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Summary

Dancing With The Stars pro Cheryl Burke shares her strategy for avoiding alcohol by leaving social situations by a certain time, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing mental wellness over pleasing others.

Abstract

In the context, the author discusses Dancing With The Stars pro Cheryl Burke's recent revelation about her sobriety journey and her strategy for avoiding alcohol. Burke, who is four years sober, has been struggling with persistent thoughts about drinking. To combat this, she decided to exit certain social situations by a certain time, specifically mentioning that she should not be out past 10:30 p.m. She acknowledges that being triggered by people who have more than a couple of drinks around her, especially late at night, is a challenge. Burke's approach emphasizes the importance of prioritizing one's health and mental wellness over pleasing others or being "social." The author also highlights the value of writing about not drinking and making healthy choices as a way to reinforce behavior and stay on track.

Bullet points

  • Cheryl Burke is four years sober and has been struggling with thoughts about drinking.
  • Burke decided to leave social situations by a certain time, specifically not being out past 10:30 p.m.
  • Burke is triggered by people who have more than a couple of drinks around her, especially late at night.
  • Burke emphasizes the importance of prioritizing mental wellness over pleasing others or being "social."
  • Writing about not drinking and making healthy choices can help reinforce behavior and stay on track.

Cheryl Burke reveals key to avoiding alcohol

Earlier this week, I wrote about success guru Grant Cardone’s strategy for avoiding one of alcohol’s biggest traps for restless people: idle time.

According to the billionaire and recovered drug addict:

  • “Nothing good happens after 9 p.m.”
  • “If you want to meet the Devil, have white space on your calendar.”

His point is that aimless free time, especially late at night, is usually a trigger for making bad decisions, whether that be drinking, taking drugs, or just being lazy and eating junk food.

This is certainly true for me. As a natural night owl, the way I deal with it is to head to the gym later at night.

It was interesting to see Dancing With The Stars pro Cheryl Burke reinforce Cardone’s points this week.

Mark J Sebastian, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Avoiding trigger times

Burke revealed she’s 4 years sober, but that she’s been struggling lately with persistent thoughts about drinking.

As such, she decided she needed to exit certain social situations by a certain time.

“I just noticed, though, when I was out with my friends the other night, that there’s a time frame where I should not be out, and I think it’s past 10:30. I know that’s like a senior citizen time, but I noticed that after dinner, people want to go out afterwards.

I think I’m best just to drop people off as the designated driver and go on my merry way because I am triggered by people who have more than maybe a couple drinks around me, especially late at night.”

Burke sets a good example here.

If you’re struggling to stay on your chosen path, don’t hesitate to put your health and mental wellness ahead of pleasing others or being “social.”

Her comments also illustrate the value in writing about not drinking and about making healthy choices as a way to reinforce behaviour and stay on track (the way I and some of you do on this platform).

She credited being able to share her thoughts and feelings via social media and her podcast with her ability to avoid relapse.

I hope you’re all doing well today and thank you for reading! If you did, I’d appreciate you giving it a clap so others can find it!

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Alcohol
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