Sober-Curious Journey: What I Learned from a 30-Day Break from Drinking

Michelle Gagnon
Aug 18
4 min read

Updated: Sep 7

Have you ever wondered what life without drinking would feel like? Have you ever gone to bed buzzed or spent a Sunday hungover wishing you hadn’t had those drinks?

Over a decade ago, my self-talk after a couple vodka seltzers was full of “what ifs”:

What if I just took a break?
Can I actually quit?
Will it be boring if I don’t drink when I go out?
Will people still want to hang out with me?
Will it affect my relationships?

The short answers: You can. Yes. Not at all. Yes. And yes!

Quitting—or even taking a break—can be difficult, especially if your social life revolves around drinking, like mine did. For months, I put it off because I couldn’t find a 30-day stretch without plans that didn't involve drinking! Weekend after weekend, I went through the motions: drinking the drinks and feeling terrible mentally and physically the next day. Even in moderation, my tolerance seemed to decline every time. I’d lay in bed with a buzzed mind, sadness creeping in, and wake up with a foggy head, a sick stomach, and an anxious heart. Every time I drank, the side effects nudged me closer to wanting change.

I will never ever miss being hungover...ever.

When Drinking Stopped Being Fun

I didn’t identify as an alcoholic. I didn’t drink every day or even every week. But I drank every time I did something social—and I felt negative effects from it every single time.

Drinking is normal. Fancy seltzers and microbrews are the backdrop of socializing, fun, and belonging. At least that is all I knew to be true. But over the years, my tolerance started to decline. Even if I didn’t drink a lot, it affected me negatively, and eventually, the fun stopped feeling so fun.

My 30-Day Sober-Curious Experiment

Ten years ago, I decided to try a 30-day sober experiment and committed to not drinking for the month of June. I felt so burnt out from the drinking rollercoaster and craved relief. I told my husband, family, and close friends so I’d have accountability.

That month, I still went out. I still saw friends. But I didn’t drink.

And you know what? I felt amazing.

Not drinking for the month of June was a pivotal point in my sober journey. My initial plan was to resume drinking at our annual 4th of July party the following weekend. But as I lay in bed on the last day of my detox, I knew without a doubt that I wouldn’t be drinking at the party—or at our camping trip that weekend, or on vacation the following month. I felt like I had opened my eyes to a new world, and I wanted to explore more of it in this new state of being.

Why I’m Sharing This

My relationship with alcohol didn’t end there. It was filled with highs and lows, drinking again, and quitting again. It has taught me not only a lot about myself but also what a good time really feels like. Over the last ten years, I’ve experienced more true joy than I could have ever imagined.

No, it hasn’t always been easy—especially in the first few years. But experiencing things unfiltered, whether good or bad, is life-altering. There is no right or wrong path when it comes to your personal relationship with alcohol. I share my story to inspire anyone who needs it, to encourage others to try a 30-day sober experience, and—most importantly—to create a community around living fully, clearly, and joyfully without drinking.

Drinking never made my life fun; I am a good time all on my own…and so are you.

Me with my brother and sister at my sister's wedding reception-all sober and definitely the lives of the party!

Lessons from my Sober-Curious Journey

A Clear Mind Feels Amazing I used to think alcohol added to the fun, but I was surprised to learn that it actually took away from it. Alcohol dulls the mind, softens the edges, and makes you less present. Once I got comfortable feeling the feels and fully experiencing life unfiltered, sobriety itself felt like a superpower—a source of clarity and energy I hadn’t realized I was missing.
You Can Still Be Social Without Drinking This one took some work, mostly because of my personal social habits. I added drinking to everything I did socially before I quit so it took some time, trial and error to figure this one out. But once I did, I experienced everything from weddings to vacations without drinking. The more I did it, the more I realized that no one really noticed and I had just as much fun—actually, (a little secret insite) I had more fun—because I was fully engaged and present in every moment.
Self-Awareness Grows When Alcohol is Off the Table Removing alcohol became a gift for personal growth. I had more time, energy, and money to invest in myself, my passions, and my goals. Sobriety allowed me to notice patterns, explore my habits, and develop a deeper understanding of who I am and what I truly want from life.