I hate being nagged to do stuff. I don’t want to be guilt tripped, made to feel bad or like I “should” change.
So that probably explains why I’ve been back and forth over whether or not to share this week’s blog.
I’d much rather inspire, rather than scare you into quitting drinking.
But… this topic is really important.
Key points:
If you’re drinking, risks are unavoidable
The risks are so wide ranging – from the potential harm to your health, to the risk of someone smelling alcohol on you or getting caught driving over the limit. Then there’s the risk of pretending to remember a conversation, saying something you didn’t mean, of hiding your drinks and being caught out.
The risk to others
If you’re drinking several glasses of wine – or a bottle – on most nights, then over the weeks and the months, that’s a significant portion of the day that you are checked out and unavailable. If something happens or someone needs you, it’s hard to show up in the way you’d want to. There’s also the risk of all those lost connections. Who else in your life knows about your drinking… and has distanced themselves as a result?
Why not take a risk on sobriety?
What are the risks that you’re taking with alcohol, day in, day out? Are they definitely worth it? Personally, I decided they weren’t. So I decided to take a different type of risk and step out of my comfort zone by taking a break from booze. I stopped for 100 days and told myself I could go back to booze if I wanted to… but I’ve never looked back. Now that was a risk that truly paid off.
Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.
25 responses
I have gone back to having a drink after five months the reason being I fancied a drink rather a coffee on the sea front. However I do not mix with the heavy drinkers anymore and fully taken responsibility to everyday life.
It can be a lonely journey when you’re doing this on your own. If you need support to make an alcohol free lifestyle stick, my online coaching programme would be a great fit for you. Here are the details: https://thesoberschool.com/course/
Good morning Kate. I took your course in September last year and have been alcohol free and loving it . However, I do keep dipping into your videos as a reminder Like today as to what my life was like and I don’t want to go back to that ever. Not answering the phone in the evening really resonated with me and I want to make sure I am available, for me and my loved ones. I was on holiday in March in the Caribbean and apart from fruit punch only one place had alcohol free wine. The whole situation screamed to have that free wine and G and T but I knew for me , one drink then I would be back to the start with the added disappointment of letting ´self down . I lost my dog and a very dear friend in the same week earlier this month, but I wasn’t tempted as I have good alternatives. Thank you again for your brilliant course. Worth every penny !
Well done Sandy and thank you for your kind words. It’s always good to remind yourself how far you’ve come and to have gratitude for taking that decision to love yourself enough to stop harming your health. You’ve had some tough challenges, but handling them sober is a respectful response. Feeling all the feelings can be hard, but authentic emotions mean you’re honouring loved ones, human and furry. ❤️
I was sober for 3 months but had one drink on Christmas Day. It didn’t immediately lead straight back to my old drinking habits but it slowly crept up over the next 3 months to my old ways. It’s hard to get that headspace back. I would stop before you’ve slipped into your old ways ❤️xx
Thank you for the video. I needed to hear what you spoke about. When I first came across your site and videos I quit drinking my wine every night for about 5 days. I felt so good and proud of myself. Then one day I said it’s okay, I will just have a couple of glasses tonight. Well, that wasn’t smart. I went back to drinking every night. Today is a new day. I am going to try (again) because I am taking too many risks. Wish me luck 🙂
It’s so hard to keep doing the toughest days of sobriety (the first 4/5) over and over again. There’s a reason why that happens and I talk about in this video that’s worth a watch: https://thesoberschool.com/being-good-monday-thursday/
Thank you for the email Kate, I appreciate that I am still in your radar
Since doing the getting unstuck course in January, I have hit my 100 days without alcohol target and am still not interested in drinking. To tell the truth what has kept me going g is knowing g that if I have just one drink, I will be back where I was last year and my family and myself are so proud at what I have achieved
Thank you so much as I could be where I am today without the sober school
Well done Paula, 100 days is a real landmark goal to reach and often when the mind shifts to one of disinterest in drinking. It’s a pivotal time span for many, so keep going to your next goal on this beautiful journey to freedom!
I managed 40 days A/F; felt fantastic during this time then had a ‘fuck it’ moment and had a bottle of wine, now I’m hungover and feel rubbish but not beating myself up about it, am on day 1 today. I’m on my own with this issue and I’m back trying again determined to be A/F.
You have good evidence that alcohol free living is what you want after 40 days experience. You can do this Suzanne and if you’re looking for some inspiration, have a listen to some of my previous students success stories. It worked for them and is totally possible for you too. https://thesoberschool.com/success-stories/
Great video Kate. Reminder of what could happen. I’m 6 months sober now and not missing it at all..
Hey Helen, congratulations on six months of alcohol freedom! Sobriety delivers everything alcohol promised. 🙂
Thanks so much for including me in this email, Kate. It was a time in my life I was ashamed of for so many reasons. I’mnot there at the moment but it wouldn’t take much to get back there. It’s a sobering thought – literally. I need to get my head back into the right game.
Alcohol is addictive which is why it’s so easy to slip back into old patterns so easily. I can help you get your head back in the game, please check out my online coaching programme for the right support: https://thesoberschool.com/course/
I am over 5 months sober. Most of my willpower came from you Kate. I am determined to keep going.
Congratulations Jessica, 5 months is amazing! Sobriety is less about willpower and more about education and that’s exactly what we worked on together. Keep going, it gets easier and better as time goes on! 🙂
Ps. One drink leads to the next 1000. Like you said Kate – no-one tries smoking in moderation. To anyone out there who is sober and thinking of just having one – don’t!
Thanks so much Kate, you have really really hit a nail on the head for me with that video. Here goes, Day 1 again!
Keep going! The early days are some of the hardest, but if you stick with this you will get to the good bit
I needed that wake-up call.
Thank you for this video Kate. I acknowledge that I am drinking FAR too much to be safe. I live alone, I have good friends and family nearby – what if one of them had an emergency and called me to come and help? I would be taking a huge risk getting in to my car after an evening of drinking. Sometimes I start with a lunchtime drink, then an early apéritif and then wine with dinner. I am totally risking my health and my life. My eldest grand-daughter reminded me how worried my son (her dad) is about my drinking. This gave me food for thought. I had a stupid fall four years ago and knocked myself unconscious – my son waited 4 hrs in A & E worried that I might not survive. I cannot continue doing this to my family. It is time to get on the road to sobriety.
It’s an ongoing struggle and as people have said, the most devious of addictions. You don’t realise everything it’s taking away from you. I turned 50 last week and hoping to make that milestone my line in the sand. I’ve done several rodeos and know how hard it is to keep on going, day after day, when your mind soon begins to minimise how bad your drinking was, and how bad the consequence of drinking again would be.
The key to removing the ongoing struggle is to change your thinking about what alcohol can and cannot do for you. When you no longer believe that alcohol gives you any benefit, pleasure or service then you can create a life that you love without turning to a harmful external substance for any reason. This is the mindset work I teach at The Sober School and is transformational. Have a listen to my free pep talk to get you back on track: https://thesoberschool.com/pep-talk
Hi Kate, that was just what I needed to hear. Booze has lost its magic, and now drinking alone in the evenings is exactly as you described. The worry of heading out to work in the morning, possibility of a random police stop, not answering the phone – all of it.
Thank you for your frank assessment of what this ‘lifestyle’ is really like.
I stumbled on your website this morning, and am glad I did. Looking forward to more motivation.