- Alcohol-free drinks are your new best friend and the 0% market is booming. You will find wines, beers and spirits in all major supermarkets with even more available online. The taste and flavour has improved dramatically over the last few years and in many cases you would struggle to taste the difference in the 0% version vs the alcoholic version. In my experience, they will help you so much on your journey.
- Follow people on social media who have been on the journey you’re on and who inspire you. Taking a break from alcohol has never been easier thanks to the tools we now have at our disposal. There are plenty of people online promoting an alcohol-free lifestyle and putting out daily motivational content to keep you going. Follow as many people as you can that are sharing an alcohol-free message, or maybe even start sharing your own journey to help others and add further accountability for yourself
- Join a sober community. When you take a break from alcohol, you can often be the only person in your family or friendship group that are doing it, therefore its useful to surround yourself with people that are on the same journey. There are some unbelievable communities that are growing at a rapid rate and offer so much valuable content for free. The Dryy app is one of the fasted growing alcohol-free communities in the world and offers a free community, free events and free daily live content. There are also courses that are available for people that want a bit of additional help and support.
- Fill your new found time with exciting new things. You will have more time back in the morning, more time in the evening, your weekends will feel longer than ever and every day feels like a new opportunity to make progress. Plan this time so that you’re using it to do things that excite you. Maybe it’s a course you want to enrol in, maybe you want to write a book, take a new class at the gym, start a new hobby, join a running club – whatever it is for you, follow that thought and get excited about your future.
- Nights out can be a challenge when you first take a break from alcohol. Tell everyone in advance that you are not drinking – that removes any unwanted drink offers, it avoids any surprises and you won’t have to go over it time and again with people throughout the night. My advice is to own that decision and be proud of what you are doing. You will be surprised at how positive people will be around you and who knows, you may even inspire a few people along the way. Also, have an exit strategy, when are you going home and how are you getting home. Plan it in advance and stick to it!
