7 Alcohol-Free Activities
No matter what your reasoning may be, turning to alcohol-free activities can be a great way to support your mental and physical health, have fun, and live life to the fullest.
These days, alcohol-free living is becoming more and more common as people focus more on their wellbeing and health. Believe it or not, there are plenty of ways that you can spend your time, and enjoy your time, without needing alcohol to make things interesting.
For alcohol-free activities ranging from personal to collaborative, keep reading this guide from Sunwink.
What Are the Benefits of an Alcohol-Free Lifestyle?
If you choose to live a more alcohol-free lifestyle, you could see plenty of benefits. Here are some of our favorites.
Emotional Wellness
Many studies connect alcohol to issues with emotional wellness and overall mental wellbeing, and when you choose to drink less alcohol, you may be doing your brain a huge favor.
Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it can make you feel a bit slow-moving, drowsy, or down in the dumps. When you reduce your consumption of alcohol, you might find that your mental vigor comes back full speed, and may have an easier time managing stress or challenges in life.
Weight Management
Research shows that alcohol consumption may be linked to weight gain — and if you’re on a weight loss or weight maintenance journey, this just might not be in line with your goals. Alcoholic beverages can easily cause you to take in more calories, carbs, and sugar than you might realize, and all of this can be a recipe for unwanted or unintended weight gain.
Reducing your alcohol intake may be more conducive to your weight loss or weight maintenance plans.
Energy Support
One unexpected side effect of alcohol consumption is poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Studies show that alcohol consumption can have an adverse effect on sleep quality and duration, meaning that you might wake up the next morning feeling not so awake.
Drinking less alcohol may be an effective way to sleep better and longer, which in turn may lead to improved feelings of energy.
Overall Health
Alcohol can have a variety of detrimental effects on your health depending on how much you consume, and can even increase your risk for certain health conditions down the road.
Alcohol is known to deplete your body’s stores of key electrolytes, B vitamins, and minerals like zinc, leaving your body in need of nutrients after the fact. Alcohol consumption may also put a damper on your immune function, and because it interferes with your sleep quality, may reduce your body’s ability to cope with stress.
Choosing to drink less alcohol may help you support and protect your overall health, from immunity to nutrition to stress response.
What Are Some Alcohol-Free Activity Ideas?
Many people might turn to alcohol as a way to unwind, feel more confident, or engage in social environments — but what if we said you don’t need alcohol to do all of those things?
Alcohol-free activities can help you become more in tune with yourself, make better connections with friends, and experience more of what life has to offer. Here are some ideas to get you started.
1. Trying New Experiences
If you’re a social butterfly, an adventurer, or someone who likes to live life to the fullest, there are plenty of ways that you can continue to do this without alcohol.
Just a few ideas include:
- Lessons with a dance instructor
- Concerts
- A fun weekend trip
- A thrilling experience, like skydiving
- A day at the museum
- Cooking classes
If you already have a hobby, you can also aim to lean further into it and expand your skills. For example, photography enthusiasts may want to try out a new camera lens or camera bag, while those who are culinary gourmands might enjoy using new cooking tools or seasonings to experiment with.
2. Journaling
Journaling is a healthy way to sort out your thoughts, document your personal goals or progress, or generally work through your feelings and experiences.
Whether you are already an avid journaler or never tried this practice, a personalized journal can be a great tool for becoming more in tune with yourself while also spending time without alcohol.
3. Practicing Daily Affirmations
Daily affirmations can help you build confidence and stay on track towards your wants and goals, but they are also a great way to spend a little bit of alcohol-free time.
You can practice daily affirmations by saying things like “I am strong,” “I am capable,” and “I am confident” in the mirror, or writing these phrases down on paper repeatedly. Practicing affirmations every day can help you begin to actually feel the things you are telling yourself — and the end result just might be a more empowered you.
4. Reading a New Book
Whether you’re an avid reader or somebody who fell out of touch with the habit of reading at a young age, it’s never too late to pick up a new book and try to get back to your old ways. Reading can be a great way to escape from daily stressors or unwind at the end of a long day, and studies show that it can even improve longevity and support cognitive function!
Whether you love ereaders or traditional, paper pages, try picking up a book and getting lost in it for a while.
5. Making Your Own Mocktails
If you love the feeling of enjoying a fancy drink but you’re wanting to drink less alcohol, making your own decked-out mocktails can be a fun activity and alcohol alternative.
Sparkling superfood topics make a fantastic choice to help support your overall health while also providing a delicious beverage that’s anything but boring.
Sunwink’s sparkling superfood tonics are a delicious alternative to alcoholic cocktails. You can choose from a variety of flavors, such as Hibiscus Mint, Lemon-Rose, and Berry. Better yet, try out a variety pack so you can test the waters and pick your favorite.
Grab fancy garnishes like mint leaves, orange slices, muddled berries, and edible flowers, add your mocktail to a fancy glass, and enjoy.
6. Having Your Own Spa Night
Planning a little spa night for yourself might be the perfect way to destress and unwind. Run a bath with some of your favorite bath oils or products, light a few candles, turn on your essential oil diffuser, and kick back.
You can elevate your experience even more by adding a face mask or under-eye gels to the mix, and enjoy a tasty alcohol-free beverage to stay hydrated while you soak.
7. Planning a Craft Night With Friends
If you’re a social butterfly in need of some more interaction, try planning a night of crafts or DIY projects with friends or loved ones. Whether it’s making your own candles, painting, or crafting up your own home décor, a craft night with the ones you love can be a fun and productive way to spend your time — plus, you’ll have a new item to enjoy at the end of it all.
Alcohol-Free Activities for Everyone
Choosing to start living a more alcohol-free lifestyle can have plenty of benefits for both your physical and mental wellness. From concerts and trips to reading, journaling, and simply enjoying a night of relaxation, there are plenty of ways to spend your time without turning to alcohol.
Sunwick’s superfood tonics make for the perfect mocktail mixer or refreshing beverage when you want to start steering clear of alcohol. Not only do they taste delicious, but each beverage is created with specific benefits in mind.
For anyone looking to drink less alcohol, our variety of sparkling superfood tonics can make for a seriously awesome and delicious alternative.
Sources:
Information about Alcohol - NIH Curriculum Supplement Series | NCBI Bookshelf.
Alcohol Consumption and Obesity: An Update | PMC.
Daytime Sleepiness: Associations with Alcohol Use and Sleep Duration in Americans | PMC
Alcohol is not Safe even at Light Amounts | PMC
A Chapter a Day – Association of Book Reading with Longevity | PM
