Quitting and Cutting Down
Transform Your Life with Sober October: A Month Without Alcohol
Sep
Want to Go Sober for October?
Sober October is here, and all around the world, people will stop drinking for a month to help themselves and others. With health awareness at a peak this year, more and more people are choosing to drink less alcohol, think more about their fitness and nutrition and take steps towards more energetic and fuller lives.
If you want to stop drinking for October for the first time or enjoyed it the previous year, we have some hints and tips to make your sober October a success!
Need a Break from Drinking?
Why do we drink when we don’t want to? Usually, we only do something we don’t want to do if we need to. Drinking when we want to stop is no different. There are lots of reasons why we feel we need alcohol but just as many to stop.
One of the big signs you are having problems with alcohol is needing it to help you do something that should feel natural and normal. Examples are sleeping, socialising and relaxing.
Do any of these sound like you?
- I’m stressed, I need a drink
- I can’t wind down without alcohol
- Drinking makes me fun
- It helps me sleep
If so, you might want to consider Sober October as a chance to see how a month away from alcohol makes you feel.
Reevaluate your relationship with alcohol
Taking a break from anything, whether it is work, relationships, or even a habit, can help you to understand it better. It is very hard to look at something thoroughly while you are still in it.
Stopping drinking can often break a cycle of overindulging and painful hangovers. It may help you to realise that issues you are struggling with, such as insomnia, fatigue and low mood, are caused by drinking too much.
In the best-case scenario, you will realise you don’t really need alcohol and can continue on with only having the occasional drink, safe in the knowledge that you are in control of your drinking. At a minimum, it will give your body much-needed rest and time to recover if you have been overusing alcohol.
Alcohol-Free Home
This one can be hard, especially if you have a well-stocked cabinet. You hardly want to get rid of your single malt collection. Nor do we suggest drinking it to empty the house.
- Don’t buy alcohol – avoid the drinks aisle in the supermarket.
- Store any undrunk bottles somewhere out of sight and out of mind. A garage or cupboard keeps you from seeing and being tempted.
- Give drinks away. You can give unopened bottles as gifts or ask a relative to store them away for Christmas.
- Buy and store alternatives. A selection of your favourite non-alcoholic drinks can help curb the habit and offer an alternative treat.
Do Something Else
So many of us use alcohol as a nightly reward or wind-down. Unfortunately, this can lead to drinking daily, which is dangerous for your heart, liver, and mental health. This is called ‘Habit Drinking’ and means a change of routine is needed to stop drinking.
Replacing this habit with a better one can be life-changing. Timing can be key. For example, you will think less about drinking if you are out at the pool or taking night classes when you would normally be tempted.
- Find a hobby or sport you have always wanted to try.
- Avoid activities where drinking will be part and parcel.
- Try replacing drinking with this activity.
- Time your activity for when you would normally be tempted to drink.
Sober Socialising
People who drink tend to gravitate towards other drinkers, but breaking this cycle goes a long way towards staying sober. Even for people who have sworn off alcohol for life, being in social situations with alcohol can be tough. We recommend finding social activities and spending time with friends who don’t drink.
- Attend naturally sober events like daytime activities, markets, sports, coffee shops etc.
- Avoid drinking-focused events, pubs, and places where you would normally drink.
- Try making new friends who don’t drink. Doing sober activities and sports naturally leads to meeting people who drink less. You may find these friendships are based on mutual interests and lives rather than convenient drinking relationships.
- Convince a friend, spouse or partner to join you. It will be easier if you have someone to share your new sobriety with.
Eating and (non-alcoholic) Drinking
One of the best things about stopping drinking for a month is how good you will feel. As you detox from alcohol, you will improve your sleeping, eating, health and fitness.
Mental health improves with stopping drinking as well. You can do many things to support this and make the most of going sober for October.
- Drinking leads us to eat less healthy food and provides empty calories from alcohol. Losing weight is a great motivation for stopping drinking in October.
- Make the most of the energy boost you get from quitting alcohol and try exercising or even walking more.
- Find a delicious alcohol-free drink you genuinely enjoy. Don’t be afraid to splash out a few soft drinks that are anywhere near the price of alcohol.
- Choose a new healthy diet. Cooking makes a great sober hobby, and your body benefits too.
- Get lots of sleep. Enjoy feeling amazing in the morning! Drinking disrupts your sleep patterns and quality of rest.
Enjoy More Money
The cost of drinking is high and ever-increasing. We aren’t just talking about what you pay for your bottles. Nights out, taxis, broken phones and lost wallets are all big expenditures. You’ll likely find you end sober in October with a lot more cash in your account.
- Use your savings from sober October to buy yourself something nice.
- Motivate yourself by adding up how much you have saved. Consider using it for a new sober hobby or sports membership.
Alcohol Detox Supplements
Supplements for alcohol detox are designed to make stopping easier on your body and mind. They also boost the positive effects, giving you the motivation to keep going with quitting alcohol.
- Take the supplements when you would normally drink. Consider it a replacement and reminder of why you stopped drinking.
- Target any symptoms you have from alcohol detox by choosing the right supplement.
- Pair supplements with a healthy diet and enjoyable hobbies and sports.
Focus on the Positive
Many people get stuck in a cycle where they think they enjoy drinking when it has the opposite effect. This is a common thing across all activities.
Remember why you are doing this if you are sad or left out because of sober October. While enjoying the odd drink is perfectly healthy for most of us, a low mood and not enjoying life without alcohol is a sign of dependence.
Get out there and make the most of better sleep, health and happiness from sober October. Never forget to enjoy yourself.
Sober October Helpful Hints – And A Tip For Each Day!!
So, October is here. The perfect opportunity to cut out booze, whether it’s just for this month or to give abstinence a longer-term go.
Whatever your goals for stopping drinking, here are some helpful tips to help you stay off alcohol and 31 tips for every day in October!
Some are easier than others, and others are more helpful than some – do some of them or do all of them daily, whatever works for you.
And you are not alone. Connect with us on social media for more hints and tips each day!
Sober October Supplement - Try Desistal to Stop Drinking
Before & When You Stop For Sober October
Here are some handy tips to help prepare you for stopping throughout the whole of October:
- Start reducing your alcohol
- Take supplements
- Work out your weekly routine during October
- Think about your daily schedule
- Get the support of family & friends – share your goals and achievements
- Try and exercise daily – set exercise goals
- Remove alcohol from the house
- Steer clear of people who drink and places where people drink
- Take your weight at the start of October and again at the end
- Hydrate – drink at least 2 litres a day (or one fluid ounce or 30ml of water per day for every pound you weigh)
31 Days Of Sober October Tips
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- List the reasons you’re stopping – health, time, family, money, mood, etc
Take vitamins & nutrient supplements- Detox using fruit and vegetables and lots of water
- Download a motivational & inspirational app
- Laugh – watch your favourite comedy, call a funny friend or watch stand-up on YouTube
- Cook something new – something you’ve never tried
- Work out your triggers
- Plan your weekend ahead
- Online yoga – lots free on YouTube
- Borrow a pet (or spend more time with your own)
- Read a self-help/recovery book
- Meditate quietly and breathe
- Get better sleep
- Practice Mindfulness
- Download a helpful app
Get a massage or reflexology- Work out how much you would have spent on alcohol
- Take a supplement
- Find out about relapse prevention
- Join a new social media group
- Get involved in a charity
- Spend time in nature
- Treat yourself with the money you’ve saved
- Draw, paint or colour-in
- Speak to someone you haven’t spoken to for some time
- Write a gratitude list
- Listen to a podcast
- Take a long bath, shower or spa day
- Make a music playlist of your favourite, upbeat happy songs
- Drink more water – keep hydrated
- Deal with that thing you’ve been putting off
Check our Facebook page daily for motivation, expansion on the tips above and more helpful hints and tips!
Sober October Supplement - Try Desistal to Stop Drinking