That “Damn, What Happened” Feeling
You ever wake up on a Sunday like:
Damn. I don’t even remember half of what happened last night, and somehow I still managed to venmo $60 to a DJ named RageDaddy?No judgment — we’ve all been there.
The Friday night pregame.
The “just one drink” that turns into five.
The blurry Uber ride.
And then the full-on existential dread the moment your eyes open.
But what’s wild is… we do it again next weekend. And again. And again.
Why?
Because it’s “normal.”
Because “everyone drinks on the weekend.”
Because it feels like the reward we deserve after surviving the week.
Because alcohol is the one thing society never questions—until you do.
So Lets Question It
What if I told you that Friday night habit—the one you think is “just fun”—might actually be the thing slowing you down the most?
Not in a dramatic, rock-bottom, rehab-type way.
In a subtle, everyday, kinda scary if you actually pay attention type of way.
I’m talking about the energy leaks you don’t even notice:
- The lowkey anxiety that stays put all weekend
- The guilt you can’t quite shake
- The money that just… disappears
- The ideas you never follow through on because your brain’s fogged out by Sunday night
- The version of you you keep promising to become… but somehow always postpone
We’re only human. Every once in a while, we might tell ourselves we’re just “blowing off steam“.
Okay… but what if you’re actually putting your life on pause without even realizing it?
The Little Lies We Tell Ourselves
We’ve all said stuff like:
- “Dude, I’m not an alcoholic. I’m just having a good time!”
- “It’s honestly just weekends. I’m actually chill during the week.”
- “Other people go way harder than I do. I’m nothing like them.”
But here’s the thing—you don’t have to be out of control for alcohol to be controlling you.
Sometimes the most dangerous habits are the ones we’ve normalized. The ones no one questions because they’re socially accepted. The ones that chip away at your focus, your sleep, your peace, your discipline… without ever making a scene.
Here’s My Truth
I didn’t stop drinking because I got a DUI. Or because I hit some public rock bottom.
I stopped because I started noticing the tiny cracks.
The way I was killing it Monday through Thursday and self-sabotaging Friday through Sunday.
The way I started feeling anxious at brunch—because I didn’t remember how I got home the night before.
The way my goals stayed goals and never turned into real action.
I had ambition. I had talent. I had dreams.
But I didn’t have momentum.
Because every time I got a little bit closer to the life I wanted, Friday night showed up like, “Wanna forget all that for a few hours?”
And I said yes. Over and over and over again.
The Psychology Behind the Pour
Let’s get nerdy for a second. Psychologically, alcohol triggers a reward loop in your brain. Dopamine spikes. You feel loose, confident, euphoric. But the high comes with a cost—and it’s one your brain has to keep paying.
Your body crashes. Your sleep gets wrecked. Your focus goes missing. And your emotional resilience tanks.
That’s why you feel unmotivated on Sunday.
That’s why your to-do list on Monday feels heavier than usual.
That’s why you feel like you’re running in circles, chasing a version of yourself that feels so close… but just out of reach.
Spoiler: it’s not your ambition that’s broken. It’s your weekend habits.
“But I’m Just Having Fun…”
Look, I’m not here to kill the vibe.
I’m here to say: what if the vibe’s been lying to you?
What if fun doesn’t have to mean blackout nights and shame spirals?
What if connection doesn’t have to be watered down by alcohol?
What if the real you—the sober you—is actually way more magnetic than the one you keep handing off to tequila?
You’re not boring for wanting better. You’re not lame for skipping the club.
You’re just awake. And that’s rare as hell these days.
10 Signs You Might Be Outgrowing Weekend Drinking
Let’s make it plain. If any of these hit, it might be time to reassess:
- You pregame… for every event.
- You feel anxious every Sunday but can’t figure out why.
- You’ve said “I’m never drinking again” more than five times this year.
- You spend more on drinks than you do on books or your savings account.
- You make promises to yourself on Monday you forget by Friday.
- You find yourself avoiding conversations about your weekend.
- You feel like you need alcohol to enjoy social situations.
- Your hangovers feel less “funny” and more “concerning.”
- You’ve started lying about how much you drink.
- You’re reading this and wondering if it’s about you.
Reclaim Your Weekend (Try This Tonight)
This isn’t about quitting forever. This is about choosing something better—just for this weekend.
Before you go out tonight, ask yourself:
- What am I actually hoping to get out of this night?
- Can I find that same feeling without drinking?
- Who do I want to wake up as tomorrow?
- What version of me am I feeding with this decision?
Then—try doing the night differently. Be the observer. Be the driver. Be the one who remembers it all.You don’t have to explain. You don’t have to announce anything. Just try it.
You might surprise yourself.
Final Thought: Sobriety Isn’t a Punishment—It’s a Superpower
There’s this idea that not drinking makes you uptight, boring, judgmental.
Nah.
Not drinking means you remember who you are.
Not drinking means you protect your peace.
Not drinking means you stop outsourcing your confidence to a cocktail or a beer.
And once you get a taste of that clarity?
You won’t want to go back.
This weekend, do it different. Not because you have to.
Because you’re worth it.
Because your goals deserve a clear mind.
Because the life you want?
It’s not found at the bottom of a glass.
It starts tonight—with one choice.
—
This post was previously published on Jordan Nancarrow’s blog.
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Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by healthlydays.
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