Whether watching the ball drop in NYC or going to bed early this New Year’s Eve, you’ll probably spend time reflecting on what to do with a fresh start in 2023. New Year’s resolutions are firm decisions to do or not do something in an effort to improve your life.
If you consume porn, have you considered how it doesn’t make your life better, even if it does pass the time? It may bring short-term gratification, but ultimately holds you back, hurts your relationships, and doesn’t make you feel great about yourself or others in the long-term.
There’s actually science behind why porn makes you feel this way. Let’s dive into why ditching porn can help you have a more fulfilling 2023.
1. Think of the increased time you’ll have—and what you could do with it
Did you know that just one major porn site alone received 42 billion visits in 2019? That equals more than 115 million average visits each day—or the populations of Canada, Poland, Taiwan, and Australia combined.
Not to mention that 2019 saw over 5.8 billion hours of porn consumed—or 664,920 years’ worth—worldwide in this year alone. (Also, consider the disturbing list of most-searched terms.)
Imagine if, instead of consuming porn, people collectively spent that time doing something positive that gave back to themselves or others? How much more investment would there be in relationships, hobbies, studies, or getting involved in your community if porn wasn’t in the picture?
2. Improve the quality of your relationships
Porn is a roadblock to fully healthy relationships and contributes to insecurity, anxiety, and poor self-image. [1] It can cause consumers to withdraw from their real relationships, suffer from depression, loneliness, and secrecy, [2] foster the perception that people are just objects for sexual pleasure, and affect how people see themselves and others in real life. [3][4]
Do you see the impact this could have on how you relate to people? Eliminating porn can help you appreciate people more and increase your desire to put effort into real relationships.
3. Help stop the global issue of sex trafficking
Many people are passionate about ending human sex trafficking, but can simultaneously unintentionally fuel the demand for it by consuming porn.
The reality is, every click, view, and download fuels the demand for sites that profit from exploitation. Every day, innocent people are trafficked into porn without their consent, and even “consenting” performers experience trafficking and exploitation on set through manipulation, force, fraud, and coercion.
By refusing to consume porn, you can help stop the demand for human sex trafficking—a global issue that is inseparably linked to the porn industry.
4. Love deeper and fear commitment less
Recent studies show that porn can decrease a consumer’s commitment to their real relationships. [5] On the flip side, getting rid of porn can help you feel more satisfied, happier, and passionate with the one you love.
One Fighter recently shared:
“Today, I’ll have hit 30 days of being porn-free. This has been the longest I’ve gone without looking at porn since I was 15 years old. As we speak, I’m falling in the deepest love imaginable. Porn pretty much ruined my ability to believe I would ever see a healthy and fruitful relationship, and now, it’s as if the smoke has cleared and I’m head over heels, falling into a REAL love.”
Related: 6 Reasons Why Ditching Porn Can Be A Gift To You And Your Relationships
Eliminating porn can increase your ability to connect on a deeper level romantically, and have greater confidence to commit when the right person comes along. Who wouldn’t want that?
5. Free your mind and be more focused
Many people experience an intense obsession with porn that makes it hard to focus on other things.
Porn can keep you stuck, but changing these habits can help you take back control of your life and pursue your goals.
6. Become happier and more confident
Want to be happier and feel better about yourself? Ridding your life of porn can help. Here’s what a Fighter recently shared about his experience:
“I can’t tell you all how much happier I am since I’ve stopped watching porn. I’ve been single a long time and still am, but I’m actually interested in finding something special in a girl instead of just sex. I was so unhappy with my life. Now just waking up happy every morning is awesome. I’m so happy I got out of that life.”
Related: An Inside Look At The Lives Of 5 Guys Who Have Given Up Porn
7. Have a more fulfilling sex life
In porn, people are airbrushed, robotic objects whose sole purpose is to provide sexual pleasure. Over time, what’s real can seem less desirable than fake fantasies on a screen.
This biological craving for porn over real relationships can destroy a your ability to perform with a real partner. For an industry who claims to be sex-positive, you might be surprised to learn that porn actually fuels sexual dysfunction.
Give yourself and your partner a real sex-positive gift by taking porn out of the equation—like this Fighter from New Zealand:
“It’s been 80 days without porn. The very unexpected payoff has been in my sex life. I’ve noticed that the intimacy and connection seem so much stronger, deeper and more intense. It’s like we’ve gone back to those first years of marriage when youthful vigor made the bedroom an awesome place! It’s flowed outside the bedroom as well with more loving touch and hugs. Our marriage was already in a good space, but this change has made it even better.”
What you could do with a porn-free 2023
Giving up porn may seem tough, but there are resources and communities available to help you.
Here’s a good place to start: set a goal to give up porn for just 30 days. By the end, you could be like others around the world who experienced greater control, self-esteem, freedom, ambition, relationship satisfaction, and productivity by taking on the challenge.
Related: I Tried Giving Up Porn For One Month, Here’s How It Went
Set yourself free to achieve more, love yourself and others better, and make an impact on the world. Make 2023 your greatest year yet by eliminating porn from your story. What do you have to lose?
Need help?
For those reading this who feel they are struggling with pornography, you are not alone. Check out Fortify, a science-based recovery platform dedicated to helping you find lasting freedom from pornography. Fortify now offers a free experience for both teens and adults. Connect with others, learn about your unwanted porn habit, and track your recovery journey. There is hope—sign up today.
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