I have not quit drinking in the sense of never touching alcohol at all, but I have quit drinking and the benefits are immense. As I posted before, I used to drink as much as 3-4 times a night, generally downing at least six each time.
Money is one obvious benefit of not drinking (even if you do it at home, you probably save at least $20 a week), but much more important is the time you save. It amazes me how much more time I have. If you start drinking around eight and stop around one, that is a solid five hours gone! Then you will wake up the next morning groggy and hung over, which means that although that time isn't gone you will get way less out of it. For me that was a major problem: I had to go to class! Without drinking I wake up easily and feeling fine, go to class, and have to study far less than before because I get it the first time.
Physically I saw benefits as well. I experienced a creeping weight gain while I was drinking heavily that has reversed. I also don't feel as sick as I did when I was drinking (when you drink three or four times a week, hung over days become the norm).
The biggest benefits have been mental. The fogginess I used to feel while hung over has gone, but overall I don't feel illuminated all day long. What I have gained is more along the lines of self-confidence, a feeling that I don't need alcohol. I also feel less depressed and anxious. That's a bit of a chicken and egg question: do you drink because you feel bad or do you feel bad because you drink? In general it's both, but there is no doubt in my mind that alcohol leaves you feeling worse about yourself the more you abuse it.
Like I said, I still have a drink every once at a while at bars or parties. I don't completely abstain, but I have learned how important moderation is when it comes to alcohol. I am extremely glad that I figured that out before I let alcohol dominate my young adult years, rob me of much personal growth, and make me chronically ill.
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