I took my first sober vacation.I didn’t miss alcohol, I felt more present.

• I have been drinking alcohol since legal age, but recently quit drinking.
• I went on my first alcohol-free vacation and found it to be much more fun than before.
• I loved being with my family more and waking up without a hangover.

I started drinking when I was 21 years old, and since then, every vacation I’ve taken has included alcohol, except for when I was pregnant. Whether it’s a trip to California to visit wineries or a cruise to the Caribbean with a drinks package, growing up I’ve found that a relaxing vacation is about striking the perfect balance between hustle and bustle and not getting too hungover. I’ve been thinking about it.

But a few months ago, I decided I wasn’t going to drink alcohol anymore. Tired of how alcohol affected my relationships and made me feel anxious and tired, I chose an alcohol-free lifestyle and haven’t looked back. I recently took my first vacation since choosing to live a sober life.

My husband, I, and our two teenage children embarked on a whale watching cruise in Baja California Sur, Mexico, through National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. I had no idea what to expect from my old friend’s week-long trip without alcohol, but the experience was amazing. It was incredibly empowering and solidified my resolve to not drink.

Here’s what I learned on my first sober vacation in 22 years.

Traveling has become even more enjoyable because I don’t get drunk anymore.

Admittedly, there was a moment before I went on a trip where I thought I would be missing out if I didn’t drink. Once I got on board, the exact opposite happened. In the past, vacations have gone by in the blink of an eye, characterized by Bloody Mary brunches and evening cocktail hours, but this trip allowed me to rest, drink and remember the time, and feel more present. Now you can

Amanda Cuda, an alcohol-free lifestyle coach and author of Unbottled Potential: Break Up With Alcohol and Break Through to Your Best Life, told Business Insider that she enjoys this alcohol-free freedom while on vacation. Said the key to experience is: Before you travel, make a non-negotiable decision not to drink alcohol. “Decide that you’re going to have this experience and collect data,” Cuda says. “No matter what happens, you can come out of it feeling really proud of yourself, so be proactive. If you’ve never collected data and have had a sober vacation, this new perspective It is your duty to obtain it.”

I was with my family much more

My kids are 13 and 15, and I know there will be a day soon when they won’t be leaving the house and we won’t be able to travel together as a family much. Being sober in Baja California made me feel more present with my teenage children. We had deep conversations while ocean kayaking and even more laughs during a long dinner in the onboard dining room. I stayed in the moment with my kids, not worrying about when I would have the next opportunity to continue the topic.

Kuda says that even when it’s hard to stay present, a sober vacation is the perfect time to prove to yourself that you can handle emotions like anxiety and boredom without using alcohol to check out. he said.

“Focus on your breathing and come to terms with your emotions. Of course, it will feel uncomfortable. If you don’t, you’re giving your mind time to wander in places you would otherwise occupy.” ,” she said. “Our brain goes to places we don’t want it to go, like worry and anxiety, so when we feel anxious or fearful, there’s an immediate Pavlovian response that says we need to check. Even if we feel that emotion for just a moment, , it usually goes away and you start to feel even more powerful because you dealt with it yourself rather than trying to alleviate the numbness.”

Travel industry embraces alcohol-free lifestyle

I knew I could order mocktails on board, but I expected the choices to be sweet drinks like Shirley Temple or plain club soda with lime. When we toasted with champagne at the start of our voyage, and when I requested and was offered sparkling apple cider, National He realized there was so much more to Geographic Venture’s non-alcoholic products.

Throughout the week, I enjoyed drinks made with dealcoholized spirits, nonalcoholic wines and beers, and flavorful mocktails that go far beyond grenadine and Sprite. It was a reminder of how far the travel industry has come in terms of providing options for people who choose not to drink alcohol but still want something that feels festive.

Cuda agreed that the non-alcoholic beverage market has been “really booming” in recent years. She said the opportunity to sip on quality mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages is a reminder that you don’t need hustle and bustle to have a good time. “These are really fun things to try and discover. Hey, I’m actually drinking this because it’s fun. Not because I need to relax or have a drink because I’m hungover.” she said. she said. “It’s about choosing to do something fun and enjoyable. It’s a really great experience.”

I loved waking up every morning without a hangover.

My booze-free vacations started most mornings by waking up early so I could participate in things like snorkeling with sea lions and whale watching. When my alarm went off at 6 a.m., I silently said “thank you” to myself for not drinking for the umpteenth time. Because waking up with a hangover and jumping on a panga boat to hunt humpback whales sounds like a recipe for a hangover. Upset stomach. Our expedition cruise took us to some incredible places and provided unforgettable encounters with nature. If I was hungover every morning, I would have missed out on the magic of it all.

Cuda says it’s important to go into an alcohol-free vacation with the mindset that you’re going to have a great experience. “Don’t expect it to be this difficult, because there was a time in her life when she could have had fun without alcohol,” she says. “What if this was a repeat, or a resurgence, of those days when you learn to look at what’s around you with grateful eyes instead of focusing on what you’ve lost by not drinking?”

I learned that I can keep my promises to myself.

Margaritas may be popular in Mexico, but you know what else? Topo Chico sparkling water. Throughout the week, I learned that all the things alcohol had given me during past holidays, sobriety would give me even better.

After a long sweaty hike through beautiful rocky scenery, I drank a non-alcoholic beer. We had a delicious dinner each night and drank non-alcoholic red wine. And throughout that experience, I was completely present with my family and those around me. The feeling of being able to maintain a commitment to myself, even in an environment dominated by alcohol, was more empowering than I expected.