Going sober in October - get clear on your WHY
Are you thinking about taking a break from alcohol?
This month offers you the perfect excuse (if you feel like you need one), with Sober October.
Sober October originated from Macmillan, who created this campaign to raise money for the charity. However, over the last few years, people have started to see this as another ''Dry January', an opportunity to ditch booze for a month without judgement.
More and more people are starting to look at their relationship with alcohol and question whether it serves them. The recommended weekly alcohol limit in men & women equates to about six pints of beer OR six glasses of wine OR fourteen single shots. When you look at it broken down in this way, for some, this could be a weekends consumption.
Alcohol has a lot to answer for; it is associated with sixty illnesses, including seven types of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
It also plays a part in our mental health; Alcohol is a depressant drug, and half of all suicides are alcohol-related - a sobering statistic.
If you are curious, here are some tips to help you prepare for the month ahead:
Get clear on your WHY. Write it down somewhere, as this can act as a reminder later down the line. Put as much detail in this as possible. This exercise is important because after taking a break, it can be easy to romanticise your relationship with alcohol, thinking that you can moderate when all you have done is show that you can successfully abstain. Everyone's WHY will be different (weight, health, saving money, family), and connecting with yours is essential.
Take a photo of yourself before starting the challenge and see how different you look and feel at the end of the month - you might want to carry it on if you begin to feel the benefits.
Other's stories may inspire you. Start with ''The unexpected joy of being sober'' or ''This Naked Mind''. If podcasts are more your thing, you can listen to my story on Becky Lancashire's 'Into Words' podcast, which is available on most platforms. Or here’s some radio interviews that I have done for Sober October.
Your Transformation Starts Here >
Google 'sober celebs', I imagined the people I saw swinging from the chandeliers at parties and drinking champagne. Some chose sobriety because they are busy and do not have time to be hungover, and some because they identify as having a drinking problem. These guys proved to me that sober really could mean sexy, and if they could do it, then I could do it.
If you like the taste of alcohol and would like to drink just minus the alcohol, I recommend that you stock up on alcohol-free alternatives. If you tried alcohol-free a few years ago and decided that the quality wasn't there, then I would encourage you to try again. The choice and quality have developed so much over the last year as the market is growing.
Club AF and Clarity Wines are the latest No and Low retailers to hit the Jersey market,
You can order online >
See some of my favourite sober sips >
If you haven't spent all your money on alcohol-free alternatives, then add up your savings over the month. Why not treat yourself to something special or donate that money to a charity of your choice.
Think about what you want to do with your extra time and a clear head. Have you always wanted to try a new sport or practice yoga or meditation? Do you have a book that you never get around to reading or a skill you want to learn? Would you like to get organised and spend time clearing out your wardrobe? What about the home decoration you have been dreaming of, could now be the time you focus on getting this complete?
Accountability is helpful for a lot of people. I host a weekly room on ClubHouse. ClubHouse is a free audio-only app that you can download. You can listen in or join in the conversation. As part of a community, spending time weekly listening to like-minded people can be inspiring and keep you on track. We celebrate the highs and hold space for the lows. There are sober and sober curious people in the room; everyone is welcome. The room is available every Tuesday at 10 am for one hour. I am also a coach if you are a private person and would like 1:1 accountability.
Look at the language that you are using. Do you keep saying that you are 'giving up' drinking? Do you keep talking about what you are 'missing out' on? Try talking about what you are gaining and see how that shifts how you feel about your decision. Subtle changes to the words that we use can make a huge difference.
You can do it.