Tips for an alcohol-timeout

If you’re trying to take a break from drinking, how are you doing? I’ve learned a few things during my alcohol-free adventure so here’s a few tips to help, especially when socialising. It’s important to do what’s right for you though.

  • Be clear on why you want a break from alcohol. Do the old pros and cons thing. List what you think alcohol gives you, then list the downsides. Be honest. If you drink for “fun”, is it still fun the morning after? If it’s to be more sociable, how interesting are you when you’ve had too many and are repeatedly telling the same story, or slurring?
  • Be confident in your choice. Remember that you are doing something that is important to you. You CAN and will have fun without drinking. It’s just getting your head around that change.
  • Share that you’re not drinking with people that will support you. Don’t bother telling people that will give you crap.
  • When socialising, if you know that you’ll be pressured to drink, have an excuse at the ready (on medication, participating in a challenge, have to drive) or order/take your own zero alcohol drink. (It was months before people realised I hadn’t been drinking.)
  • If you feel tempted to drink, stop for a minute and think ahead to your likely outcome. Will you stop at one? Unlikely. Will you end up getting “merry”? How will that make you feel later on? Or tomorrow morning? You know what the likely scenario is if you have a drink. Why not try for a different ending?
  • Worried about being boring and think you need alcohol as a social lubricant? Remember that showing interest in people is a good way to get the conversation flowing. Ask questions, listen, contribute. This cultivates a deeper connection rather than a superficial attachment that’s alcohol-fueled.
  • Plan alcohol-free social activities. Have a picnic, go on a hike, play sports, go axe-throwing, attempt a bridge-climb. Do things that aren’t centred on drinking or where it’s actively prohibited.
  • Discover “grown-up” non-alcoholic drinks. No-one wants to sit on a lemonade all night. There are so many great drink choices now – really nice flavoured-sodas, kombuchas, mocktails. Get them served in a special glass with ice rather than drinking out of the can. While 0 alcohol beers and ‘spirits’ are a thing, don’t go there if they will trigger you to drink the hard stuff. I love them but they can be a danger zone early on.
  • Finally, prioritise taking care of yourself. Sleep, hydrate, eat well, move. When you feel good within yourself, it’s easier to be confident and assertive in your choices and in social situations.

If you need further encouragement, it may help to know that there are loads of people, like you, who want to take a breather from drinking. And getting the facts on alcohol can be eye-opening. Check out some resources here. If you need support, try my Kickstart Coaching session.

Image (c) Frank Leuderalbert, Unsplash