Three long weeks

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It’s been three weeks since I have stopped drinking and I have begun to feel a lot better. Waking up at 7am on a Sunday morning, without a hangover, is an amazing feeling. It has been liberating to know that I can go out, not drink, but still be sociable. However, it hasn’t all been easy.

The first night I went out there was so many temptations to drinks. The biggest temptation was that I was at a launch party where there was unlimited free booze, so everyone was quite tipsy early on and I felt a bit uncomfortable. The friends I was with had recently told me that they weren’t drinking at the moment for one reason or another, but their sobriety didn’t last, so I was the sole sober friend. By the end of the party I had enjoyed myself, but I did get a bit frustrated by my decision not to drink.

Since that night I have gone out a few times, but last night was the most difficult. I was out for a friend’s birthday, so most of the attendees were drinking. The few others who weren’t drinking were doing so because they were driving. When asked why I wasn’t drinking I told them that it was my decision no to drink, which they all appreciated but commented on how they could never do that themselves.

I was also a bit upset because of prior conflict with my boyfriend that day, so I wasn’t my bubbly self. There was definitely a moment where I thought that I could just drink, get completely wasted and forget about my troubles, but I reflected on my thought process and realised that this method of escaping my feelings is exactly what I hated about myself when I would drink excessively. I ended up leaving the party early to remove the temptation.

I knew that it would never be easy giving up drinking for such a long period of time, but I’m glad I have made this choice. Although it has only been three weeks, I’m already begin to feel a physical difference, but I am also reflecting on what I was like when I did drink, especially to an excess, and I do not what to return to that once these three months are over.

I may be sad, but a drink won’t help that. All I can do is smile. :-)

3 long weeks

Alcohol free zone

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This morning I woke up with a massive hangover, which is not unlike most weekends, but it is still a feeling I loathe. I began to think about what I did to end up this way and whether the copious amounts of alcohol from the night before really worth it.

Today I planned to catch up on uni work, but that hasn’t happened. A hangover puts me in a terrible mood, but the night before is often worse. I don’t think, I do stupid things, and I spend more money than I can afford; all in the name of having fun, but is it really fun?

This is why I have decided to take up the Hello Sunday Morning challenge and not drink any alcohol for the next 12 weeks. In this time I hope to achieve much more than I would if I weren’t hungover and thus have more time for leisure and to spend time with the people I love. :-)

When I grow up

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Lately I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do when I graduate. Whether to work, travel, or possibly continue studying? If I work do I go straight into a graduate position or should I work casually so I can be more flexible? How much will I get paid? Do I aim for the low paying boutique company/business or the high paying corporate position?

There are so many avenues my life could take me after this year, but it can be a daunting thought. I’ll no longer have my study as a security blanket. I need to make big decisions which will affect my future.

For people who know me, I am a very indecisive person. I struggle to decide where to go for dinner, let alone what to do after uni. I interned at a PR agency last year and really enjoyed it. I think that’s where I want to end up, but maybe it was just because I enjoyed my time interning. If I do go into PR, what field of PR? In house or agency?

It’s all so overwhelming. I wish someone could just hand me a plan to my life, but that wouldn’t be as exciting. I guess I’ll just see where life takes me.

No TV and no beer make Homer something, something…

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No TV and no beer make Homer something, something...

…go crazy? I think I have.

One of my lecturers does not allow mobile phones, laptops or other electronic devices in the class. This means that I must take notes with pen and paper. All my notes for the past 3 years have been recorded electronically as I like the convenience of being able to access these notes at any time.

At least I can still have beer.

Working hard or hardly working?

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It’s currently week two at uni and I have already struggled to balance uni, work, and my social life. It can be difficult to find the right balance and in the past this has had detrimental effects on my results.

Last week I worked 4 days, as well as studying and hanging out with friends and family. I’ve fallen a bit behind, but it’s always hard to get back into studying after 4 months holidays working.

I know I’m going to have to work less to be able to cope with the final year study load, but it’s difficult to sacrifice the money, especially when you’re completely independent of your parents. $300 per week doesn’t go far when you have rent and bills to pay, but I’m sure everything will be ok.