I went on my first sober vacation in 22 years. I didn't miss alcohol and I was more present with my family.

25.02.2024 - 11:41 / insider.com

I started drinking alcohol when I turned 21 and, with the exception of when I traveled during my pregnancies, every vacation I've taken since has involved alcohol. Whether it was a trip to California to visit wineries or a Caribbean cruise complete with a drink package, since becoming an adult, I've equated a relaxing vacation with maintaining that perfect balance between a buzz and not being too hung over.

A few months ago, however, I decided alcohol was no longer serving me. Tired of seeing the way booze affected my relationships and left me feeling anxious and exhausted, I chose an alcohol-free lifestyle, and I haven't back. Recently, I took my first vacation since choosing a life of sobriety.

My husband, myself, and our two teenagers embarked on a whale-watching cruise in Baja California Sur, Mexico through National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions, and while I had no idea what to expect from a weeklong trip without my old friend alcohol, the experience was incredibly empowering for me and solidified my decision not to drink.

Here's what I learned on my first sober vacation in 22 years.

I definitely had moments leading up to the trip where I wondered if I'd feel like I was missing out by not drinking. The exact opposite occurred once I was on board our ship. Where vacations in the past flew by and were marked by bloody mary brunches and evening cocktail hours, this trip felt restful, and I felt more present without drinking the time away.

Amanda Kuda, an alcohol-free lifestyle coach and author of "Unbottled Potential: Break Up With Alcohol and Break Through to Your Best Life," said in an interview with Business Insider that the key to experiencing this alcohol-free freedom on vacation is to make your decision not to drink non-negotiable before you travel. "Decide you're going to do this experience and collect some data," Kuda said. "No matter what happens, you'll come out of it feeling really proud of yourself, so make the commitment. If you've never collected the data and had a sober vacation, you owe it to yourself to gain this new perspective."

My kids are 13 and 15, and I know there will come a time very soon when they're out of the house and we'll take way fewer family vacations together. By not drinking my way through Baja California, I felt more present with my teenagers. We had deeper conversations while ocean kayaking and laughed more over long dinners in the ship's dining room. Because I wasn't worried about when the next opportunity to keep my buzz going would be, I stayed in the moment with my kids.

Kuda said even when it's hard to stay present, a sober vacation is a great time to prove to yourself that you can deal with feelings like anxiety or boredom without using booze to check