My 11th blog post calls for 11 learnings from living life alcohol-free on the island of temptation, Ibiza.
Last year, I decided to commit to a 12 month intentional break from alcohol and it has revolutionised my life. Let´s get one thing clear before you continue reading - I didn´t have a problem with drinking before committing to this 12 month stint. I certainly wasn´t drinking every day or even at every social occasion, I never experienced a rock bottom as such, and honestly, I despised the taste of most alcoholic beverages. What I did have a problem with, however, was the hangovers. Even if I hadn´t drank that much, hangovers seemed to effect me way more than those around me. I could write a whole essay on how hangovers would get to me, but this post is not about hangovers - it is about what I´ve learnt from life without them. I´d say I´ve been sober curious for years, but moving to Ibiza fresh out of university meant that I just wasn´t quite ready to go all in - until 2025.
One of my goals for 2024 was ´menos resaca, más vida´ which I definitely stuck to, and it became clear to me when I was at my most creative, productive and happiest self - the periods of time where no hangover was in sight. So, as a present to myself, I decided to celebrate my 27th birthday last year by gifting myself 12 months of not drinking. 14 months later and I´m still flying the flag for life without alcohol. Here´s what I´ve learnt, in no particular order...
#1 Sunrise is the new sunset. Even after 5 years of living in Ibiza, I am always mesmerised by the sunsets. But there´s just something about getting up and out to catch a sunrise. Early mornings with a clear head feel serene and sacred, especially when you witness the sun gracefully rising over the hills or the sea.
#2 Ibiza can feel like a stage, but only if you allow it to. At times it feels like a place where everyone is ´on´ and people are living for their highlight reels. Influencer culture has exploited some of the most precious spots here. In summer, this is heightened, so during the winters I make sure to savour the peace and appreciate the beauty of the spaces that are filled with postuero in the tourist season. Being a teacher can be a grounding balance to that side of the island - kids don´t care about your aesthetic. They feel your energy, they notice if you´re tired and they care if you´re kind.
#3 Get out into nature. Time in nature is time well spent, as long as you leave no trace. Spending time outdoors and really connecting to that experience by minimising distractions (ie. no music, no podcast, phone on do not disturb) is medicine for the soul.
#4 The time to leave the event is exactly the time you start thinking about when you can leave. If the vibe is off or your social battery is draining, it´s time to go.
#5 Turn FOMO into JOMO. Are you really missing out if you didn´t want to go in the first place? Listen to your body and let your intuition be your guide in what you say yes to.
#6 Quality time off = quality time on. When I´m not teaching, I make sure I schedule time to disconnect and fill up my own cup. As a teacher, timings within class and within the term are important, crucial in fact. It´s now a non-negotiable for me that when I have time off, whether that´s a día festivo or the longer school holidays, I allow myself to step away from the need to follow timings so strictly. There really is no better feeling, for me, than soaking up the sun with a good book or a good friend (or better, both!) and letting the hours melt away. How you choose to spend your time outside of work is so significant, so spend it wisely.
#7 Give yourself grace. There will be plenty of ´expectation vs reality´ moments that may make you question your decision to take a break. It´s not all sunshine and blue skies and a lot will feel uncomfortable. When you step outside of your comfort zone, growth begins. Centre yourself, remember your why and remind yourself that Rome wasn´t built in a day, Take your time, poco a poco.
#8 Pain for your heart is fuel for your art. Heartbreak sucks, but alchemising that pain through creativity is healing in so many ways.
#9 Take this time to declutter your life. What else isn´t working for you anymore? For me, I wanted to see what life would look like without a TV. Again, I wasn´t one to watch a lot of TV anyway and anyone that knows me will know I have the attention span of a fly when it comes to watching films, but it sure has made a huge difference. I may not be going through my reading list as fast as I expected to, but it´s safe to say I won´t be reintroducing the big screen into my life anytime soon!
#10 Let come what comes, let go what goes, see what remains. Friendships will come and go, the ones who really see you, hold space for where you´re at and respect you for your choice to take a break are the ones worth holding onto.
#11 You absolutely can get sober in Ibiza. For years, I´d listened to, and almost believed, so many people saying that Ibiza just wasn´t the right place for alcohol-free living and a whole load of ´Not drinking in Ibiza? BORING!´ - well, I can safely say with solid evidence that my life has been anything but boring since I embarked on this journey. Far from it. A better suited adjective would be: serendiptuous. Now that´s a word I never used to describe my hangovers...
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