Guest column: Georgia Harrison
I’ve read that alcohol sales are soaring in the UK, and 21 per cent of Brits are drinking more during the pandemic. I’m someone who loves a drink, and at the start of lockdown I was drinking every night with my mum, having three or four glasses of wine. It was nice and I was enjoying myself, but as the weeks went on, I began to realise the negative effect it had on me. I was finding it hard to get up in the morning, I was putting on weight, and I just felt rubbish.
I’m really close to ( TOWIE stars) Joey Essex and Arg (James Argent, who recently returned from a rehab centre in Thailand for drug and drink addiction) – we’ve been FaceTiming every few days. And it was while I was on a video call with them both that I made the decision to quit drinking. Joey’s given up booze recently, while Arg is a recovering addict.
Arg just said to me, “You feel so much better when you don’t drink.” And it’s true – I don’t need it! I’m not socialising, I’m not at a party, I don’t need the alcohol. So I’ve given up. Arg pretty much inspired me to quit.
And I feel so much better for it. I have more energy in the mornings, my skin looks healthier, and I’m sleeping better. I feel clear-headed, fresh and re-energised.
I think that, as inconvenient as lockdown is, it can be used for good. Now is the time to make a life change: quit smoking, give up booze, or start exercising. New hobbies and things to focus on can stop you going stir-crazy, too.
Let’s be honest, when we’re finally no longer housebound, I’ll probably enjoy a few drinks – but now I know how great I feel without it, I’ll be drinking a lot less in the future.