5 Steps to Start Your Alcohol-Free Journey
Have you made the decision to stop drinking? First of all, I’m so glad you’re here! Removing alcohol from your life isn’t easy but there are SO many benefits. Think: clear skin, no brain fog, saving money, and more time for things you TRULY enjoy! Now the hard part is figuring out where to start. Have you tried a million times and failed? You’re not alone. Today, I want to share with you 5 steps to help you start your alcohol-free journey!
*Disclosure: I am NOT a licensed professional by any means. If you feel you are physically dependent on alcohol and would experience withdrawal symptoms upon quitting, there are many resources to help. You should reach out to your primary care provider or other professional to guide you on your first steps to recovery, and they can direct you to local resources for support.
I tried so many times to give up alcohol, and found myself failing over and over again. Check out my about page if you want to read more about my journey. And if you’ve been there and feel like you’re never going to be able to stop drinking, keep trying! You CAN do it! Different things work for everyone, but this is what worked for me. I hope one of these steps helps you navigate those early days of giving up drinking.
1. Figure out WHY you want to stop drinking
This step is the first, and probably the MOST important in quitting drinking. WHY do you want to do it?
This step looks different for everybody – I chose to quit drinking because of the negative impact it was making on my mental health. Other reasons to quit drinking might include:
- Improve your health and fitness
- To address the root causes of your drinking (trauma, stress with work/family, etc.)
- Manage a health condition
- Save money
- To be more present with your family and friends
- To have more time for hobbies and other interests
Jot down a list of YOUR reasons to quit drinking. Identify the top 2 or 3 goals you want to achieve. Start envisioning the positive outcomes of achieving these goals. Journal if that helps you. Talk to a therapist about it. The more you picture this life without drinking, the more you will want it.
2. Identify your support system
Quitting drinking is going to affect more than just you. If alcohol has been part of your lifestyle for a significant amount of time, then the relationship with people around you is going to change. In some ways this will be good, in some it will be difficult.
Not everyone will understand your decision to quit. Remember, they may have the same struggles you do, but aren’t ready to face them quite yet. Hopefully one day you can be their support system; but for now, it’s time for you to find yours!
It’s important to identify someone you trust that you can confide in to help you as you quit. This might be a spouse, family member, friend, or therapist. Let them know you have made the decision to quit drinking and you could use their help along the way.
3. Start reading/listening to alcohol-free content
There are so many great books, podcasts, and social media accounts that serve as alcohol-free resources with a plethora of information and inspiration to guide you (including this blog!).
I would recommend looking back at step 1, WHY you want to quit, and find information tailored to that. Example: if you want to quit drinking to achieve fitness goals, start searching for content about how alcohol impacts the body and muscle recovery.
4. Get rid of temptation
Clear out those cabinets! Get rid of any alcohol you have in the house. Pour it down the drain or give it to a friend or family member that isn’t quite ready to start their own alcohol-free journey yet.
If you had a bar or cabinet dedicated to alcohol, think about how you could make it more exciting with something non-alcoholic: a coffee bar, mocktail bar, smoothie bar, etc. Keep those cute glasses you used for cocktails and start making mocktails instead! A huge reason I was able to stop was because I gave myself new drinks to look forward to. Unfortunately, this now means I’m a coffee addict!
5. Set a date and JUST DO IT!
It’s time to stop drinking! While I’d recommend starting right away, make sure you’re ready! There will always be some kind of occasion or event that will bring up the temptation to drink, so set a date that you will stop and JUST DO IT. Use apps like Days Since to help keep track of how long it’s been since you quit! This is one of my favorite, most fun tools to keep me on track and motivated.
Start with 30 days alcohol-free. Take it one day at a time. Setting out to stop FOR LIFE is a huge, very overwhelming goal right off the bat, and will probably lead to a relapse very quickly. Give yourself a goal to stop for a specific period of time that feels right to you (although I’d recommend a month to really see the physical and mental benefits) and GO FOR IT!
There is no shame in beginning again, for you get a chance to build a life bigger and better than ever before”
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This is just the beginning! There is so much more to giving up alcohol completely, but hopefully with these 5 steps you have the courage to get started. To sum it all up:
- Figure out WHY you want to stop drinking
- Identify your support system
- Start reading/listening to alcohol-free content
- Get rid of temptation
- Set a date and JUST DO IT!
I want to applaud you for having the curiosity to think about life without alcohol in a world that promotes it at every turn. I hope this, or anything I write helps encourage you to take that first step. If you enjoyed this article or any of my other posts, let me know in the comments or subscribe to my newsletter below! I’d love to answer any questions you have or be a resource for you on your journey.