Quitting drinking was not what I had planned for quarantine; in fact I planned to be tipsy for however long Corona Virus kept me home, because I love having a beverage or two to enjoy- especially during a pandemic. My health had other plans. I will fully detail my health stuff in a future post, in THIS post I want to share my journey (so far) of quitting drinking; because if I, a lover of imbibing, can quit drinking (temporarily), then anyone can!
Do It NOW
Initially the prospect of quitting drinking, during a pandemic no less, felt daunting; what will I do to pass the time? How will I pacify my pandemic fears? Well, it turns out that not having the anxiety of having to teetotal while out with friends, or finding reasons to explain my not drinking, were taken away completely. It’s MUCH easier to attend a virtual bachelorette or birthday party without drinking; so take advantage of this time and use it to your highest good- not just for the purpose of quitting drinking. I think we underestimate the mental effect social change can have on us when quitting drinking; without this pressure the process has been made easier.
Ride the Emotional Waves
If you’re like me, socializing and alcohol are a part of every aspect of your life- winding down, socializing, celebrating, mourning; and to expect to give up drinking without emotions is absolute clownery. I felt/feel ALL THE THINGS and have simply had to go through them; make no mistake, quitting drinking is no joke from an emotional point of view. Whether you plan to quit drinking forever or temporarily like me, expect there to be emotional peaks and valleys.
Journal
Speaking of emotional peaks and valleys, journaling through this process can be an enlightening exercise to bring understanding as to why we drink. This isn’t to say that if you drink that it comes from a dark place, but I personally love intel that helps me understand myself better. Look, I quit drinking temporarily as a means of self care and healing, but in journaling I have come to understand what leads me to drink; instead of being able to pour myself a glass of rouge, I journal. I think it would be foolish of me not to take stock during this time, because growth is a product of self reflection, and I’ve grown considerably through quitting drinking.
Find Cheats
For the aforementioned virtual bachelorette and birthday party I didn’t want to feel left out during the toasts- I have unrelenting FOMO; so instead I made myself cute mocktails to feel like a full participant. Sometimes it’s as simple as having something boozy looking in my hand. Sparkling water, fizzy kombucha, limes, lemons, garnishes of all kinds, make for fun components of a deliciously inclusive mocktail.
- 1 cup kombucha
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 3 lemon slices
- Combine and serve over ice.
Quitting Drinking: The Bottom Line
Quitting drinking means something different to everyone; for some its physical health (me), for others it’s mental health, while for many it’s simply become clear that it’s time to give up the bottle. Regardless of what your motives are, expect to FEEL this process, in your body (positively) in your emotions (positively and negatively) and in your life (you decide); but as someone 4 weeks into this process I know that regardless of how long I teetotal, I will have grown from this experience.
**I felt the need throughout this post to exaggerate that I am teetotal for a temporary period of time, so you are very likely to see me holding a drink at a party or on the internet at some point in the future 😉