A Healthy and Enriching Social Life Without Alcohol
LIFESTYLE – For me, drinking alcohol was strongly linked to celebrations and having a good time. Whenever there is a party or special event, it is entirely normalized to drink alcohol. This can be casual office happy hours or family gatherings, as if a social event isn’t complete without a toast. It’s so integrated into modern society and every culture worldwide that not participating might raise some eyebrows. Peer pressure can be enormous.
Why on Earth am I Drinking!?
But when I take a step back and think about it, it is very weird that we’ve normalized a substance that, when overdone, isn’t good for our health at all. And it is quickly overdone, I can tell from my own experiences. Alcohol takes away your self-discipline and makes you overstep your own boundaries much quicker. You might recognize it yourself, perhaps too.
Alcohol impacts our mental clarity and overall well-being instantly. Since I’m on my transformative journey, I start to question drinking these liquid calories more and more. Basically, it is pure poison and it has zero benefits for your health. The body doesn’t recognize alcohol, it can literally do nothing with it. Not to forget to mention the large amount of sugars and added empty calories it contains. Why on earth do we still tend to do this? And why is it so hard to choose differently when in a social environment, even when this other choice is obviously the better, wiser, and healthier one?
Astrid Alauda"Your body is a temple, but only if you treat it as one."
Saying No to Alcohol and Peer Pressure
It feels so contradictory, you know it is bad for you, but still, you are tempted to fall for it. It’s like having a cheerleader for an unhealthy relationship. The weirdness lies in the fact that taking distance from alcohol often triggers curiosity, skepticism, or even judgment from your surroundings. “Come on, just one more drink”, “don’t be so boring”, “what happened to you, are you sick?”, “it is the weekend, you can have a drink or two”. And so on, this is just a small sum-up of sentences I’ve heard in my life when I said No to Alcohol. You can probably add a few more sentences yourself. As if choosing sparkling water instead of a beer is a rebellion against an unspoken rule. What is truly rebellious is choosing health, clarity, and a vibrant life over the social norm that often is disguised as “harmless fun”. Daring to be different from the majority of the people around you is not easy. It takes strong discipline and character to question the so-called normality of drinking alcohol.
Steve Jobs"Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice."
No Alcohol vs My Social Life
The biggest struggle I’ve experienced myself when it comes to drinking Alcohol is having and maintaining a Social Life. On one side I’m determined to think about my health and all the benefits of not drinking. On the other side, I want to have a Social Life where I can have fun with my friends and family. Drinking is still strongly embedded in the interactions and activities in my culture. Back in the days, I was not mindful about drinking at all, I was merely joining everyone and had barely any limits. A large number of hangovers as a result including a high negative impact on various aspects of my life. I was simply sabotaging my growth and development, but I did have a rich social life.
No Alcohol and the Art of Social Resilience
Now, when a little older and wiser, I question myself how I can maintain a rock-solid social life without all the negative consequences of drinking Alcohol. The answer for me lies in the so-called Art of Social Resilience. I realize now that I have to arm myself so I can navigate through those tricky moments of peer pressure and judgment. Trust me, it will be very hard but worthwhile to start doing it too.
Picture the following: you’re at a party, everyone’s got a drink in hand, and suddenly, the spotlight is on you. “Why aren’t you drinking?”. What people who say this really meant to say is: “you are not one of us anymore, you don’t follow the rules”. And in fact, what truly happens within them is that they are afraid because you dare to choose for yourself and your growth. Deeply inside, they are afraid that you will outgrow them and that the life they knew with “The Old You” is history.
Jeffrey Gitomer"Resilience is not what happens to you. It's how you react to, respond to, and recover from what happens to you."
Personal Leadership: Inspire Others, be a Role Model
Think about a different scenario and response that could happen: it could also be the case that you will become an example for those around you. Maybe more people struggle silently with the same, but they never dared to step out of the old patterns and behaviour. You can show your authenticity and Personal Leadership by being the first one who decides differently. Be a Role Model! Keeping this in mind helps me a lot to stay strong in moments I start doubting or tend to fall back into old habits and seductions.
Denzel Washington"I think a role model is a mentor – someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them."
Embrace Your Decision with Confidence
When you confidently own your decision to drink less or no Alcohol, you not only make a statement but also set the tone for how others perceive it. The next time someone asks, “Why aren’t you drinking?”, smile and say: “I’ve found my happy without the hangover.” It will instantly be a conversation starter, trust me. Remember that confidence is silent, insecurities are loud.
Find Supportive People
Surround yourself with like-minded people who are on the same wavelength as you. Having a supportive network makes navigating social situations way more enjoyable and easy to navigate. These people become your allies in the battle against the infamous “So, when are you having a drink again?” question. Together, you can turn those moments into laughter and it will become easier to stand your ground. So, surround yourself with people who lift you higher.
Edmund Lee"Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself."
Be the Architect of Your Social Life without Alcohol
This is also a good moment to redefine what a good time looks like. Nowadays, I plan more activities that don’t revolve around drinks. Think about activities like hiking, board game nights, or trying out new coffee places. The options are endless. In this way, I take the lead in my Social Life by creating the activity and taking the initiative. Choosing differently will also bring me New Connections and Friendships because I do different activities in new surroundings. This opens automatically new doors and possibilities.
Charles R. Swindoll"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it"
Inspire Others without Preaching
You have to realize that people mostly ask questions out of curiosity, not judgment. I’m always happy to share my journey and the positive changes I’ve experienced, but not more than that. Everyone has their own path, and it is not up to me to be a preacher or tell them how to lead their lives. I just share my experiences and hope to inspire others. Even if it is in a small matter. Who knows, maybe it makes anyone re-evaluate their relationship with alcohol.
Napoleon Hill"In every adversity, there is the seed of an equivalent advantage."
Laughing is the Best Medicine
When faced with judgment or ambiguous comments, I use my sense of humor and laugh it off. This strategy helped me a lot in my life, and also in these situations it is very useful. Humor is my secret weapon.
Mark Twain"Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand."
The Transition: Navigating the Storm of Change
For me, there is a big struggle in leaving behind the old ways. The old life, including all the unhealthy habits, the “just one more drink” mentality. I still want to stay in touch with these old friends, and that doesn’t make it always easy. There were periods in my life that I didn’t go out at all, just to prevent the seduction of drinking. But of course, this is also not the way to do it. It creates a very high level of FOMO (fear of missing out) for me. It’s a dance with discomfort, a big clash between the person I used to be and the one I’m now. There are also moments where I found myself questioning my decision. Will the social environment ever going to understand the shift I’m undergoing? Will they accept the new, healthier habits I try to cultivate? It’s okay to feel the conflict, the internal push and pull. I embrace the discomfort; the more I say no, the easier it gets. And it doesn’t really matter anyways what others think and say, it is my life and my decision.
Jessica Helfand"FOMO is a way to commodify insecurity."
My Life Hack: The Perfect Compromise for Alcohol
I still like to have a drink now and then, like a nice glass of Red Wine with dinner or a Special Belgian beer when with friends. Because, let’s be honest: it is also delicious, relaxing, and enjoyable to drink now and then. But important to notice, the big difference with the old way is that I keep it at a maximum of 2 glasses per occasion. I choose mindfully the moments and make sure there is enough time in between them. This mindful drinking makes that drink much more enjoyable too! This is for me the Life-Hack to deal with not excluding myself from my social life, combined with being more conscious and mindful about my health. This is a total different Mindset than just go with the flow and drinking without thinking. This compromise combines the best of both worlds for me: I feel connected to my social surrounding, mindfully enjoy life and stay healthy.
If you recognize my story than remember: you’re not just leaving behind the old ways, you’re paving the way for a version of yourself that is stronger, more vibrant, and fiercely true to your authentic self. The journey may be challenging, but it is worth every step. So, keep going because you’re rewriting the script and the best chapters are yet to come.