OcSober: 5 Reasons to take a break from drinking this October

Whether you choose to forego the drink for awareness months like Dry January, Dry July and OcSober or just to take a break and reflect on your drinking habits, it’s a great initiative that has loads of benefits.

1. Better Sleep

After a big night out, it’s easy to fall asleep but actually, alcohol affects the overall quality of sleep we get. Studies show that drinking alcohol before bed disrupts rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This can cause poor concentration, reduced alertness and drowsiness during the day as REM sleep is considered restorative and is important to rest and reset properly.

2. Lose Weight

This one isn’t guaranteed but could be a happy coincidence. If you drink on the daily, there’s a good chance you’ll shed a few pounds when you give up booze because you’ll also be reducing your calorie intake. Just be careful not to fall into the Good Samaritan trap and reward yourself before you see any results.

3. Save money

Need I say more? Give up alcohol for a month and you’re bound to reduce your bills. Think of all the occasions you usually spend on and you’ll realize it adds up quickly – after work drinks, nights out, birthdays and other social events, or even just a few beers at home.

4. Create Better Habits

Make the most of all these small changes and use your new motivation to create some positive long-term habits. When we feel good, we’re much more likely to make healthy choices in general. You can also use this as an opportunity to reassess your relationship with alcohol.

5. Rekindle Relationships

Taking a month off booze is a good way to consolidate friendships and spend quality time with the people you love. Good friends won’t make you feel bad about not drinking and we communicate better when we’re sober anyway.