I Gave Up Alcohol for a Month; Here’s What Happened

Discover the benefits of a sober lifestyle because it is more than just a trend.

Photo by Kelsey Chance on Unsplash

I can’t remember the last time I made a New Year’s Resolution and had never done Dry January. In the third week of September last year, I learned about Sober October, when people give up alcohol for a month to spread awareness about breast cancer, when I saw a post on Instagram. I shared the post and thought it would be a great idea to try it out myself.

I consider myself a social drinker, enjoying drinks on weekends or vacations. Occasionally, I’d have a glass of red wine at home to relax. I turned 40 in 2023 and have been making healthier choices in recent years, including reducing alcohol intake. However, I lacked a strong enough reason to abstain completely.

When I decided to do Sober October, I only told some of my closest friends that I would “try” to do it, anticipating potential challenges. Surprisingly, I successfully abstained for the entire month in 2023, with my last drink on September 25th in Las Vegas.

I was curious to see how quitting alcohol would affect my body, having read numerous articles on the topic. My annual physical was scheduled for mid-October when I get comprehensive blood work covered by my insurance. All my results were normal the previous year, so I was eager to see if…