"I don’t experience any negative effects when I drink alcohol."

A bold statement, right?

Someone recently told me this, and I was intrigued.

I mean, isn’t this the dream? Drink what you want, whenever you want, and feel great.

Naturally, I had questions.

The Conversation:

“How much do you drink?”

“One a day, maybe a few on weekends.”

“Nice! I’ve always found even one drink messes with my sleep. How’s yours?”

“Well, I don’t track my sleep, but I feel like I sleep well.”

Hmm, okay.

“Ever compared how you feel when you drink vs. when you don’t?”

“I haven’t taken an extended break, but I know how I’d feel.”

At this point, I had to ask: “So how do you know alcohol doesn’t affect you? In other words, do you have any data?”

“I don’t have data—just a feeling.”

Maybe it’s the Williams College in me, but until you test it, it’s just a guess.

The Experiment:

When I started questioning how alcohol affected me, I treated it like an experiment:

1. Tracked my sleep to see patterns.
2. Took two months off to observe changes.
3. Stayed sober at key events (e.g., bachelor party, wedding, Christmas) to compare.

The most surprising thing was how many areas it improved. I figured I’d work out better and maybe lose some weight, but I also slept better, was in a better mood, had more energy, and was more productive.

From there, I started tweaking: What happens if I drink weekly? Biweekly? I found my balance—if I drink every couple of weeks with Kel, I still see negative effects, but they’re small. When I drink daily or in large amounts, the negative effects compound, and they aren’t worth it to me.

By treating it as an experiment, you can figure out:

1. What negative effects you experience, and
2. What balance works best for you

Your Turn:

Ready to test your own hypothesis? Here’s how to start:

1. Take a break from alcohol—even a few weeks can give you valuable insights.
2. Track your sleep for a week or two.
3. Compare key events sober vs. drinking.

The data doesn’t lie. Experiment, adjust, and find what works best for you.

Favorite Photo from the Week:

Kel got ducked this week and it was very fitting. Yellow duck with a western outfit, for her Montana yellow jeep.

Till next week, be kind, be curious, and work hard.

Tanner

One more thing...

I received great feedback on the 30 Days to Drinking Less Workshop, so I’ll be hosting another one in December.

Are there dates/times that work best for you? If so, shoot me a message.

Forwarded this email? Sign up HERE​

Ready to live life to the fullest? It begins with drinking less. Book a free call!​

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