This is what happened when I stopped drinking for a month

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I Woke Up Alone? –

Jan. 1, 2020 – THE BENEFITS. Quitting an alcohol habit isn’t just trendy; it’s healthy. In a study done at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, researchers found that people who took part in a Dry January reported higher energy levels and healthier body weight than their drinking counterparts. And after a month of abstaining, their desire to drink fell, lasting several months after participating in the study.

If you ask anyone who’s done an alcohol-free experiment, they’ll likely tell you that they do feel better. My biggest, most immediate improvement was sleep. While it did take longer to fall asleep without wine, I stayed asleep. I clocked in seven or eight wonderful uninterrupted hours, waking up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

Like the participants in the study, I, too, noticed that I had more energy throughout the day, likely due to getting proper rest. The energy also translated to more focus during work. I found that I could surf my urge for a social media-induced dopamine hit just like I surfed the urge for my 6 p.m. Cabernet.