10 weeks alcohol-free, Ten weeks. Seventy days. 1,680 hours. It’s not just a number—it’s a full-blown transformation. After over 40 years of hammering the booze, I made the call to bin it. Not just for a break, not just to ‘cut back’—but to properly, finally, tell alcohol to f*** off out of my life.
And you know what? Best decision I’ve ever made.
No More Cravings—Because I See Alcohol for What It Is
People bang on about how hard quitting is, about the cravings, the battle of willpower. I braced myself for a fight. But you know what? It never came. The moment I stopped seeing alcohol as something I ‘missed’ and started seeing it for what it is—a numbing agent, a thief of time, energy, and self-respect—it lost all power over me.
Alcohol never relaxed me. It f***ing sedated me. It never helped me ‘unwind’—it just dulled my senses and disconnected me from my own life. Now, I don’t need a drink to ‘take the edge off’ because I removed the thing that was putting me on edge in the first place.
My evenings aren’t planned around booze anymore. No more ‘rewarding’ myself with a pint after a ‘long day.’ Now, I live my evenings. I read books that make me think. I have real, deep conversations without my mind wandering to the next drink. I watch the sunset and see it, feel it. I cook proper meals, ones that fuel my body instead of just filling a void. I am present in my own f***ing life, and it’s the best feeling in the world.
The Physical Payoff: Weight Down, Energy Through the Roof
Physically? The changes are unreal. Over a stone and a half lost. Not from dieting, not from some militant gym routine—just from not poisoning myself and giving a s*** about what I put in my body.
Sleep? I sleep. No more 3 AM wake-ups with my heart pounding like a f***ing drum and my mouth drier than a camel’s arse. No more waking up feeling like I got hit by a truck. I sleep deep. I dream again. I wake up refreshed, not wrecked.
And the energy—I’m a different kind of person. No more dragging myself through the day propped up by caffeine and pure willpower. My body feels lighter, my mind clearer, my motivation through the roof. I walk more. I stretch. I do yoga (yes, yoga—who the f am I?). My body isn’t constantly recovering from self-inflicted damage anymore. It’s thriving.
Since ditching the booze, my creativity has come roaring back. It’s like someone flicked a switch and suddenly, all the s*** I used to love doing has come back to me.
I’m back to painting—acrylic pours, mannequin art, just getting my hands covered in colour and losing myself in the process. It’s therapy, but in the best way.
Photography? I see the world differently. I’m noticing details, light, shadows, textures—things I never clocked when I was fogged up on alcohol.
And cooking. F*** me, cooking has become a whole new experience. As a trained chef, I’ve always loved food, but drinking dulled that passion. Now, I care. I experiment. I use fresh, real ingredients and make food that nourishes me instead of just filling a gap. No more late-night takeaways or eating for the sake of it. Food is fuel now, and I respect my body enough to give it the good stuff.
Here’s the biggest shift: without alcohol, I have to feel my feelings. No numbing, no suppressing, no ‘I’ll deal with it tomorrow’—just raw, unfiltered reality. And f*** me, it’s powerful.
I meditate. I do Reiki. Meditation helps me quiet the noise in my head, keeping me centered instead of spiraling into old thought patterns. Reiki? That’s energy work that helps me reset, a way to keep my mind and body in sync. Both have been game-changers in keeping me focused, balanced, and tuned into who I am, without the haze of alcohol dulling everything down. I use visualization and quantum jumping (yes, proper out-there s***, but it works) to step into the best version of myself. And for the first time, I trust myself. I’m confident. I don’t second-guess my choices. I don’t look for validation in a pint glass.
I’m here. Fully, unapologetically, here.
No Limits, No Looking Back
Ten weeks ago, I didn’t know what life without alcohol would look like. Now 10 weeks alcohol-free later, I can’t imagine going back.
I’m not just sober—I’m free. I’m thriving. I’m creating, growing, healing. And I’m doing it with a clear head, a strong body, and a soul that feels alive.
I’ve redefined fun. Rewritten relaxation. Redefined connection. My relationships are deeper, my conversations richer, my sense of purpose stronger than ever.
So if you’re wondering whether life without alcohol is worth it? Let me tell you: it’s not just good. It’s f***ing incredible.
I’m not looking back. Only forward. Because what I’ve gained—peace, clarity, real f***ing joy—beats any temporary high a drink could ever give me. I wake up knowing exactly who I am, and that’s a feeling I’ll never trade again.
From Quitting Alcohol to Building a Meaningful Life
The sobriety journey isn’t just about quitting alcohol. That’s the easy part. It’s about rebuilding a life that doesn’t need the escape, that doesn’t push you back to the bottle. That’s the real challenge—figuring out how to fill the space that alcohol used to occupy. You have to face your demons without a crutch and learn to function in a world that still expects you to drink. From those brutal first days of sobriety to actually carving out a lifestyle that sticks, the journey is raw, relentless, and life-changing. This is what that path looks like.
The First Few Days: Body in Revolt
The body kicks off its rebellion the moment you stop. Anyone who’s been there knows—the shakes, the sweats, the pure hell of your system trying to reset itself. But every hour that passes is one step further from the poison.
Day One: The Shock Hits
That first 24 hours? Grim. Your body’s scrambling, figuring out how to function without the crutch. Anxiety creeps in, your stomach is a knot, sleep is a joke. If you were a heavy drinker, withdrawal symptoms hit fast—nausea, cold sweats, and that deep, gnawing craving. The body’s flushing out the crap, blood sugar’s leveling, dehydration’s kicking in. It’s rough, but it’s necessary.
Days Two and Three: The Peak of the Storm
This is where things get brutal. Many people relapse at this stage, not because they want to, but because their body and mind are in full rebellion. To push through, some find that deep breathing exercises, staying hydrated, and keeping their hands busy—whether through journaling, walking, or even holding onto a cold bottle of water—help take the edge off cravings. Reaching out to a support group like this one or a trusted friend can also break the mental loop of obsession. Knowing that doesn’t make it easier, but it does remind you that you’re not alone in the fight. If withdrawal is gonna hit hard, it’s now. Sky-high blood pressure, your heart racing, your brain playing tricks. If you’ve gone deep with the drink, this is when DTs (delirium tremens) can kick in—hallucinations, seizures, full-body panic. Some people don’t make it through this without medical help. And if that’s you—get the help. No shame in that. This is war, and you fight however you need to.
Day Four: Light on the Horizon
This is where the tide starts to turn. Alcohol is out of your system. The fog lifts, a bit of clarity creeps in. Your energy shifts—it’s not full-blown recovery, but the body isn’t drowning anymore. Some people start feeling better, others are just exhausted, but one thing’s for sure—you’re on the other side of the worst of it.
Beyond Detox: The Sobriety Journey Really Begins
Quitting booze? That’s just step one. Living sober? That’s the beast. It’s a process, a long haul, a complete rewiring of everything you thought you knew about yourself.
The Abstinence Phase: One Foot in Front of the Other
The first year is about survival. Staying out of situations that drag you back. Learning how to handle cravings without caving and building basic habits—self-honesty, accountability, and most importantly, realizing you’re not the exception. You can’t outthink addiction. You beat it by showing up, every single day, for your own damn life.
Facing the Mind Games: The ‘Maybe I Wasn’t That Bad’ Lie
At some point, the brain starts whispering, “Maybe I wasn’t that bad. Maybe I can handle just one.” That’s the trap. It’s never ‘just one.’ Sobriety isn’t about willpower; it’s about understanding that the life you want doesn’t include the thing that was killing you.
Growth and Maintenance: More Than Just ‘Not Drinking’
Sobriety isn’t the absence of alcohol. It’s the presence of purpose. This is where the real rebuilding happens—relationships, mental health, physical health, self-respect. It stops being about avoiding alcohol and starts being about creating a life where drinking isn’t even appealing.
The Lifestyle Shift: Making Sobriety a Default
You don’t just quit drinking. You replace it—because nature hates a vacuum, and if you don’t fill that space with something meaningful, your old habits will come creeping back. For me, that meant diving into cold water immersion. That first plunge into freezing waves jolted me awake in a way alcohol never could. It became my ritual—my reset button. Others find it in hiking, writing, or rebuilding something with their hands. The key is finding something that makes you feel alive without the poison. Drinking was a way to cope, to escape, to socialize—so what takes its place? That’s the key to real recovery, finding something that gives you what alcohol never could. You rewrite your habits, rebuild your routines, and cut loose anything that kept you stuck.
Ditching the Triggers, Rewriting the Script
You can’t keep the same lifestyle and expect different results. Nightclubs, boozy brunches, toxic friendships—all of it fuels the cycle. Sobriety means creating a life that doesn’t trigger the need to escape.
Small Changes, Big Wins
Massive overnight overhauls don’t stick. But small, consistent changes do. Drinking water instead of reaching for a pint. Going for a run instead of numbing out. These tiny shifts compound, and before you know it, they’re second nature.
The Journey with My 30-Year-Old Caravan: A New Chapter
Lately, I’ve been pouring my energy into something new—fixing up my little 30-year-old caravan, getting it road-ready for some adventures. It’s been a slow process, but damn, is it satisfying. Stripping out the old, making space for something better—it’s a lot like sobriety in a way.
I’ve already booked a weekend trip near Whitesands in West Wales at the end of the month. A dose of Vitamin Sea and Vitamin D, plus my absolute favorite thing—getting into the cold water of nature. There’s something about the ocean, that shock of icy waves against your skin, that makes you feel alive in a way nothing else does. It’s like the ultimate reset button.
This isn’t just about getting away; it’s about embracing a new kind of freedom. The kind where you wake up clear-headed, with no regrets, and actually get to experience life instead of running from it. It’s the ability to truly be present, to make decisions without the haze of alcohol clouding your judgment, and to find joy in the little things—like a sunrise over the ocean, a quiet moment with a good book, or a deep breath of salty air before diving into the waves. Sobriety isn’t about missing out—it’s about finally being present, about chasing moments that actually mean something. And for me, right now, that means hitting the road, sleeping under the stars, and jumping headfirst into the kind of life I used to numb myself from.
The Identity Shift: Who Are You Without the Booze?
This is the big one. For a lot of people, drinking was more than a habit—it was their identity. The party guy. The weekend warrior. The one who always ‘handles their booze.’ So who the hell are you without it?
Redefining Yourself
You start figuring out what actually matters. What makes you feel alive that isn’t tied to a bottle? Maybe it’s fitness. It could be writing. Maybe it’s just being present for your family in a way you never were before. Whatever it is, lean into it.
Finding Your People
Not everyone will get it. Some will question your decision, others might mock it, and a few will even try to drag you back in. The key? Set boundaries, stand firm, and remember—this journey is yours, not theirs. Some people will try to pull you back in. Others will fall away naturally. Let them. Your real people? They’ll respect the change, or they’ll be the ones you meet in the life you’re building.
The Big Picture: The Freedom of Sobriety
At the start, the sobriety journey feels like a punishment—like you’re missing out on nights at the pub, like you’re the odd one out at social events, like you’ve lost your go-to escape when stress or boredom hit. But over time, those feelings fade. You start to realize that what you once thought was freedom was actually a cage, and real freedom is waking up every day without regret, fully in control of your own life. But once you’re on the other side, you see it for what it really is—freedom.
Mindset Coaching for Sobriety – A No-Fluff Approach to Lasting Recovery
Right, let’s cut the nonsense. Mindset Coaching for Sobriety isn’t just about putting the bottle down—that’s the easy part. The real challenge is what happens after: rewiring your brain, shifting your identity, and learning to live with yourself without reaching for alcohol.
Most people try to brute-force their way through sobriety with sheer willpower. But the truth? That approach rarely sticks. Studies show that 40-60% of people relapse within the first year because they haven’t addressed the deeper issue—their subconscious identity still sees them as “the drinker.” This is where Mindset Coaching for Sobriety comes in, using meditation, visualization, and even quantum jumping to facilitate real, lasting change.
The Psychology of Sobriety – How Mindset Shapes Recovery
Alcohol addiction rewires your neurotransmitters, creating a dependency that traps you in a loop of cravings, guilt, and self-destruction. Even after detox, the mental and emotional habits remain, making relapse more likely.
Mindset Coaching for Sobriety addresses this by shifting your internal identity, reprogramming thought patterns, and helping you step into a new version of yourself. Meditation calms the storm, visualization rewires the brain, and quantum jumping accelerates transformation.
Mindfulness Meditation for Recovery When you first get sober, your mind is a chaotic mess—racing thoughts, regrets, and cravings fighting for attention. Mindfulness meditation teaches you to sit with these feelings without reacting. Studies show it increases grey matter in the prefrontal cortex, improving impulse control and making it easier to resist cravings.
Breathwork and Nervous System Regulation Techniques like 4-7-8 breathing activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and helping control withdrawal symptoms.
The Science of Mental Rehearsal Your brain doesn’t distinguish between real experiences and vividly imagined ones. Visualization helps reinforce a sober identity at the subconscious level, strengthening neural pathways that support recovery.
Effective Visualization for Sobriety:
Create a Vivid Mental Picture – See yourself thriving in sobriety. What do you wear? How do you feel? What’s your daily routine?
Emotional Anchoring – Attach strong, positive emotions like joy and self-respect to your visualizations.
Daily Repetition – Consistent practice rewires your brain faster than sporadic effort.
Quantum Jumping – Transforming Identity for Permanent Change
Quantum jumping, while controversial, operates on the principle that consciousness shapes reality. Some see it as a metaphor for deep mindset shifts, while others interpret it as a literal transformation across possible life paths. Either way, it can be a powerful tool for breaking free from limiting beliefs.
How to Use Quantum Jumping in Mindset Coaching for Sobriety:
Deep Relaxation – Use meditation to enter a suggestible state.
The Portal Technique – Visualize stepping through a doorway into a new reality where you’re already sober.
Embody the Future Self – Feel the emotions and experiences of sobriety as if they are already true.
Integrating Mindset Coaching for Sobriety into Daily Life
This isn’t about choosing one tool over another. The best results come from stacking these techniques together:
Meditation stabilizes the nervous system, making it easier to resist cravings.
Visualization solidifies the new identity, reinforcing motivation and purpose.
Quantum jumping reframes recovery as an identity shift, rather than just a behavioral change.
The most powerful transformations happen when sobriety stops being a fight and starts being a natural extension of who you are—when it’s no longer about resisting temptation, but about embracing a lifestyle that aligns with clarity, purpose, and self-respect.
Overcoming Skepticism – Science-Backed Mindset Coaching for Sobriety
Many dismiss techniques like quantum jumping and visualization as pseudoscience. But the reality? Traditional recovery programs fail people every day. White-knuckling works for some, but for many, it’s not enough. Mindset Coaching for Sobriety bridges the gap, shifting sobriety from a constant battle to a natural way of life.
By leveraging meditation, visualization, and identity shifts through quantum jumping, Mindset Coaching for Sobriety creates a path to lasting recovery. It reinforces neuroplasticity, emotional regulation, and identity transformation—key elements backed by modern psychology and neuroscience.
If you’re ready to rewire your mind and claim the sober life you deserve, it’s time to take action. Join my group, Sober Beyond Limits, where I share guided exercises and mots. Let’s get to work.
