Sobriety and The Glow-Up: How Quitting Drinking Changed My Mind, Body, and Business

Thirty-four days sober and counting—and it’s like I traded my anxiety for clarity, my chaos for peace, and my hangovers for hustling my dreams. I could do the whole cliché thing and tell you about how I am an alcoholic, blah blah blah. But legit, this was so much more than that. I believe alcohol has the potential to trap anyone, given enough time and the right circumstances. 

Why I Quit....Again

I was sober for a long time years ago. And it was wonderful!! It was so worth the effort and I regret letting that hard work go and back sliding. I personally don't go from casual drinker to alcoholic over night. And my issues with alcohol don't look like other's issue with alcohol. Alcohol affects my mental health, my sleep, my focus, my body, and my sense of control and intuition. I wasn't a "falling down drunk," but I was stuck in a vicious cycle that I had to wake up from...and luckily I did, after a horrible night of crashing out, just over a month ago. 

Now I'm Laying on the Cold Hard Ground (Cue Taylor Swift) 

Waking up the next day after my crash out was horrible. Going through my memory and trying to piece together the night before, feeling horrible physically, and on top of that having to get myself and the kids packed up to get in the truck with my dad and drive to Utah for the next 10 hours!! Not a great day. He saw it...my dad is my first and biggest advocate (Momma is a very close second). He saw me going through something that I couldn't communicate with him, a shell, and he hugged me, told me to get my stuff together, and let's get to the desert. 

I'm so grateful those first few days of sobriety were in nature. God, the desert healed me. I sweated it out on hikes, ate wholesome food, cried, and screamed from the top of a canyon (quietly, didn't want to freak out my kids). Even though that trip was crazy and hard for other reasons, I left with an unshakable resolve: I was done with alcohol.

The Unexpected Win of Sobriety

Now here is what I have gained. And this is a very abbreviated list because I don't want you to scroll out of boredom. 

• Mental clarity

           → My brain fog cleared. My intuition came roaring back online.

• Physical glow-up

           → My skin stopped being angry at me. The bloat vanished. I felt lighter in my own     body. My workouts are crazy! I can go hard and heavy and have an amazing time.

• Emotional regulation

           → My mood swings calmed down. Instead of anxiety spirals, I’m steady—even when life is still messy. 

• Professional gains

           → I started creating Softcore Detachment. I’m showing up for my clients and business like never before.

• Better sleep

          → Sobriety gave me back my nights. I finally sleep—and dream again.

How I Navigate The Triggers

I was honest with my support system: my parents, my family, and my boss who is eight years sober and a huge advocate. I identified my most vulnerable times: making dinner, Friday nights, and going out with friends. And I created some great strategies: 

• Every night I drink this awesome drink called Nello that gives me an evening drink ritual that is all about cutting cortisol and prepping for sleep.
• Saying "no thanks, I don't drink," is a powerful and brave statement and I am so here for it. It's brave, and it's me! 
• My dudes, hangovers suck and I'm way too old for that shit!! 
• I have built my life around the rituals: morning journaling, working out, evening luxurious self care routines, it all adds up and it all matters. 

If you’re sober-curious, or if you’re wondering whether you’re ready for a change—know this: you’re not broken. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to choose better. And there’s a whole new life waiting for you on the other side of the glass. The glow is real!! I'm not saying it's easy. But I'm telling you: it's worth it. And I'm not going back to that closet floor.