
Meaning, don’t just do strength training every day.
Mix in some yoga, running, swimming, or any other workout. Whatever keeps you entertained.
You’ll of course get stronger, but you will also see boosts in your energy, and my favourite, your mood.
4. Focus on sleep
One of the worst parts about drinking is how much it impacts your sleep. Even if you are someone who can pass out drunk, the quality of your sleep diminishes.
Many people would consider sleep the most important factor in a healthy life. So, be careful.
You want to get 7–9 hours of sleep a night.
You can more easily get this by:
Turning off your phone an hour before bed
Avoiding caffeine 8–12 hours before bed
Not eating 3 hours before bed
If you can nail your sleep, you will feel great, even if you drink on occasion!
5. Meditate
Meditation can be your little secret weapon. It is an amazing practice to perfect because it can be done literally anywhere, anytime.
The benefits are great:
Decreased stress
Improved focus and memory
Better willpower and discipline
Decreased anxiety and depression
Now, meditating won’t solve a night out at the club, but it will help level your mental state so that you can make better decisions moving forward.
When you drink, you are more likely to take risks. Meaning, you make worse decisions and care less about the consequences.
These effects linger the next day, making you more likely to drink again, go on a bender, and really see negative effects.
When I meditate for 15 minutes or so after a day of drinking, my head clears, and I get my life back on track.
Don’t underestimate this one.
To wrap it up
You will, of course, be healthier if you quit drinking altogether, but let’s be honest, it can be fun once in a while.
You can still be healthy even if you drink on occasion if you focus on these 5 areas.
So, do your best to enjoy the spoils of life in moderation, and the rest of the time, be healthy and be smart.
Thanks for reading