5 Steps to Embracing an Alcohol-free Festive Season and ENJOY Being Sober.

Considering joining the hundreds of thousands of people worldwide staying dry, or mindfully moderating this festive season? 

As a self-confessed “dry month expert” and yet a long-time wine lover, here are my thoughts on how to embrace and ENJOY a month or two of being sober this festive season. I am now on a complete alcohol-free journey (it was not easy to get here), but for many years I would complete a dry month or two each year or season. Every single time, I found myself just waiting for that period of time to end. Now, in reflection, it was really the wrong attitude. 

There are so many joys to being sober, even for a period of time, so why not embrace it?

1. Make the commitment and decide on your WHY? Is it for health? As a fundraiser? For a personal challenge? Cost saving? Keeping focused on the reason you are doing this is a sure way to keep you focused each day on your commitment to staying dry. I created a “why?” page in my journal which I am constantly adding to. This supports my focus on my sobriety and reminds me how important this is to me, it also evolves constantly, even day-by-day. 

2. Decide WHAT you will drink instead - and make this fun! Replacing a habit with another (healthier) habit is much easier than just giving something up. Love wine? Beer? Gin? Cider? Find a favorite alcohol-free drink or two and have them on hand in the fridge. Love cocktails? You’ll find a plethora of online recipes for mocktails! Prefer to keep it simple? Freshly squeezed lemon in sparkling water is my go to, it’s incredibly refreshing, and healthy too. There is so much fun to be had with festive alcohol-free drinks, stay tuned for what I hope will be the perfect alcohol-free mulled “wine”.

3. Consider using a RESOURCE such as an app to support you on your journey. Reframe is my top recommendation, with daily tasks and backed by science, it is an incredibly useful tool to help you stay on track. They even hold meetings, have a forum and support groups you can join. It was honestly a life-changer for me. 

4. READ! Educate yourself on the benefits and tools to help you stay dry. Without a doubt, my top picks for an easy to read and useful books on your dry or mindful moderations journey, is This Naked Mind by Annie Grace and the Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley. 

5. LISTEN! There are many fantastic Podcasts available to keep you entertained and informed on your journey. My top picks are How I Quit Alcohol by Dani Carr, This Naked Mind with Annie Grace and In The Circle by Tommy Rosen. A huge benefit for me of listening to podcasts, especially in season that truly is so intertwined with alcohol, is that it reminders me I am not alone. In fact, more and more people are now on the alcohol-free path and I truly believe this is where the world is going. People are starting to understand the effects of alcohol and make changes towards reducing or ceasing their alcohol intake.

Remember your WHY, WHAT and HOW. 

Most importantly, embrace it. Embrace the joys it will bring, embrace the challenges it might bring. You’ve got this!