Heard all these great stories about Dry July and wanted to try going alcohol-free yourself? If you want to give your liver a break, stop those headaches,  improve your mood and health, and well.. save quite a bit of money... then cutting back on alcohol may be a good idea for you.

Being alcohol-free doesn’t have mean sobriety. If you want just one night off alcohol, or limit your drinking to twice a week, or twice a month, or once a year, that all counts towards being alcohol-free and bettering your lifestyle! Whatever your goal or reason, we’ve got some tips to help get you started. These tips help you understand the importance of mindful drinking. to stop and be present. 

(What does it really mean to be a ‘mindful drinker’? Get the low-down here.)

1. Set a goal

First things first, decide whether you want to stop drinking altogether or to just limit your drinking. Decide what cutting back would mean: how many drinks per session? How many drinks per week?

Decide how long you want to do this for: a month? a year? a lifetime?

2. Books or audiobooks

A lot of my alcohol-free friends recommend these books because you learn the science behind alcohol and the appeal of drinking - trust me they’re not preachy, they’re actually really fascinating! They reprogram your subconscious to see alcohol in a new light so that you don’t rely on your willpower all the time, so it just comes natural to opt out of the bevvy. 

Most loved:

This Naked Mind by Annie Grace - find freedom, rediscover happiness & change your life... how nice does that sound??

Atomic Habits by James Clear - all about tiny changes you can make to build a new healthy routine sans the alcohol 

The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray - BEST SELLER

Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed With Alcohol by Holly Whitaker - Recommended by Chrissy Teigen!!

 

3. Prepare some distractions

Prepare your mind for times where you’ll think “I’m so bored I could go for a cold one right now”. Get some new hobbies, make a list of movies or TV series to binge during the times you’d usually drink.

Hang out with people who don’t drink much or ask your friends to take on the challenge with you, or to just support you! Tell them your plans and ask for their support and to keep you accountable at dinner, after work, at a party etc.

Instead of going straight to the bar (or home bar) after work, plan something like exercise, a movie, a bath or something you can look forward to so that you don’t feel the need for drinks. 

4. Podcasts

They’re entertaining, educational, and another distraction too. Find one that works for you.

People are loving:

• Take a Break From Drinking - listen here
• How I Quit Alcohol - listen here

5. Stock up on substitutes

You know what they say, “out of sight, out of mind” - give your alcohol stash away and replace them with some Alcohol Free drinks. This is super easy considering liquor shops around the world are definitely hopping on the alcohol free trend. Every time I walk into my local bottle-o there’s a huge, delicious-looking alcohol-free stand in the middle of the room and it makes me feel so much better about myself when I opt for them instead of the alcohol around them. People are loving Heineken Zero and Great Northern Zero to satisfy their beer cravings.

Choose what works for you at our Alcohol Free Bottle Shop

 

need more inspiration? more blogs here.