There are many good reasons to stop drinking alcohol. You could notice an improved mood, more energy, better sleep, clearer skin, and even weight loss. The benefits are certainly numerous, but for many, actually quitting alcohol can be extremely difficult. If you want to cut out alcohol, here are some tips to help you on your journey to sobriety:
Set a Goal
The first thing to do is to figure out your reason for quitting alcohol and whether you want to quit for good or set yourself a target—one month, six months, a year.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that you’ve been feeling run down and want to give your health a boost by not drinking for six months. Maybe you’ve realized that alcohol is impacting your relationships with those around you, or you’re exhibiting signs of addiction.
Whatever your reason, it might help to write down your thoughts and set yourself a proper goal, whether that’s quitting for good or not.
Tell Your Friends and Family
A good next step is to let your friends and family—anyone in your immediate social circles—know that you’re planning to stop drinking. This can be a great way to hold yourself accountable for your decision. If someone you see often knows you’re not meant to be drinking, they can call you out on it if you’re about to succumb to temptation.
If you hang out with heavy drinkers, it might mean reducing your contact with them for a while or finding something else you can all do together that doesn’t revolve around alcohol because the next step is to…
Stay Away from Alcohol
This sounds an obvious point: if you’re planning to quit drinking, surely it’s pretty self-explanatory that you shouldn’t be drinking?
For many, though, even being around alcohol can be tempting. If there are beers or bottles of wine in the house, then it’s possible for you to drink them. With none in the house, you won’t be so tempted. Similarly, if you go to a bar, you’re more likely to drink than if you visit, say, a coffee shop.
Keeping alcohol out of sight and out of mind is an essential step for many, especially in the early stages of sobriety.
Focus on Things You Enjoy
Once you stop drinking, you may notice that you have a lot more free time on your hands. If you’re struggling to fill the days, why not try your hand at some new hobbies?
Find new activities that you enjoy, and fill your days with them. Join a book club, go for long walks at the weekend, or join a gym. Replace the hours you’d normally spend drinking with more positive activities.
If you’re finding it difficult to stay away from alcohol, you may be suffering from an addiction problem. Talk to your doctor and consider spending some time at a residential rehabilitation facility like Harris House. You’ll be provided with top-quality care and support to get you on the right track.
Take it Day by Day
No matter your sobriety goal, whether you want to quit forever or for now, it’s important to take each day as it comes. If you’re struggling with the thought of never drinking again, just say to yourself that you won’t drink today. Once you’ve made it through today, you know you can get through another ‘today’ tomorrow.
Never be afraid to seek help for drinking problems. You don’t have to go through it alone, so talk to a healthcare professional to see what they recommend.
