14. Is Alcohol Stealing Your Best Decisions? with James Swanwick

Are you a high achiever wondering if alcohol is quietly holding you back? In this eye-opening episode of Decisions That Count, Dr. Shawn Watson and Michelle sit down with James Swanwick—renowned stop drinking expert, author of CLEAR, and creator of the neuroscience-backed Project 90 program. Together, they explore how choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle can be the ultimate strategy for unlocking decision-making power, boosting mental clarity, and achieving peak performance.

You’ll discover:

✅ How alcohol subtly erodes decision-making and amplifies decision fatigue

✅ The neuroscience behind alcohol’s impact on cognitive function and focus

✅ How removing alcohol can create a domino effect of healthy habits

✅ The cultural and psychological pressures that make quitting so difficult

✅ Why more entrepreneurs, executives, and athletes are making sobriety their superpower

✅ Simple strategies to overcome cravings and regain control of your mental energy

✅ The true financial and relational cost of drinking for high performers

✅ How an alcohol-free lifestyle can create a positive generational impact

If you’re a gamer, CEO, athlete, student, or anyone navigating high-pressure environments and seeking better mental clarity, resilience, and cognitive optimization, this conversation will change the way you think about alcohol and personal growth.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:45 Redefining Sobriety: Alcohol-Free Living

06:14 The Domino Effect of Stopping Alcohol

09:14 Uncomfortable Clarity: Facing Life's Decisions

12:06 Capacity to Respond: The Impact of Alcohol

14:42 Decision Fatigue and Alcohol's Role

18:50 The Financial Cost of Drinking

22:40 Cultural Shifts: Alcohol and Society

26:51 Overcoming Social Pressures to Drink

30:46 The Future of Alcohol Consumption

34:20 The Moment of Realization

36:36 The Journey to Alcohol-Free Living

39:10 Embracing the New Self

41:16 Understanding Decision Fatigue

44:12 The Science Behind Alcohol and Decision Making

46:41 Natural Remedies and Ancient Practices

49:38 The Impact of Technology on Mental Health

52:47 Strategies to Combat Decision Fatigue

57:09 Transforming Lives Through Alcohol-Free Choices

Whether you’re a gamer, entrepreneur, athlete, student, or busy parent, this conversation provides practical, science-backed tools to reclaim your mental clarity, boost your productivity, and make better choices every day.

🧠 Hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Shawn Watson and marketer-mum-marathoner Michelle, Decisions That Count explores how science-backed insights can help you overcome decision fatigue and unlock peak performance.

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✨ Like what you heard?

✅ Subscribe to Decisions That Count for weekly episodes that empower you to beat decision fatigue and unlock peak performance.

💬 Drop your questions in the comments — we’ll get James to answer them!

To contact James, follow these links:

🔗 Get the CLEAR Book by James Swanwick → http://alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear
📘 Explore the CLEAR Method → http://alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

📲 Follow James on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jamesswanwick

📖 Get the CLEAR Book Here → http://alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

💡 If you found this episode helpful, like, comment, and subscribe. Share it with someone who could use a reset on how they make decisions. Let’s build better brains together—one choice at a time.

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