Life Without Alcohol: 6 Years On

On June 1st, 2019, I gave up alcohol.

That’s 2,195 days.
6 Christmases.
6 New Year’s Eves.
5 birthdays of my own.
And so many other milestones — funerals, house buying, heartbreaks, celebrations, and major life transitions — all without a drink.

What started as a one-year personal challenge has become a life-changing decision.

At first, I was curious: How do people have fun or relax without alcohol? What happens socially? I had no idea that removing alcohol would open the door to a deeper, more expansive version of life.

Each year since, I’ve reflected on this choice — not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Alcohol was once my social lubricant, my stress relief, my boredom cure, my courage, my coping mechanism. Letting it go shifted everything.

I don’t hang out in places where alcohol is the main focus anymore. Most of the people I spend time with barely drink, and many of the events I attend are alcohol-free.

I’ve done many self-experiments over the years — 21-day push-up streaks, 100-day burpee challenges, silent meditation retreats, no sugar, no social media. But giving up alcohol was by far the most transformative.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
You can’t just remove alcohol without replacing it with a new way of living.
You’ll feel miserable if you try to stop drinking but keep going to the same places with the same drinking culture. It’s not about cutting alcohol — it’s about up-levelling your entire life.

Yes, you might lose a few invites.
But you’ll gain so much more.

These days, I feel free. I can be silly, joyful, relaxed — without needing a drink to “get me there.” I don’t drink to celebrate or to commiserate. I know how to do those things with presence now.

If you’re even slightly curious… if your gut says something isn’t working… if someone has gently suggested a change — take the leap.

Try one year.

You can always go back to drinking, but chances are, you won’t want to.

Your relationship with alcohol will shift.
Your relationship with yourself will transform.
And your entire life will rise to meet you in ways you didn’t expect.

If you want to talk or hear more of the real, personal stuff — I’d love to connect.
You're not alone in this journey.

And honestly? I’m happy and confident to say —
I’m bloody proud of myself.