Today is my one-month milestone of being alcohol-free. From now on it will be a monthly milestone until I hit a year then it will be yearly.
Each time I hit a new milestone I thought it would be good to reflect on how going alcohol-free has changed my life.
Getting up at 5 am is now easy and it's something that is already consistent and so if I can manage it in the dark winter mornings, it will be a doddle when it's light outside. One tip I have found helps is to keep my blinds closed at night. That was when I wake up with my SAD alarm clock and the room if filled with light, I have no idea what is going on in the world outside. Instead, I just get up, shower, make my bed and go about my morning routine. If I had my blinds open and woke up to darkness outside or rain, I know I wouldn't feel as motivated to get up.
If I only do it Monday to Friday those 2 extra hours equate to 10 hours, which is like a free day of productivity every week. When our own mortality is so unpredictable and we don't know how long we have, who wouldn't want an extra day FREE every week?
Obviously getting up at 5am isn't for everyone, and trust me I used to think that sounded like hell but now I just see it as free time every day that's just for me. I get a chance to get in front of the day and set the pace and temperature myself. Instead of waking up last minute, groggy and rushed and reacting to everything that's thrown at me. If you share a bed with a partner then waking them up at 5 is going to cause problems in your relationship when it's not something they signed up to.
I love getting out into the fresh air every morning early to walk Bella before most people are up so I can just clear my head and take in everything around me that I usually take for granted.
Going to bed at 10pm instead of midnight so that I can have those two hours back in the morning is a breeze because my mind isn't racing with things I need to do. That's because I'm organised and getting those things done each morning when nobody is bothering me and so I feel on top of stuff. I have 3 mid-maps in 3 separate pads where I empty my brain with stuff I need to do and put them onto one of those mind maps. There is one for the 3 main areas of my life, WORK, PERSONAL and THE TAVERN. Before I go to sleep I put a star next to 3 things on each of the pads that I want to get done the next day. This way I don't put all my energy into only one area of my life and so it gives me balance.
I'm trying as much as I can to simplify everything in my life. I'm starting new practices that will over time become habits that my subconscious does without thinking. For example, when I enter the house after work, I put my keys in the same place immediately as I get home. That way I know where they will be when I need to go out. Once I leave the house regardless of whether I'm wearing jeans a hoody with pockets or a big coat, my keys always go in my right-hand pocket so I'm not panicking scrambling around, looking for them I know where they will be. It's only something small but it's one less thing to think about. The amount of stress it can cause when you go to leave for work and can't find your keys is unbelievable and it doesn't need to be that way.
Little things that help my environment feel more productive and comfortable such as tidying the lounge before I go to bed so I come down to a welcoming room. Not leaving pots in the sink and just filling them in the dishwasher instead. All these little changes I'm trying to make are helping me feel more content and at peace. I'm reading a chapter of a book a day with my morning coffee so I can start working through a lot of the books I bought and started reading when I was going on holiday then never had the time to finish them. I've always had the time to finish them I've just never thought to use the opportunity to read while having my morning coffee.
A lot of these changes I am making would not be possible if I was still going out and drinking at weekend. I know that alcohol clearing played a big part in the decline of my mental health because I haven't had one dark day in this past month. The fact that it is winter and usually my worst time of year (or so I thought). Just shows the difference being clear-headed has made and not having beer fear after a night out and feeling low for the first 3 days of the week. I am not going to turn into one of these preachy people trying to convert everyone to going alcohol-free as people have to do what feels right for them. This just feels right for me and I have not felt this good in as long as I can remember. All these small changes are having a huge effect as a cumulative and I'm looking forward to what's next.
2023 I want to be the best me I can be (or at least on that path to being). So I am taking making a lot of little changes and trying to improve different areas of my life so I can get the most out of my days/months/years. Nobody is perfect and I will still do/say things I regret but at least I will be present enough to be aware of my misgivings.
In other news, I had a great day in Cockermouth, Cumbria. The weather was lovely and although there was a huge traffic jam on the way there due to an accident up ahead. I was thankful that I wasn't involved and also used the time to listen to an audiobook, instead of getting stressed. I let my customer know I was running late so just settled in and decided not to stress over something I had no control over. Had a really productive day and activated two new accounts for new companies. Result!