5 Must Have Tips for a Successful Sober October
What the world needs now is a break! A break from the madness, the stress, and the uncertainty. Sober October couldn't come at a better time. It is the perfect palette cleanser to kick off the holiday season and to clear your mind from the multiple upheavals in our society. Take this month to quiet your inner voice, change unfavorable quarantine habits and come home to yourself.
Let's start by asking yourself why. Get out your journal or a piece of paper and think of as many reasons why you should take a break from drinking today. Once you’re clear on why you want to stop drinking, you’ll be able to refer back to that for motivation through your journey.
Here are 5 tips to make your Sober October successful.
1. Plan Experiences Over Bars
When planning outings with friends, opt for activities not centered around drinking: Movie, dinner, local play, take a class together (cooking, pottery), board games etc. One of my favorite things to do is ask and answer The 36 Questions That Lead to Love . You can do them with your friends, family, partner, whoever. These hard-hitting questions are made to build connection and bring forth vulnerability.
2. Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork
A little competition never hurt anybody! Get your friends, family and co-workers involved and have a prize or reward at the end of the month. Keep each other accountable by checking in via zoom or FaceTime to keep everyone on track. Finding an accountability partner in some shape or form is one of my top tips for staying sober. Get a sober buddy, or a sobriety coach to check in with you and help talk it out on a regular basis. Find someone and let them know you’re not drinking and to hold you accountable. Join like-minded women in our private Facebook group.
3. Alternatives Make The World Go Round
If drinking every day is something you plan your day around, then we need to talk. Let’s talk about how to replace those habits. Let’s say your nightly routine consists of pouring yourself a glass of wine when you start cooking dinner and finishing that bottle is on your to-do list. We could use this as an opportunity to drink something else, literally anything else. You could spruce it up a bit with fresh fruit or try some sparkling water. A healthy substitute is always the goal! Check out our Guide to Non-Alcoholic Beers and 5 Must-Have Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Alternatives.
4. Stay Focused
When you go booze-free you are going to feel really great and it may spur more changes. Stay focused on the task at hand and don't overwhelm yourself. Don't be a jack of all trades and master of none. Let's focus on nailing Sober October before making any other big life changes!
5. Be Curious
Try not to be hard on yourself. Lean into those uncomfortable or challenging situations and be mindful of how you are feeling. For Sober October you are gathering intel on your drinking and how it affects you physically, emotionally, financially, and interpersonally. Why is it so hard to not drink? Why do I feel I need to drink? Is drinking worth it? Is alcohol helping or hindering my goals in life?
This October, give yourself the gift of:
✔️ Clear mind
✔️ Calm your nervous system
✔️ Bigger bank account
✔️ Stronger health
✔️ Deeper sleep
and much, much, MUCH more!
Through daily educational, motivational, and inspirational emails, and daily worksheets, you will have the knowledge and accountability to keep you on track for successful and insightful booze-free 30 days. Take the 30 Days to Gain Booze Free Challenge.