SoberRo

Well, these are the things that eleven days of sobriety have taught me;
I’m absolutely on top of my feelings about everything, and I can use logic to settle what would be heated debates, were I to be drinking.
I’m a naturally happy (excessively happy) person.
I have a great family and friends who, to my surprise, think it’s pretty cool to have a sober smartarse girl as a houseguest.
I love mornings, they’re amazing.
Smoking is pretty gross. I always thought the gross part of smokes was the company they kept (as in, twenty pints of cheap lager). Yeah they don’t make my head hurt, but they’re disgusting, I’ll have to give up pretty soon. Sadly I’ve got a mountain of University stuff to do so my quit date might end up being January 23rd (deadline). Should I just bite the bullet and risk a fury-fuelled month of assignments and revision? All thoughts welcome.
Sober conversations are much more fruitful than drunk ones. Plans are accomplished. That’s something I hated about my drinking; all talk no action.
I thought I hated myself, but actually I think I hated the situations I put myself in for the love of drink. I’ve not been to a bar since, because they’re boring and when I am bored I am fidgety. No wonder I was dancing on (falling off) the tables.
Drunk people keep you sober. I live near a row of bars and I cringe to know how trashed I’ve been in some of them. When I see pretentious hipsters drinking on the balcony, I just see someone who got dressed up with nowhere to go. When I see dishevelled bender-enders propping the bar up, I think “there is someone with nothing to do”.
My brain works again. Short term memory, I didn’t have that until I quit. Neurones pinging into life all over the place.
I need less sleep. I sleep all the way through the night and I only really need six hours, rather than eight.
I don’t get food cravings; assume my nutrition is not being depleted by an overloaded liver.
What have you guys noticed?

CMack

There are many more benefits to be reaped. Congrats! I think you should hold of from trying to quit smoking (even though I am a huge advocate of it) until you are much founded in your new sober life. Of course, take the other opinions here too regarding that topic.

raja12

I noticed how well I was sleeping,and like you said,I didn't need as much sleep. I felt much happier,looked forward to the day. Unfortunalty I blew my 12 day streak last pm. Starting over again. For the last time,I hope. Good job! Keep it up.

next30

Higher energy level, I can eat again (really like that part) and work is less frustrating. My job entails alot of multi tasking and not spending half my day fixing my errors makes it so much more productive.

Sasha4

I like myself better.

I have more patience - before I would have just blown up over something small, but I am able to take myself off to another room and calm down before I take action.

I problem solve better - some problems or issues that before would have been massive, seem insignificant.

I am more passionate about certain things - I can get more involved with a project, an interest or a task without feeling hungover or wanting to hurry up and stop so I can get drunk.

Like you, I feel more observant. I notice how bad smoking smells, how boring pubs and bars are where the only focus is drinking and how bad I must have looked when I was trashed.

I think most of all my 300 days have been a lesson in morals for me.
I am a nicer person, I don't lie, I don't shirk responsibilities. I try my hardest to get on with people and not have petty misunderstandings or bad impressions, which in the past might have driven me to drink. I recognise that I am human and so is everyone else and there are bound to be weaknesses, difficult behaviour or things that you can just let go for the sake of being right.

For me, most of the time, not drinking has put a smile on my face.

Xxxx

SoberRo

Sasha, I can't believe I forgot to mention the stopping lying! When I'm drinking I lie about little, stupid things out of some misplaced spite (for whom, I'm not sure!). I also lied constantly about my drinking and remembering parts of the night when I didn't ...

And I lied constantly about bigger things in order to manage a situation, usually one I'd created myself. Such a stressful way to live!

300 days is fantastic. I've got an app on my phone so I don't have to count the days myself, but it says that today is day twelve. Can't believe I've experienced such a transformation in less than two weeks!

SoberRo

Yes I'm not especially resolved to quit smoking at the moment, mainly because of Uni exams and assignments. Rather than quit and relapse it's probably sensible to find a better time (after exams!) and do it properly. Thanks for your input!

dragon12

Great post. I'm on Day 8 and I am so much more enthusiastic about doing things and I have so much more energy. Must say, I'm feeling great.

SoberRo

Everything got much better for me once I'd got past the weekend. Good job on day eight

rainyengland

Good going on day 11 - awesome!!

I smoke and hate it but giving up now so early going sober I think is a disaster cake been baked! :-)

My plan is too see sober through to new year then boom - out go cigarettes! :-)

SoberRo

Yeah that seems like a good plan. I quite like the "take a break" respite from socialising that cigarettes offer. Can't think what to replace it with!

It will be great to give up though, imagine how healthy we will be!!

rainyengland

Replace it with chastising those who drink and smoke !.sounds fun! :-)

Not sure how many friends we would have left though!! ;-)