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I enjoy my fresh Saturday mornings – Maarit Stigell

  • Writer: OYNB
    OYNB
  • Nov 17
  • 3 min read
Woman in glasses smiles in a cafe. Blue overlay with text: "29th September 2020, I enjoy my fresh Saturday mornings, Maarit Stigell." Cozy atmosphere.


I am not missing out on anything at all by leaving alcohol out of the equation

“I now understand that I am not missing out on anything at all by leaving alcohol out of the equation. On the contrary, I’ve only gained.”

Before OYNB: life in a constant fog


For years, I had a habit of drinking 2–3 glasses of wine on most evenings. I used alcohol to:


  • Relax after work

  • “Enhance” cooking

  • Fight boredom

  • Avoid doing things that actually mattered

  • Celebrate

  • Soothe social anxiety

  • Numb loneliness


It wasn’t extreme drinking, but it was everywhere. And it was quietly eroding the quality of my life.

I felt stuck in a loop of:


  • Fuzzy, tired mornings

  • Poorly slept nights

  • 3am anxiety with a racing heart

  • Slow, heavy afternoons spent watching the clock crawl towards “wine o’clock”


My memory and concentration were getting worse. I was irritable, forgetful, and unable to properly internalise new information. Deep down I wanted a clear mind, better health and a more fulfilling life. I knew I had to shake off the alcohol-induced lethargy and that fake sense of contentment.


The pattern I couldn’t break


I had “quit” countless times over several years.

I poured bottles of wine down the sink to prove to myself I meant it this time… only to:

  • Stop at the store the very next day

  • Buy “just one bottle for tonight”

  • Postpone quitting until “tomorrow” — again


The cycle repeated over and over.


Breaking the cycle: finding OYNB


I’d seen OYNB pop up in my Facebook feed a few times. During the first days of yet another attempt to quit, I finally decided to join.


  • I didn’t know what to expect

  • I just hoped that being part of a group would help me truly commit


Joining felt “easy” because there was no stigma attached to the challenge. And it really did make a difference.

For the first time, I realised:

  • I wasn’t alone

  • There were many others with a similar, unhealthy relationship with alcohol

  • I was in good company


The daily emails and video clips from OYNB were encouraging, practical and full of great advice.


My OYNB journey

The first days and weeks were not easy.


  • I craved that cold, crisp white wine

  • I felt vulnerable, alone, and even grieved my “lost friend”

  • I leaned heavily on sweets to get through cravings


Whenever my resolve felt shaky, I was glued to the OYNB Challengers Facebook page. It became a lifeline — a positive, supportive space full of real people and real stories.


As my body and mind adjusted, something shifted:

  • The sadness and numbness turned into relief and joy

  • Cravings eased

  • Space opened up for better habits and clearer thinking


My alcohol-free gains

This alcohol-free year has brought countless positive changes. I’ve had the chance to reflect on my life at a much deeper level, and it truly feels like I am reclaiming it.


Some of the changes I’ve noticed:


  • I am more present and available for my daughter

  • My sleep is the best it has been in years — several hours of uninterrupted rest every night

  • The puffiness has gone

  • My energy is way up

  • My memory and concentration have improved significantly


I’ve also built new, nourishing habits:


  • Waking up bright and early

  • Yoga, meditation and reading before the day starts

  • Studying before daybreak — I’m now on the verge of a career change

  • Running again, with no more heart palpitations

  • Being able to drive whenever I like without worrying about blood alcohol levels


One of my favourite small joys? Taking my daughter out for 8pm after-dinner ice cream simply because I can.


Why the 365-day commitment mattered


Committing to the 365-day challenge made a huge difference. It wasn’t just “a month off” — it was a full reset.

OYNB didn’t just give me tools to cope; it helped me:


  • Flourish

  • Build new routines and habits

  • Focus on self-development instead of self-sabotage


I now see clearly:

I’m not missing out by leaving alcohol out of the equation — I’ve only gained.

I love:


  • Fresh, hangover-free Saturday mornings

  • Sober socialising without regrets

  • The steps I’m taking to enrich and advance my life

  • The freedom and pride of living as a non-drinker


I feel grounded, light, and genuinely proud — of myself and of all the other Challengers who are changing their lives in their own way.


Whatever it takes on this journey, it’s truly worth it.

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