The 7 Rewarding Benefits You Will Get From Drinking Less Alcohol

The benefits of drinking less alcohol can be a powerful motivator to cut back on how much you drink. Now, I'm not saying you should stop drinking completely (unless that's what you want to do). But cutting back just a little can have a positive impact on your quality of life in several ways, some of which you might not expect.

Below are the five main benefits that you'll most likely experience if you take an alcohol-free break for at least a couple of weeks (such as during Dry July or Sober October):

1. You will have more energy

When alcohol enters your bloodstream, it causes water to leave the cells of your body for the bloodstream. This results in dehydration which can drag on your energy levels.

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in your brain that helps you feel motivated and happy - after drinking alcohol, levels of dopamine often reduce below normal levels which causes you to feel unmotivated, tired and slow.  If you stop drinking for a while, your baseline dopamine level will generally increase and so will your energy.

But even if you're not feeling tired after a night of drinking, there are other ways in which alcohol affects your energy levels - it can cause headaches and nausea.

2. You will have better skin

Alcohol can dehydrate skin, making it look dry, flaky and dull. 

Limiting alcohol makes your skin glow by reducing dehydration, inflammation and increasing collagen production (hello, plump skin!) and giving you a secret shield against sun damage. 

3. You may lose some weight

You will likely lose some weight if you cut back on alcohol. Studies show that the average beer has about 150 calories, while a glass of wine has around 120. You may also be less likely to drink calories from sugary drinks or eat more unhealthy foods when you drink less alcohol due to having higher baseline levels of dopamine.

Also, because you will generally have more energy when you are not drinking, you will likely be more active and do more exercise which will help you lose weight and get in shape.

4. Your mood will improve

In addition to the numerous physical health problems that alcohol can cause, it also affects your mental health. Alcohol has been linked to depression and anxiety, as well as mood swings, sleep problems and memory issues. It's no wonder that people who drink heavily have a hard time coping with stress—alcohol itself is a huge stressor.

If you stop or reduce drinking for a while you will feel more motivated and happy and generally find yourself in a much better, more resilient mood. This is in part due to the rebalancing of important neurotransmitters in your brain such as dopamine as well as the increased energy you  will have.

5. You will sleep better

Alcohol disrupts the circadian rhythm - your body's natural clock that regulates your daily activities like when you're supposed to eat and go to bed.

It also interferes with the quality of your sleep so that you don't get enough of the different types of REM and non-REM sleep. Overall, this means that you don't get enough deep sleep, which affects your immune system and many other important systems that affect your health and how you feel.

Since quality sleep is one of the most important pillars of your health, one of the most important benefits of drinking less alcohol is that it will give you a better quality of sleep, allowing you to wake up more refreshed, energetic and healthy.

6. You will save money

Cutting back on alcohol can be a really helpful way to save money—and it doesn't have to mean that you stop enjoying yourself. You can still go out and order alcohol-free drinks (especially drinks such as Alta Ego which contain botanicals that help uplift your mood and energy) and there are plenty of other entertainment options, some of which might broaden your horizon and  help you make new friends.

Another advantage of saving money from reducing your drinking is you could use the extra cash to invest in a house or another asset that will reward you in the future.

7. You will be more productive

You will have an increased ability to focus on work and meet deadlines because you won't have that brain fog that can last for days after drinking (or continually if you drink every night).

You'll have more motivation because of the increase in your baseline dopamine levels, as well as the dopamine boost you'll get from feeling healthier.

You'll feel great about yourself and you will want to and be able to accomplish more tasks and work towards life goals that you had on the backburner.

You also won't have to spend time recovering from hangovers, which will give you more free time to spend on things you enjoy.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many benefits of drinking less alcohol and even just one of them may be reason enough for you to stop or reduce your drinking.

Not only that, but it will also give you more time and energy to spend on other things in life that you enjoy, such as your goals and spending time with loved ones.

Best of all, if you decide to stop or reduce your drinking, you don't have to limit your social life since you can drink an alcohol-free Elta Ego cocktail that tastes delicious, looks classy and helps lift your mood and energy to socialise.