How I gave up coffee and alcohol for 15 months and what came of it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Tobias van Schneider on how he slept better, wasted less time on nonsense, and saved $ 1,000 a month.

For exactly 15 months I have not drank alcohol or coffee. My friends on Facebook and Twitter asked me to share my experience. I have actually noticed some of the side effects of not drinking coffee and drinking - I share them in this article.

1. I save $ 1,000 every month

At the end of the second month, I noticed that I had an extra $ 1,000 left. A lot, right? And while spending a little every day, I did not notice how such an amount accumulated.

I live in New York. It turns out that if I spend $ 1,000 a month, it's only $ 33 a day. 2-3 cocktails costing 10 bucks a day, a few bottles of wine home - 1,000 dollars ran up easily.

Do you think I'm an alcoholic? Trust me, drinking 1-2 cocktails in the evening is normal in New York. And when I got out somewhere, I added food or snacks to it. You won't just drink, you want to eat something. And before you know it, $ 1,000 has already been spent.

2. I spend less time talking

Very soon, I noticed this thing: my non-alcoholic diet robbed me of some aspects of social interaction. Here's what I began to notice about myself:

I just don't feel like going anywhere. It’s too tedious to explain over and over again why I don’t drink. Yes, absolutely. And even one cocktail is not allowed.
When a group of acquaintances invites me for a drink, I refuse, because I have no desire to listen to all this gossip sober.
If I do go with them, I can stay there for a maximum of an hour. So many sober people can concentrate in a drunken company.
I have never been an avid party-goer, and after giving up alcohol, I completely stopped going to clubs. It's interesting to watch how everything related to alcohol is gradually erased from life. For example, I realized how many friends I had, communication with whom was based only on the desire to drink together.

"Shouldn't we have a drink?" - this is the motto of our life. Because no one says, "Hey guys, let's get together sober, sit and talk." What the hell is that, why? Why get together? "Let's go have a drink!" - this is a call that needs no explanation. Everyone knows why and what will happen next.

3. I sleep better

Eliminating alcohol from the diet dramatically improved sleep quality. I'm not talking about falling asleep, but quality. Everyone knows that it is easier to fall asleep after a glass of beer or wine - this is the well-known "sleepy dose". But it is the quality of sleep that suffers.

I now sleep better and wake up more energetic. I used to literally ruin my morning with a couple of beers before bed. Of course, if you are a little over 20, then you are hardly familiar with these feelings. Everything will come with time.

4. No coffee - less panic, less stress

It's not a fact that my personal feelings will be the same for others. Everything here is individual. By giving up coffee, I became more calm and relaxed. Coffee disturbed me too much, anxiety increased, there were problems with the digestive system. As caffeine left my diet, I became more relaxed and poop like a king.

Despite all this, I love the smell and taste of coffee. Therefore, sometimes I indulge in a decaffeinated drink. Now I drink cold tea in summer, and hot in winter.

Interestingly, “drinking coffee” is also more of a social activity than a desire to really enjoy the drink. But this activity can be maintained by replacing the coffee itself with something else.

Summing up, I can say that I am happy with my decision and do not plan to start drinking coffee and alcohol again. But I am not saying that you should do the same. If everything suits you, you are happy - you do not need to change anything. I changed my habits out of curiosity. And, as it turned out, I like my new state.

P. S. In order to avoid additional questions, I will say right away: I do not smoke cigarettes or anything else, I do not dabble in any drugs. I have internet - dependencies are enough for me.