The definitive social lubricant, Alcohol, has been in use for thousands of years. This potentially dangerous but lively drink can be easily purchased in supermarkets, liquor stores, bars, and pubs in just about every country on the planet. These sales outlets are lined with bottles of dilute poison, each with their own unique tastes, colors, and bottle shapes, all carefully designed to lure in potential consumers.
If the health concerns alone were not enough to discourage alcohol consumption, then one would imagine a bad hangover would certainly do the job. Alcohol ranks as one of the top 5 most addictive substances in the World. It also happens to be destructive for the human body; causing damage to the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and central nervous system. It can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and raises blood pressure. All of which can pave the way to an early grave.
Alcohol, if discovered for the first time today, would be categorized as a Class A drug. Severe penalties in place for production, distribution, and consumption. Several movements across countries attempted prohibition of alcohol but failed due to its popularity with the public. For now, the auspicious beverage remains a cultural cornerstone of humanity and the state. Governments levy huge taxes on every bottle sold. The industry rakes in billions and stimulates the economy at every level of jurisdiction.
This isn’t anti-alcohol, there are benefits to alcohol. There are studies that suggest it might stimulate the immune system and keeps it alert making you less susceptible to disease. There are also social benefits to drinking that can benefit your overall well-being.
There are times where you should think to take a break from the things you enjoy. It’s better to see life from both sides of the coin to appreciate a choice. One of the primary reasons to take a break from drinking is to assess your quality of sleep.
1. Asses Your Quality of Sleep
The benefits of adequate sleep are innumerable and have been discussed by many different health professionals. While you’re laying off alcohol, make note of any changes in your sleeping habits. Ask yourself how well you feel in the morning and compare it to when you were drinking.
We all know that feeling of having a few too many drinks and passing out. Alcohol can reduce sleep latency, or the ability to fall asleep, but it significantly decreases quality of sleep. Some studies suggest alcohol prevents the body from entering REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. It’s a stage of sleep with high electrical activity in the brain. It’s theorized that the brain uses this time to forge and strengthen neural connections during this time. Deep sleep, considered to be the most restorative for the human body is also decreased when influenced by alcohol.
2. Increase Mood and Sense of Wellbeing
There is no doubt that having a few pints in the pub feels good and instills a sense of happiness. The problem is these feelings are short term, but with chronic use, alcohol can be destructive. It can alter many physiological functions due its solubility and it depletes the body’s natural balancing mechanisms by favoring certain enzymatic products. This can have long term effects on your body’s chemistry and lead to disruption of these natural mechanisms. They can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and even depression.
3. Gain Motivation & Reduce Brain Fog
It can creep up on us so slowly that it’s not easy to notice, but regular alcohol consumption can massively affect our drive to get things done. It also affects our ability to think with a clear head. Maybe enough to use one a medication reminder for seniors. It’s only when we stop drinking, and the fog starts to clear, that we find how much easier it can be to get things done.
4. Bigger Bank Balance
Drinking can be an expensive habit, and we often don’t realize how much cash we’re splurging on nights out – largely because of the effect alcohol has on our decisions and often lets us enter a care-free state of being. How many times have you covered a friend’s drinks when you couldn’t afford it?
5. Showcase Your Power of Will
Let’s face it, we can talk about the health benefits of reducing your alcohol intake but seeing your own power of will is one of the best things about quitting. It’s one thing to say you can do something. The feeling is otherworldly when you do it. Not only can you feel better, but you can also feel better about your impact on the planet!