STRATEGIES TO QUIT
One Small Piece Of Advice That Makes Quitting Alcohol 10x Easier
Give it a try
Quitting alcohol is rarely easy for anyone who tries it.
If you enjoyed drinking alcohol or drank it regularly, then giving up can be a long, tough struggle. For some, even impossible.
Because it’s so hard, most people who are trying to stay sober are looking for ways to make it easier. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a button we could push that made us not want to drink any more.
But there are some things that do make it easier, and here’s one tiny piece of advice that has helped me, and may help you.
Alcohol can dull many things
How many mornings have been grey due to a hangover?
How many work-outs have been cancelled for feeling rough?
How many evenings have been wasted for drink?
How many conversations have been forgotten because of black outs?
How many things have been put off because… alcohol?
The answer to those questions will be different for everyone.
We all experience alcohol differently and the negatives come at different times for us all. Often alcohol will be mainly fun for many years, before we realise it’s started to turn things darker.
What is the same for everyone though, is that plenty of time has been wasted on alcohol.
One small piece of advice
Something that has helped me, is to focus on the many things I can do now which I couldn’t always do when I was drinking most days.
For me, there were:
Generally enjoying mornings
Weekend runs
Making plans the day after a night out
Reading in the evenings
Spending more time writing
These are all small things that bring me joy.
When we focus on something that brings us joy, that alcohol would have hindered, can we turn this into a new habit?
For example, I made enjoying my morning coffee with a book a daily habit.
Alcohol often made this activity redundant, as I’d try to sleep in or stay in bed. Focusing on a book when alcohol is in my system was never as peaceful.
Now, I know I can get up every morning and enjoy a coffee with a book, without the hangover or the foggy head.
Another example is weekend runs.
I never have to worry about when to fit my runs in around when I will be drinking. How to predict when the “big” nights will be can turn into a game of Russian Roulette and fitting the runs in around those can be tricky.
Now, I know I can plan runs in for whenever as I will always be fresh enough to go.
Making plans is another one for me.
I used to be scared to make plans after a night out.
“Do you want to do this on Saturday?”
“Ooh I don’t know”, I would reply, trying to work out in my head how much I’m likely to drink on the Friday evening. This would depend on my plans, who I’m out with and where I’m going.
What I knew for sure, was that it was the plans that would decide how much I would drink, not me.
Now, I can plan away at the weekend knowing that I will definitely be able to make that activity on a Saturday morning and this is something I’ve really enjoyed.
Making small habits
These are very small habits that make me grateful every day that I am not drinking, because otherwise these small joys would be diminished.
Think about what would make you happy. Something small and achievable. Ideally something you wouldn’t do as often when you used to drink.
Make a habit out of this small thing, and every time you do it try to have gratitude for the fact that this is something you’re doing because you are sober.
Enjoying small things that you can do more of when you are alcohol free has worked well for me.
I give myself regular gratitude for not drinking.
I enjoy the smaller things all the more.
I notice when I feel good and I’m happy.
My mood is often better for doing things I enjoy.
Not having alcohol in my system helps my mental health even more so.
If we can consciously choose to incorporate little habits into our everyday and notice them often, it will make the act of not drinking that little bit easier.
Advice: Find something small that brings you joy every day, that alcohol used to dull down. Do this often, and notice how much you enjoy it.