I love sharing tips and advice to help you quit drinking or take a break from booze.
But I also have another area of expertise…
I spent years mastering the art of NOT quitting drinking.
Seriously – I used to be an expert at sabotaging my own sobriety. A real “specialist”.
I thought it might be helpful for me to share some of my, ahem, “pro tips” in today’s blog.
That way you can make sure you’re not repeating my mistakes!
10 Ways To Sabotage Your Sobriety:
1. Set an unrealistic goal, like quitting ‘forever’. This is nice and overwhelming!
2. Decide that stopping drinking isn’t enough – you’re also going to put yourself on a strict diet too. This is a sure-fire way to ensure you’re definitely overwhelmed and feeling deprived, fast.
3. Buy books about sobriety, but don’t actually read them properly. Make sure you only skim read a few chapters and look for all the ways your drinking is different from the author’s.
4. Do not spend any time planning ahead for wine o’clock or working out some alternative coping mechanisms. Just cross your fingers and hope for the best instead.
5. Spend some time romanticising alcohol and thinking about how you’ll never, ever have fun again. Think about all the good times you had together and gloss over the bad moments.
6. Crowdsource opinions on your drinking from friends who love booze because their opinion is absolutely vital here.
7. Google the health benefits of drinking wine. You’re sure there are some… you just have to avoid the articles about the increased cancer risks first.
8. Decide that sobriety is too drastic and that moderation will probably work this time. It hasn’t worked all the other times but you’ve got a good feeling this time.
9. Realise that moderation still doesn’t work. And not only that, it’s really hard work, having alcohol play on your mind all the time.
10. Convince yourself that you’re a hopeless case because you still have no idea how to stop drinking and make sobriety stick. Feel crushed and very, very sad.
There is another way…
Are you tired of sabotaging your sobriety, going round in circles, and feeling stuck? Perhaps you don’t want to quit drinking for good, but you know you can’t stay as you are…
Click here to join me for Freedom Week and I’ll show you how to escape the drink-regret-repeat cycle.
19 responses
I have done the majority of those things . Today I am 14 days AF. Each morning I say “I’m not drinking today”. That’s it, nothing more. Friends ask if I’m stopping completely and my answer is “I’m not drinking today and I will decide tomorrow if I drink or not”
I love that concept
Well done on 14 days alcohol-free! Such a great start, but you’re right, there is no point in contemplating quitting forever, because how will you know if you get there? That’s an overwhelming concept and not helpful. I wrote a blog on this exact topic that you might find interesting: https://thesoberschool.com/quit-drinking-forever/
Thank you Kate for your communications, I have learnt a lot from your advice but I will still drink alcohol , my choice, xxx
This message couldn’t have been more timely
Every point is applicable
Thank you so much
You’re very welcome Susan. 🙂
Hi Kate,
I’m finding your encouraging tips and advice so helpful , I haven’t had a drink for weeks and honestly I’m proud of myself, I’m taking one day at a time. I’m so glad I found your web site. Thank you
Congratulations Pat, you should be very proud and I’m so happy to have helped get you started on the alcohol-free path – it’s a lifestyle upgrade in my opinion. ❤️
Intentionally keeping company with people who consistently drank dangerously so I could say ‘well, I don’t drink as much as them so I can’t have an issue’ to justify my alcohol abuse.
That’s a very interesting insight Sam. It would be good to explore this mindset further and I’d love to help you do that in Freedom Week. This is your chance to explore alcohol-free living gently, safely, and on your terms. All the details about this 7 day programme is here: https://thesoberschool.com/freedom-week/
You’re not giving anything up. You’re opening the door to what’s possible.
I really don’t think I can drink. I’m great for 1 or 2 but I need more. Even early in the morning.
It’s easy to forget that alcohol is actually an addictive drug and there’s no safe level to drink because it’s a toxic substance. Free yourself from it’s hold by joining me in Freedom Week. In just 7 days, you could be feeling lighter, stronger and so much clearer about what’s next for you. https://thesoberschool.com/freedom-week/
2 years af- ‘not drinking at the moment’ – ‘out early for a run,’ etc
More and more people aren’t drinking – I’ve lost a few boozy friends but kept some too
I’m not ‘sober’ I’m just being healthy – thank you !
Two years alcohol-free – fabulous! 🙂 You’re absolutely right, taking care of your health doesn’t include drinking a harmful sedative any day of the week!
I am out on 2 evenings of Freedom week. Can I catch up or is it all live sessions.?
Hi Karen, the sessions are all recorded and replays available until the 27th September, so you’ll be able to catch up, no problem. 🙂
Hi Kate I have been following you for a couple of years. I gave up drinking just over 2 years ago. I was using it to block everything out felt like I was drowning in the bottle now I’m at the top and feeling so much more positive stronger and healthier. I always read all you send and it keeps me strong. Thank you
Hi Kate, I have completed your 7 day programme. It was great. I had decided to stop drinking alcohol again and I stumbled on your website. I haven’t drank in 10 days. Thanks to you. I couldn’t have done it without you. The one very important thing that you have thought me is “Acohol is an addictive mind altering glamorised drug. I repeat that daily and it helps. Like all your other tips. I have never gone 2 days without drinking before. Your 7 day reset is brilliant.
Hi Kathleen, That’s fantastic, I’m so pleased to hear that. Well done and keep going!