I Was a Grey Area Drinker for 29 Years. I Quit Drinking 6 Years Ago. Here’s What Changed
I thought a life without booze would be boring. I thought I’d never have fun again.
For nearly three decades, my entire identity was wrapped up in being Sarah the Party Girl. The one who was always up for a glass (or three). The one who could out-socialise anyone. I didn’t know who I was outside of that.
But here’s the truth — at 6.6 years alcohol-free, my life is bigger, brighter, calmer, and happier than I ever imagined.
Here’s what I’ve realised since I stopped drinking:
1. Most people don’t even notice you’re not drinking.
All that fear I had about being “the boring one” or “the awkward one” — gone. Most of the time, no one actually cares what’s in your glass. The story was all in my head.
2. My anxiety pretty much disappeared overnight.
For years, I thought I had an anxiety disorder. Turns out, I had an alcohol problem.
When I stopped drinking, that constant hum of dread, worry, and overthinking simply... stopped.
3. My sleep transformed.
I didn’t realise how badly alcohol was wrecking my sleep until I removed it.
Now, I fall asleep easily, stay asleep, and wake up actually rested. No more 3 a.m. wake-ups filled with shame and regret.
4. Quitting booze is the best anti-aging secret there is.
My skin has never looked so good. My eyes are clearer, my energy is back, and I genuinely feel like I’m aging backwards.
5. Alcohol stalls fat-burning for 48 hours.
No wonder my kale smoothies and gym sessions never made a difference! When alcohol is in your system, your body prioritises burning that over fat. Removing it made every effort to look after my health actually work.
6. Alcohol makes menopause symptoms worse.
Hot flashes, mood swings, poor sleep, fatigue — alcohol amplifies them all. Once I took booze out, my perimenopause symptoms became so much more manageable.
7. Alcohol keeps our lives small.
It numbs our dreams.
It dulls our purpose.
Removing it was the single most impactful decision of my life. My world expanded in ways I couldn’t have imagined — new career, new confidence, new peace.
8. Sobriety helps you really get to know yourself.
When you stop drinking, you learn what you love, what you dislike, what you’ve been tolerating — and what you’ve been using alcohol to escape from.
Sobriety gives you the courage to make changes instead of numbing the pain of what isn’t working.
Click here for my Free Guide 100 Things to Do Instead of Drink
9. Life isn’t perfect without alcohol — but it’s real.
There are still bad days, of course. But I handle them differently now. I don’t reach for a bottle to take the edge off — I deal with the emotions, learn from them, and move through them faster. That’s what growth looks like.
10. The health risks were bigger than I wanted to admit.
Heavy drinking is considered 21+ units of alcohol a week — and I could easily drink that in two days.
Drinking 21 units or more each week increases your risk of alcohol-related cancers by 40%.
That statistic stopped me in my tracks.
Final Thoughts
For 29 years, alcohol shaped my identity. For the last 6.6 years, sobriety has shaped my freedom.
A life without alcohol isn’t smaller — it’s limitless. It’s full of connection, clarity, and confidence. And it’s available to you too.
Ready to Change Your Relationship with Alcohol?
If you’re curious about what life might look like beyond the glass, I’ve got you.
✨ Download my free guide: “100 Things To Do Instead of Drink” — packed with inspiration, mindset shifts, and practical tips to help you take a break and start feeling amazing.
👉 Get your free guide here and start creating a life that doesn’t need numbing.
You deserve to wake up proud of yourself — every single day.