Just how much life revolves around alcohol, mostly like hook ups or hanging out with people.

It's like all adults do... work all week, to drink Friday/Saturday night and be lazy/recover from a hangover on Sunday.

Surely there has to be more to life than this, no?

I've been making some really great gym progress lately, and feel that alcohol would hinder it, so I took a break from it -- one day I'd like to come back to having a beer.

If you get too used to it, then life can start to seem pretty damn dull without it. That's the main reason why it's always been such a battle for me to give it up.

Over 1 year sober. At this point I have no desire to drink and my brain is only starting to heal. I came to the same realization as you op, the longer you go without it the more you realize how pathetic most adults are, living for that few drinks on some dirtbag patio in a dive bar. No fukn thanks

Yeah I love drinking but limit it because it ruins my whole next day and makes it a struggle to stay lean. Every once in a while is ok but I make it a point to not develop a habit.

never look
bACK

Thats a great point, you shouldn't fixate on that being the highlight of your week/life. You've gotta develop positive habits that dn't revolve around alcohol, if i'm not being social then i'd probably never drink again because of the drawbacks and even then when I was on my fitness journey, I would mainly not drink because my goals transcended the need to drink.

“Let's kind of jump in this and let's talk about alcohol. So actually the first kind of thing I want to say is that I actually believe that it's important to, when you're on a fitness journey, I think it's important to have fun to live your life to go out to chill with friends and socialize maybe even yeah have those few drinks.” – Greg - Kinobody

The final line is the ah ha moment OP-coming back to having a beer.

That’s the key to balance, having a beer. Not getting trashed, not drinking too much or too often, but being able to enjoy yourself without eliminating or addiction.

Have a beer with friends if you want. Just don’t have 4 or get sloshed every weekend.

I legitimately don’t know a single adult over 25ish who does this, srs.

From drinking 5x a week for decades, now to drinking once every 4 months , goat feeling and happy wife . I wish this goat feeling upon all you AA

I limit it for health and I don't like being dependent on anything......besides caffeine haha

This. If I’ve got too much free time on my hands I’m gonna hit the booze because I just get bored

Taking a break is always good, once you hit the two week mark you really start to see the change. Everyone should do a minimum of a month break just to see the difference. Once it’s out of your system it’s a lot easier to not fall back into the habit.

Routine drinking is probably one of the worse things you can do. I struggle with it, especially being a tradie. It throws everything off, your mind, your moods, your performance etc.

I’m not a huge social person anymore, mainly spend time with my wife at home and the occasional date night. So what works for me is a long alcohol break, and then I won’t allow myself to bring home alcohol so I’m not tempted to get back into the routine. But a beer or two with a buddy after work every now and then I’ll allow myself. Just gotta find what works for you and get your habits as normal as possible. I don’t wanna be completely sober, I think complete sobriety is for people that have absolutely no self control whatsoever. Most people have some sort of self control, it’s not easy, but it feels good when you know when you’re in control of things like that in your life.

Thats a great way to put it, I like having control.

With jobs going towards the fully remote route, I think many people, especially those who were already dabbling in alcoholism, are faced with daily temptation, or even picking up drinking as a behavioral habit.

I think it's not a huge deal to have occasional drinks unless you're facing warning signs like waking up the next day with a hangover, suffering memory loss (blackout), making some mistakes in judgment/character, having temptations/thoughts about alcohol all of the time, or similar.

Other than the trope of "a glass of red wine of day is healthy for the heart," it's still something that should be looked at as a poison/toxin. It's optimal to have no substances that you find yourself desiring and wasting money/Calories/time on. But it can also be acceptable to find healthier alternatives. Example being weed tbh.

The last time I took a break from alcohol I aimed for a month, and then time continued and I found out I lasted like 45sh days before I had another drink. And I only had that drink because bars were opening up again from COVID and friends invited me out, I was prepared to go more months without ever drinking, but didn't as a choice. Point is, I believe if anyone can make it 30 days, or even 2 weeks tbh, they'll find themselves feeling less dopamine/excitement from the thought of alcohol, or even forget about it.

Since I took a break from drinking I've realized…

That drinking is amazing and makes my life better.

lol this 10000x

didn't drink the entire pandemic and got back into it this summer, god how I missed it

you guys must be losers srs

Dude you are 37. Most people realize this by 30.

I’ve realised the same thing. Everything social involves drink over here. The thing is,
I love drinking after a long week of work and getting buzzed. Even during weekdays sometimes. It’s a tough one.

^^^ it needs a bit of planning and trying new things, but time to find new activities to fill the void

Things like hiking, any sport, outdoors chit, any hobby, you will meet like minded people who don't spend their time drinking

Repped. I needed this advice. Free time is the killer. That’s why I’ve slipped to more frequent drinking since the pandemic and working from home.

You don't know a single adult in the UK over 25 that works all week then drinks on a Friday or Saturday night and suffers from a hangover on a Sunday?

In that case you don't live in the UK considering thats about 80% of the fuking population mate

have any of you considered just having a whiskey after work and then having dinner maybe? on friday for example. you don't have to always be smashed and hung over the next day.

like if i'm having italian food i genuinely enjoy some dry red wine with it. i'm not chugging it and blacking out. the idea of regularly/weekly drinking to the point where your'e hung over is a problem.

No chit wtf do you think they are talking about

Mostly sober crew


I have "relapses" here and there but I've spent far more time sober since about 25 than drinking or drugging. It's just a superior way to experience life imo. I think everyone should try 5 years sober and see how much their personality and life can change. I still went to bars and played pool, hooked up with slots when I was single, etc. Learning to do all that sober and having a few years of hangover-free life will make a man out of you srs.