Dry July 2020, Day 6 Alcohol-Free Inspiration

Is going sober boring? One of the biggest challenges people face in the first few weeks alcohol – free, is that feeling that nothing is quite as fun without alcohol. It’s not that life is not fun without alcohol, quite the contrary actually. Those of us who have been sober long term have found that life off the hamster wheel of drink, drunk, regret is considerably more fun. But it takes some time to get there. In the first few weeks sober, feeling the fun is something that your brain may not be quite adept at yet, alcohol – free. If you’re curious about why that is this post explains the science of it in a unique and entertaining way. The alcohol effect on middle aged “fun” sensors.

Here’s some food for thought on alcohol-free fun for this Day 6 of Dry July 2020.

Is Sobriety Boring?

Is having fun
Out with friends
Seeing what the evening holds
and where it will end
But
Being safe
Being aware
Able to tell someone
how much you care
Is it boring?

Is laughing
with genuine happiness or glee
Whilst out for the night or just for tea
Is it boring?

Is watching a great movie
Whether a thriller, comedy or a
weepie
One you will actually remember
On a cold night in September
Is it boring?

Ok what about
Being 3 sheets to the wind when you’re out
Slurring and unaware
Too drunk to notice or care
How will you get home?
Your friends are in a similar way
Is it really ok?
Or is it boring?

What about when you’re sat at the table
laughing much too loud
Trying to catch the attention
of anyone around
They roll their eyes and look away
It’s a bit boring!

And what about the many times recently
With your bottle of wine for company
You forget to eat tea
You settle down
Watch a movie
Halfway through you frown
What happened then?
Who’s he?
This character you haven’t seen before
You’re sure!
Oh well off to bed
You can’t recall any of the story
Or the plot, in your head
Isn’t that boring?

You wake up tomorrow
Rub your brow
You’re hungover now
Half the day is gone
You feel lacklustre and wrong
Isn’t that boring!

On day 6 of Dry July the fun you feel is most likely still focused on early morning clarity and energy. I love, love, love my early morning wake up routine. As a mom whos kids are still home I find that there is nothing more self-indulgent than being awake and about while everyone else in the house is still snoring away. I used to think of my wine time in the evening as ME TIME but the early morning ME TIME hours are indescribably better!

I’ve done a few accountability challenges based on this 100 Days of change post, which starts with waking up at 5 am and focusing first thing in the morning on movement and writing. I noticed the last time I did one that my energy, commitment, and enthusiasm, went up and down at a pretty regular rhythm. I seem to go full steam ahead for 5 days and then need two days to rest and regenerate. Kind of like a workweek I guess.

The trick for me with any challenge is really staying accountable and posting each day. Then I can learn my rhythm and work with it. It’s good to be able to see an honest account of the up and down that is part of being human. So today is day 6 which for me is going to be a quiet day. My body is demanding it.

Enjoying the benefits of a short term alcohol-free challenge like Dry July takes the same kind of introspection the enjoying long term sobriety takes. It’s all about understanding what self-care really means. What it means to you as an individual. Let yourself rest, regenerate, heal. What do you enjoy? Indulge yourself in what you need so that you have the strength to reach for your dreams. Even if that dream is simply to be at peace with yourself – Today

Monday morning
I’ve overslept
I’m yawning
I’m feeling a sense of fear and trepidation
Need paracetamol to rectify my hangover situation

Gonna be days of stress and self recrimination
Gonna eat myself out of house and home
Trying to make the alcohol nausea go

Can’t think in meetings
Can’t concentrate, I’m late
Can’t expect my colleagues to understand or to wait

Need the toilet quick
Think I’m going to be sick
Was last night really worth all this?

I’m just kidding in fact
Saved myself from all that
‘Cos last night I read myself the Sobriety Act

Whatever the buzz you get from wine
It doesn’t beat waking up sober
Wins every time 🙌

The poems in this post are by Floss. author of Alcohol and Anxiety

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