Cutting back on alcohol can help you keep any New Year’s Resolution.
Ah, it’s that time of year again: time for New Year’s resolutions. Some of us love them, some of us find them bittersweet, and some of us have sworn them off forever. At Workit Health, we tend to appreciate any good excuse for self-reflection and making goals. These are both healthy activities all year round, provided they come with a generous dose of self-compassion and moderation. So, as promised, we’re introducing the pinnacle of resolutions, the one that can help you with almost all your other 2017 goals. Drum roll please, here it is: knock your alcohol intake back a peg or two. Skeptical? Check out the Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions of 2016 (according to Nielsen).
Curbing drinking helps you keep every single one of these New Year’s resolutions:
1. Staying fit and healthy
Chances are, you’ve heard a thing or two about the benefits of moderate alcohol intake. It’s something that headlines love to tout, even though a study of 87 other studies this year suggested the reported benefits may be majorly exaggerated.
Regardless, one thing that has been well established by science is that when drinking alcohol crosses from “moderate” into “low risk” or “heavy” territory, a slew of negative health consequences follow. And what does moderation even mean, anyway? That’s important to know, because the distance between “moderate” and “heavy” might be smaller than you think.
A quick refresh: The NIAAA defines 1 drink a day as “moderate,” by 2 and 3 you’re already in “risky drinking territory,” and after that you’re into heavy drinking. For men, boot that total up by 1 drink, so 2 a day is “moderate,” and so on.
Have you been stretching the definition of “moderate”? Well, now is as good a time as ever to ditch the Amy Schumer glass size! Cheers to your good health in 2017!
2. Maintaining a healthy weight
At roughly 150 calories a drink, alcohol can quickly add up to a lot of empty liquid calories. So if you are looking to get to a healthier weight, considering your alcohol intake may be a good place to start (according to the NIAAA). Furthermore, alcohol leads many of us to making unhealthy food choices, and saps the energy we need to get a proper amount of physical activity.
3. Spending less and saving more
It doesn’t take a vintage as expensive as Dom Perignon for alcohol to put a dent in your wallet. Even the cheapest booze can add up to big bucks over time. The good news is that cutting down is an easy way to free up some extra cash to save or spend on fun.
4. Enjoying life to the fullest
This made the list of top resolutions for good reason! After all, what is life if we can’t live it to the fullest? Here’s the twist most people don’t expect: cutting down on the spirits can help you do that. If you are regularly crossing the moderation line, you’re most likely reaping negative consequences from your habits. Take time to give yourself a fresh start and clear head. You can always go back to your old ways if you want to, but give yourself a chance.
5. Spending more time with family
Let’s be honest, drinking doesn’t do your relationships with loved ones any favors. But sometimes we can get into ruts where it seems like it’s the only way we can have fun, comfortably socialize or unwind. If that sounds like you, we can help! You don’t have to go cold turkey or white knuckle your way through cutting back. We promise. Real memory-making starts with being able to remember the good times! And getting there is possible. You (and your family) are worth the effort.
