My Alcohol-Free Journey - Part 2: Those First 30 Days

Hello again, friends!

If you’re joining me for the first time, I’m Emily - 53 years old, over 4 years alcohol-free, and passionate about helping others navigate their own journey to freedom from alcohol. In my previous post, I shared how a particularly rough Christmas morning hangover in 2020 became the catalyst for my Dry January experiment. 

Today, I want to get real about what those first 30 days were actually like. Spoiler alert: they weren’t always pretty, but they were absolutely worth it.

Week 1

I was so nervous that I wouldn’t make it through even one day without drinking. I had already decided not to cook dinner that first night, to keep me out of the kitchen and out of my drinking routine. As 5 pm neared (my usual start time), I poured a La Croix into my stemless wine glass, added some cranberry juice and a slice of lime, and powered through my first “witching hour”. After dinner, I fired up the electric tea kettle, brewed some herbal tea, and went into my bedroom. I watched Food Network, ate some chocolate, and basically just pampered myself the rest of the evening. I was super proud of myself when I went to bed that night, knowing I had made it!

Sleeping that first week was honestly hard at first. I was used to drinking until around bedtime, and then just quickly falling asleep. Not the case without the numbing effect of alcohol. But I was mentally prepared for this and didn’t let it discourage me. I still woke up around 3 am, but was able to fall back asleep rather quickly, which wasn’t the case when I was drinking.

I eventually cooked dinner that week, and focused on playing music that made me happy and sipping on my non-alcoholic alternative drink as I prepped and cooked. I felt so powerful knowing I could make it through this evening routine without wine. I was starting to actually gain some confidence in myself!

Weeks 2 & 3

During these weeks, I really started to feel better physically. I was sleeping through the night, waking up refreshed, and my head was no longer foggy during the morning hours. I was exercising without a hangover for the first time in years! I didn’t realize how bad I felt when I was drinking until I began to feel good again. I felt like a curtain was being pulled back and I could see a new world opening up for me. 

I still had some cravings for sure. Dinner time was always the trickiest part of the evening. I maintained drinking my non-alcoholic alternative and started to have fun purchasing new ones and figuring out what I liked best. Sugar cravings were real, and I let myself satisfy those without guilt. Strangely, I also found that cheese could help stop my alcohol craving, so the more cheese, the merrier, I decided! 

I noticed that my anxiety was decreasing during these weeks. My hands, which were shaky before, were now steady and relaxed. I stopped noticing my heart racing for no apparent reason, and began to really appreciate my breath as a calming presence when I needed it to be. I started feeling more present in my body, and I was actually ok with that again. It was like I was working with my body and my mind, instead of trying to ignore or numb them. 

Week 4

When I reached Day 21, I felt like I had climbed Mount Everest. Never did I think I could go that long without drinking. And I didn’t feel deprived, or like I needed to “white knuckle” it to go any further. I felt at peace and whole, and I knew I didn’t want to ever go back to how I felt just 22 days before.

Even though it was in the middle of a cold, dreary January, I felt so alive and ready for whatever was next. I had yet to publicly “announce” my newfound sobriety, but I was growing more and more confident in my decision each day. That definitely helped contribute to my success when I did have my first sober social event. Knowing my “why” and feeling better than I had in years was enough to hold me up and remind me why I was never going back. 

My thoughts were clear, my body was healing, I began to crave water and could feel it rejuvenating my chronically dehydrated body. The more I read about the literal poison that alcohol is, the more I was determined to keep it out of my system. The simple acts of educating myself and being gentle with myself during that first month truly brought me to a place I had only hoped I could be. And now I want to share this transformation with as many people as I can! 

Some Things I Learned During My First 30 Days Alcohol-Free

• The cravings are temporary - They come in waves and always pass if you ride them out 
• Find your people - Whether online or in person, connecting with others on the same journey makes all the difference

• Replace rather than remove - Focus on adding new rituals and pleasures rather than just eliminating alcohol

• Get curious, not judgmental - When you feel the urge to drink, ask yourself what need you’re really trying to meet

• Celebrate every small win - Each alcohol-free day is an achievement worth acknowledging

And just a reminder, everyone’s journey is different. Your experience may not look or feel like mine, and that’s to be expected. I just wanted to share a snapshot of my first 30 days to show you some of the feelings and physical effects that might happen. 

If you’re curious about starting your own alcohol-free experiment, I’d love to support you. My private one-on-one coaching program, Freedom Uncorked, is a great way to get to the bottom of your triggers and cravings, and break free from the wine culture we are living in. I found that having someone to talk to, who has been through what I was going through, was invaluable in my journey. This is a 12-week, comprehensive program where we will meet together once a week for an hour-long call, and you will have unlimited messaging access to me throughout the program as well. Find out more info on my website, www.livingfreewithemily.com.

To living free,

Emily