3 reasons to do SOBER OCTOBER
IT'S BACK, BABYYYY!
Tomorrow marks one of my FAVORITE times of the year... SOBER OCTOBER!
For the uninitiated, Sober October started years ago with a group of comedians on a podcast trying to help curb one of their friend's drinking habits. It's grown to become an annual challenge people take part in all over the world. At this point, I've done 4 or 5? Almost all of them, and it's always always challenging but worthwhile. I love it!
The original challenge was 31 days without alcohol or marijuana and with an added exercise challenge. Honestly the exercise challenge is almost harder than not drinking! This year my plan is no drinking (aside from Canadian Thanksgiving or maybe my classmate's birthday party) and committing to getting up at 6am for a morning walk or stretch. Nothing crazy.
If you're not sold on the idea, here are 3 reasons why you might reconsider.
1. Alcohol is absolute shit for your body.
Sorry guys, but there's no sugar-coating it.
We all know alcohol is bad, but the extent of how damaging it is for our bodies is pretty rough. My happy little ignorance bubble was popped recently by an episode of Huberman Lab podcast. In it he explains in detail the negative impacts on brain function, the microbiome, and overall risk of cancers and other diseases. We're talking neurodegeneration (ie - LOSING BRAIN FUNCTION AND GETTING STUPIDER) from even casual, one-glass-of-wine-a-night kind of drinking!
It's wayyy more toxic than I'd ever imagined, and honestly... I'll feel pretty idiotic if I ever go back to regularly drinking at all. I highly recommend everyone take the couple hours to listen to this podcast episode and share it with friends and loved ones because it is bonkers and could save your life (or someone else's) in the long run.
2. It's an opportunity to break the habit of needing alcohol to socialize with other humans.
What's one of the first activities suggested when meeting up with people? Getting a drink. Of course it's fun and one of the simple pleasures to be enjoyed in life, but I wonder sometimes why we as a species seem to feel a need to loosen up with alcohol in order to spend time with each other. Socializing over alcohol is absolutely a part of human culture and tradition, but it's not the only thing we can do with friends and family
Sober October is an opportunity to break that habit and challenge yourself to connect with others from a place of presence and mental clarity.
3. Let's be real, when's the last time you went a month without drinking?
99% of my friends, family, and acquaintances are casual drinkers, meaning they have a drink daily or weekly. But even for the most casual of my casual drinkers, I know most of them can't tell you the last time they went more than a week or two without booze. Sure this isn't much of a reason, but honestly, why not give your body a break? You'll sleep better, you'll feel more creative, you won't be hungover...
So? Come on, join the fun! It's only a few weeks 😉
This past weekend I had the pleasure of celebrating one of my best friend's wedding... in Las Vegas! The ceremony was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous (definitely cried watching her walk down the aisle), and I was able to reconnect with a group of some of the most important women in my life. It was absolutely amazing. Grateful for the time we had together and to have taken part in my ride-or-die's special day. Also grateful for the timing... my body is ready... for sobriety hahah ;)
♡♡♡