Go sober for October!

Have you considered joining Sober October this year? You might be wondering what life without alcohol for one month might look like and feel like. Can it really make that much of a difference – spoiler, it can 😉. Whether you’re considering cutting down or curious how you might feel going alcohol-free, Sober October is the perfect opportunity!

Why go alcohol-free?

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably thought about reducing your alcohol intake. Perhaps you have noticed how alcohol impacts your sleep, mood, energy, motivation, digestion, or mental health. You are not alone in feeling any or all of these repercussions! Alcohol has a way of sneakily affecting almost every part of your health!

By taking a one-month break from alcohol, your body is given the chance to reset. This means better sleep, improved mood, reduced anxiety, better mental clarity, clearer skin, and more energy for the things that matter. Unsurprisingly, your gut will thank you too!

The benefits of ditching alcohol

Better sleep: Undoubtedly, one of the worst elements of a bad hangover is the overwhelming tiredness. Alcohol disrupts your sleep meaning your body isn’t getting the deep, restful sleep it needs – even if you are getting an early night! Without alcohol disrupting your sleep cycles, you’ll find it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Cheers to waking up feeling genuinely refreshed and revitalised for 31 days!
Improved gut health: Have you heard the term hangover poo? It’s the not-so-glamourous way to describe how alcohol can wreak havoc on your digestion. Alcohol can irritate your gut lining, speed up digestion, and upset the delicate balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut. Going alcohol-free gives your gut a chance to heal, leading to a happier tummy. Your gut is the powerhouse of your body, affecting everything from your immune system to your mood. So when you give it a break from alcohol, you’re giving your entire body a chance to thrive. Check out our Gut Health Starter Pack for extra support and recovery!
Mental clarity and emotional balance: Ever feel like your brain is a bit ‘foggy’ the day after drinking? Alcohol slows down your brain’s processing power. This affects judgment, coordination, and mood. It impairs decision-making, disrupts memory, and can lead to that all-too-familiar hangover anxiety. Take a month’s break from alcohol and watch those mood swings and on-edge feelings disappear!
Improved relationships: Alcohol can often lead to conflict, arguments, heightened reactions, and damaged trust. If these issues regularly surface during or after drinking, it becomes increasingly difficult to repair the affected relationships.¹ Cutting out alcohol allows you to be more present, patient, and clear-headed. Without the fog of alcohol, you can connect more deeply, communicate better, and strengthen the bonds with those around you.
Weight loss: If weight loss is a goal, alcohol can turn your journey into a steep, uphill battle! Alcohol has a high amount of calories per gram. These are referred to as ’empty calories’, as they provide zero nutritional benefit. Plus the late-night snacking and hangover hunger triggered by alcohol, often leads to excess calorie intake.²
Look refreshed!: Alcohol dehydrates your body, stripping away that natural elasticity and leaving you looking tired and worn out. It slows down the production of new cells, which can leave you looking older than your years – no thank you! Alcohol also ramps up inflammation, often leading to a dull, uneven skin tone. The good news is that when you take a break from alcohol, your collagen levels start to bounce back!³ More collagen means smoother, firmer, and brighter skin. Try our Pure Fish Collagen to improve your skin further.
Improved organ function: Your organs work hard to keep you going, but alcohol puts them under serious stress. Taking a break (even for one month) gives your body a chance to heal. Your liver particularly thrives without alcohol. Doing Sober October gives your liver the opportunity to focus on properly filtering the blood, breaking down toxins, metabolising fats, breaking down excess hormones, and aiding digestion.⁴ Ditching alcohol also boosts your heart health and can even improve lung function!⁵

The list goes on! From strengthening your immune system to boosting your mood and even saving you some hard-earned cash, the benefits of ditching alcohol are truly endless.

For a lot of people, the nerves about sober social events are the most challenging part. Socialising without alcohol can feel a bit strange at first, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly you get used to it. There are SO many great alcohol-free drinks available now. Once you have a Heineken Zero or 0% G&T in your hand, you won’t feel like you’re missing out at all! This October, I enter my 10th month alcohol-free in 2024 – believe me, you will quickly forget you’re the only one not drinking alcohol among your friends.

There is no better feeling than arriving home with your wits about and getting ready for a restful night’s sleep. Plus, you’ll wake up feeling fresh and ready for action. No regrets, no hangover, just clear-headed and energised.

Reflect at the end of Sober October

Once you reach the end of Sober October, take a moment to reflect. How are you feeling? Its amazing how much can change in just 31 days. Congratulate yourself and be proud of your achievement this month. You will likely find your relationship with alcohol shifts after a few sober outings. You may want to drink less or just on special occasions. Or, who knows – you might even feel so good that you decide to keep going! Regardless of what path you choose, you’ve given your body a beneficial reset, and that’s worth celebrating (cracks open bottle of Nosecco 😉).

To support the charity behind Sober October, check out Macmillan Cancer Support. If you feel you need information or useful contacts for alcohol problems, please visit NHS Alcohol Support.

Try these 5 healthy mocktails for Sober October for a flavoursome start!

Any questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat, weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm.