I am trying something new in 2023. I am doing an “uncomfort” challenge each month.

Why? I view these “challenges” as experiments with my comfort zone and/or existing habits.

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To start the year, I decided to not drink alcohol for 21-days.

Alcohol has been a part of my life since I started college. Back then, my immature taste buds salivated for a cheap beer, and over time evolved to appreciate a high-end wine or a tough to find bourbon.

It is important to note that my relationship with alcohol has never been unhealthy. It has simply been a consistent presence amongst friends on the weekends or shared over a nice dinner.

So, as I wrap-up the “challenge,” what did I learn? Below are a few reflections:

• Friday, at 5:15 PM is by far the most desirable time for a beer… which, I think makes sense. Dating back to my time in college, the first beer on a Friday signaled a transition from the grind of a school week to the freedom of a weekend. Fast forward, ten years and that “reward” has become hardwired.
• How to fill my time on the weekend evenings? That became a serious question. Instead of socializing with friends at the local pub, I quickly realized that it is easy to fill time with the latest Netflix series…. I would argue an actual worse use of time.
• My hypothesis was that I would sleep better and therefore feel better. In reality, I would say that is only half true. Yes, alcohol has an impact on sleep but there were still multiple nights where I stayed up to late. And, my energy lagged from there.
• 21-days is an incredibly short amount of time. It may not be enough to create massive change, however, it is enough time to create space for reflection about the habit.

Nothing radical, but I’m glad I did it. The time created space to reset and simply get my mind right to kick-off 2023. With that being said, I think it is time for a beer.

Cheers. NH.