I think I want to stop drinking or at least slow down. I don’t think I have a drinking problem, but I think I would feel better with a little less alcohol. I have also been seeing online a lot of people posting dry January or quitting all together. Have you got any tips to help me with this journey?
To Drink or Not to Drink Dear To Drink or Not to Drink, Good Job, looking into anything that can help you live a better life. I think being self-aware and taking personal responsibility for yourself is always a good thing.
Why don’t you start by getting clear on what you want to do? Do you want to cut back on your drinking, or do you want to quit? If you can’t decide right now, then spend some time getting clear on why you want to either stop or cut down. I believe that will help you decide your goal. The reason it is important to get clear is because it is the only way for you to be successful and feel like you are having any success. Say you are just going to go along the way and see how any of it goes. Every time you drink you might feel like you have failed. As much as you tell yourself, “Oh I was just cutting down, and I am still cutting down”, your brain will probably not feel successful because it will hold you to a more severe goal.
So start with your why. Do you want to change your drinking because you are having some health issues? Do you want to release some extra weight? Are you not sleeping as well as you think you should? Are you spending too much money on booze? Looking at all this will help you decide to quit or cut back. It will also give you motivation when you're faced with some temptation to drink when you have decided
Might be a good idea
to look at why you drink. This can help you in your journey. Say you are bored. Then you realize you need to bring some new things into your life. Say you are super stressed. Then you need to learn some stress management skills.
Ok, now set clear goals. Are you going to not drink at all? Are you going to only drink on weekends? Are you only going to have one drink? You get the picture. Clear goals can help you track your progress and help to keep you motivated. There is also a chance that you can get more information about your drinking if you are unable to stick to your clear goals. It could be you have a bigger problem than you thought or possibly you have just set your goals too strictly. Only you will know this answer. Don’t hesitate to ask those who love you for their input.
Now is time to find some alternatives to booze. What are you going to drink in those times when you have decided not to drink alcohol? Are you going to try non-alcoholic versions of your favorite beverages? This does work for some, and others find it just triggers them into wanting some of the real stuff. I have seen some very interesting non-alcoholic cocktail recipes floating around on the internet.
Get your support systems in place. Spend time with friends that support you and your goals. There will be those who don’t necessarily want you to succeed. This can force people to look at their own drinking, and often people don't want to. So pick your people.
Keep track of all the benefits that you notice. This will help you when you are feeling less motivated. Be kind to yourself. Remember what I always tell you, “YOU CAN'T BEAT YOURSELF BETTER.”
Make plans for how you are going to handle social situations. Be prepared.
Don’t hesitate to get professional help if you need it. This is a lofty goal and often more difficult than you have imagined. So celebrate your successes.
Love,
Aunt B
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