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Seven Reasons to Try a Sober Spring in 2023

By Janet Gourand March 02, 2023 Health and Fitness

The global wellness economy is estimated to be worth $4 trillion.

You read that right – $4 trillion!

We are on an endless quest for vitality and youth. Yet many of us drink alcohol, a known toxin.

We start drinking at college just to fit in, then we find ourselves at work entertaining clients or just letting our hair down with colleagues on a Friday night as part of the “work hard play hard” culture.

As we get older, we switch to using a glass (or two) or wine in the evening to relax or to relieve stress. The evolution from “socialising” to “self-medicating” is complete.

Seven Reasons to Take a Break

Here’s the thing:

Alcohol is a toxin, and we owe it to our amazing bodies and brains to take a break now and then. To boost our general health and check our dependence – especially as we get older. Below is a list of seven valid reasons to take a 66-day break from drinking alcohol.

To Check Your Dependence

Alcohol is a drug, and we need to take regular breaks to ensure that we are not becoming dependent. 20% of social drinkers will become dependent over the years. Alcohol is insidious and sneaks up on us which is why an annual “dependence check” makes so much sense.

It’s Long Enough to Get Real Benefits

Most of us have white-knuckled our way through Dry January but 30 days is just not long enough to experience the benefits of sobriety. In my experience, 66 days of sobriety will boost your health, improve your looks and give you a glimpse of just how awesome alcohol-free living can be!

To Lose Weight!

66 alcohol-free days will certainly have an impact on your waistline. Of course, wine is full of sugar, and it also leads to unhealthy snacking. Even more important to know is that because alcohol is a toxin your body will focus on metabolising it first, before it turns to burning those calories in your food.

Improving Your Looks!

A break from booze will have a positive impact on your looks. You will lose that puffiness in your face, your skin will clear and your eyes will sparkle. The average US woman spends $300 a month on beauty treatments. Ditching alcohol is the best beauty treatment of all – who knew!?

No More Peer Pressure

“Alcohol is the only drug we have to justify not taking” – harsh but true. If you tell your family and friends that you have given up drinking they may well ask you why on earth would you do such a crazy thing. Whereas, if you them you are doing a 66-day alcohol-free challenge as a health kick, they will probably leave you in peace.

Improve the Quality of Your Sleep

To feel rested we need seven cycles of REM sleep. Drinkers usually get two at most. The resulting fatigue builds up over the years, especially if you drink a glass (or two) of wine every evening. Ditch the drink for 66 days, and you will sleep like a baby and begin to feel fabulous.

Strengthen Your Immune System

Alcohol is a toxin and our immune system will fire up to protect us from it. Our immune system gets weaker as we age, and we need it to remain focussed on its job, which it to protect us from disease. Taking a break from booze will reduce your blood pressure, bring down your cholesterol levels and boost your general health.

It Could Change Your Life!

After 66 alcohol free days, you will experience the “Domino Effect.” Your mind will clear and your energy and motivation will come flooding back. You may well start reviewing and changing other parts of your life – your eating plan, your exercise program, your career and even your relationships.

Why 66 Days?

66 days give enough time to change a habit and build a new neural pathway. If you are thinking about making alcohol-free living a permanent lifestyle then you will find it SO much easier after 66 days.

Even if you are just looking to cut down, then take a 66-day break and you will find it much easier to drink within the low-risk levels of one bottle of wine a week.

Need Some Support?

If you’d like a bit of support to get through the 66 days then join the Tribe Sober #Sober66 Challenge and get online, community and audio support for 66 days from the day you sign up. The Challenge begins on the 20th March so sign up today!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What habits have you adopted to help you lead a healthier lifestyle? Do you take regular breaks from alcohol? Did you find support in friends and family?

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Peggy Brodland

No- it’s not free. The challenge is $40. Which seems fair. I’m in for 40 dollars and the info and support. More to come.

janet gourand

thank you Peggy – for that $40 you’ll get daily emails for 66 days (full of tips, tools and inspiration), a WhatsApp group to connect with the other Challengers and a daily mini podcast for the 66 days. You’ll also get a 10% discount voucher for the Dry Goods Beverage Company – we’re delighted to have you on board and wish you all the best for the Challenge!

Lynette

I joined TS five years ago, got sober with them and am now stepping into my 60’s feeling fabulous

janet gourand

yay Lynette – your Tribe is so proud of you!

Loretta

Plenty of free options out there to discover the benefits of sobriety. SMART Recovery is one and has a thriving Women’s Online Community. Highly recommend along with SheRecovers and Women for Sobriety.

Janet Gourand

Thank you for the recommendations – it’s great that there are so many different options these days

Jan Borgman

It’s not free

janet gourand

no it’s not free Jan but plenty of value for the $40 – and many people spend more than $40 on wine over 66 days!

sue

i stopped drinking april 2016 at age 57 and have never looked back. I have made many changes to my life since stopping including leaving my husband and divorcing him after20 years, so single now and 65th birthday fast approaching in September. But I can say it was the best decision ever to stop drinking and I highly recommend it to anyone. Give it a try for 66 days and see how you feel at the end if you are sober curious. I guarantee you will feel great and wonder if your life would be better if you did not drink

janet gourand

awesome Sue – here at Tribe Sober we’ve seen so many people change their lives once they ditch the booze and get their energy and motivation back!

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The Author

Janet Gourand is a writer, a podcaster and a recovery coach. She quit drinking in 2015 at the age of 63. She founded Tribe Sober which enables people to change their relationship with alcohol. Tribe Sober is an international community which offers a membership program.

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