- Embrace your decision
- Be prepared
- Get outdoors
- Move your body
- Try something new
- Save the cash for something special
- Switch up your routines
- Be kind to yourself
- Journal it all out
- Get support
The easiest way to enjoy a successful Sober October is to see this as a positive experience, to take a step back from drinking, and give your body and mind a break from booze. When you are fully committed to going alcohol-free, no matter what, then the whole experience becomes a lot more fun and enjoyable.
With the Go Sober for October campaign starting and so far over 900 people pledging to take part in Sober October to raise money for Macmillan Cancer support this year, I wanted to share with you some hints and tips on how to have a successful Sober October.
The first thing to remember is that this is not just a month off the booze to raise money, this is a wonderful opportunity to rethink your relationship with alcohol and maybe even kick-start your new joyful alcohol-free life.
Many past participants of Sober October reported that they reduced the amount of alcohol they drank and the number of days they drank throughout the rest of the year after completing Sober October. However, this does not apply to everyone – check out this post to find out why not to do Sober October
October is a great time to go sober, it is a month of change, summer is turning into autumn, the days are drawing in, the clocks change and the scenery, landscape and nature are all changing around us – it’s as if mother nature intends us to change with her. It’s a beautiful and inspiring time. Let’s go into more detail about how you can feel good and have a successful Sober October.
Here are my top tips on how to have a successful Sober October
This is your decision – embrace it. One of the most freeing and empowering things you can do is to make the decision that you are going to enjoy this month away from alcohol because it is the right thing for you.
I love it that there is so much support and encouragement out there but really, if you want to have a successful Sober October then you must make this commitment to yourself and really mean it, it takes away all of the questioning and indecisions. Go for it, you can absolutely do it!
Be prepared. This can mean different things for different people but plan ahead and get what you might need for the first few days. It might be a selection of alcohol-free drinks or lots of nice teas or posh coffee. It could be some nice food, fruits, sweets or nibbles. Maybe there’s a book you’ve been wanting to read or you fancy something new to watch.
Get organised now so you’re not caught short. Also, make a list of what might trigger you or make you feel anxious or nervous, and put some things in place to help you through these moments.
Get outdoors. As I said above, October is a beautiful month and a perfect time to be outdoors when the weather permits. Take advantage of your surroundings and try to spend some time outside every day if you can. It could be sitting in your garden, going for walks, to the park or exploring your city. Watch this video about why getting outdoors will help you have a successful sober October
Move. Your body that is! One of my friends told me, “I didn’t get sober to sit on the couch” and that is so true. If you can, get out there and do some exercise, just 20-30 minutes a day will lift your spirits, release endorphins and create a natural high.
Exercise is one of my pillars of sobriety and it is also a great way to beat those cravings. If the weather is pants, then it’s a perfect time to organize your wardrobe, have a clear out, clean your house, organize your books – just do something to get you off the sofa for a bit!
Get creative in the kitchen or learn a new skill like touch typing or yoga.
Try something new. But I am already trying something new! I hear you cry. That’s true, you are. But, you will notice that when you’re not just sitting down the pub getting wasted or vegging out in front of the TV downing the vino, you’ll have more time on your hands. This is a good thing as long as you don’t sit around twiddling your thumbs wondering what to do, or worse having a conversation with the wine witch at wine o’clock.
Instead, make the most of clear-headed mornings to try a bit of meditation, go out for breakfast for a change, or try a morning walk with a friend. Get creative in the kitchen or learn a new skill like touch typing or yoga. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and definitely don’t try something that doesn’t interest you. It could be as simple as cooking a new dish, reading a new book, or spending Sundays in a new place.
Download your FREE workbook and tracker to help you have a magical month of sobriety and beyond
Put the money away. Save the money you would otherwise spend on booze for something nice for yourself. Every day, put the money in a tin or jar or transfer it to a separate account so that by the end of the month you can see just how much you would have otherwise poured down your throat and ultimately down the toilet. Do it consistently throughout the month though, so you can really reap the rewards.
Change your routine. Perhaps you’re thinking that your routine is already full or running smoothly and there’s no time for anything else.
However, one of the benefits of not drinking is more time, but it is what to do with that extra time that is important. If evenings are difficult for you, then why not create a lovely new evening ritual to help you through this month and bring some much-needed self-care into your routine.
Over the course of the month try switching things up a bit or adding new things maybe only one or two a week to see what you like and what you don’t.
Be kind to yourself. Self-care and a bit of self-indulgence are hugely important, especially in the beginning if this is totally new to you. Do Not Feel Guilty about anything and don’t beat yourself up either. Sleep in if you can. Take a nap if you need to. Say no to as much as you want.
Go out if you feel like it. Stay in if you like. Cook if you want to but not if you don’t. Give yourself permission to be a little bit selfish this October. The perfect way to bring some nourishing self-care into your day is with the Virtual Lunar Retreat which you can do alongside your sober October.
Get a journal. If you’ve never done it before, then journaling is an awesome tool to help you through any sort of change, and going alcohol-free is no exception. Use it daily to record your thoughts, feeling, triggers, struggles, and wins or even just to doodle any ideas that you might have.
Do use an actual physical book and not the computer as we retain more information and get much more out of the experience if we physically write stuff down.
Join a support group. Come and join us in the Blissfully Sober Support Space to get extra support and help as you go through your month of alcohol-free living. This is a loving, supportive safe space to ask for help and share your progress.
Are you taking part in sober October this year? Let me know in the comments below what one thing you are looking forward to experiencing. If you do need extra support to guide you through the month and beyond, then see how one-to-one coaching can help you.
Get inspired this October with 20 FREE uplifting, positive affirmations for sobriety. Download them all for free right here!
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