1000 Days Alcohol-Free: A Personal Reflection

On January 1, 2022, I made the decision to stop drinking — a choice that has transformed my life in ways I never imagined. Before that turning point, evenings often began with a glass of red wine 🍷 — part of my routine after a bike ride 🚴‍♀️, a round of golf ⛳, or an afternoon in the garden 🌿.

I never thought of myself as someone who drank too much, yet I knew those habits were leaving me feeling flat and frustrated the next day. What started as a simple Dry January challenge soon became a way of life — and now, more than a thousand days later, I feel immense pride and gratitude.

What began as a challenge became a quiet commitment to myself — one that’s changed how I live and how I feel. Clarity, calm, and well-being each day are priceless. The restless nights have gone, and mornings now begin ☀️ with energy, focus, and peace of mind.

Financially and physically, the benefits have been remarkable — I feel lighter, healthier, and more productive. Books like The 28-Day Alcohol-Free Challenge by Andy Ramage and Ruari Fairbairns, along with the Dry Days community and AlcoChangeapp, offered guidance and encouragement along the way.

Over time, I came to see alcohol not as something to rely on, but as something that had quietly taken more from me than it ever gave.

Since reaching that milestone, I’ve experimented with drinking socially from time to time. What surprised me wasn’t temptation, but how clearly I noticed the after-effects — feeling slightly off the next day, less settled, less myself. It keeps bringing me back to the same quiet question: what’s the point?

Yoga has become part of my daily rhythm, nurturing body and mind and helping me stay centred. Through sobriety, I’ve discovered a renewed sense of freedom and purpose that shapes how I live every day. Each mindful choice reminds me how far I’ve come — and how good it feels to be fully present. 💛

I don’t measure success by how long it’s been since my last drink, but by how much more present, balanced, and grateful I feel each day. That, to me, is what living life to the full truly means.