489: Sticking to my goal of one drink [Listener Q&A]
Take a Break from Drinking: Practical Tools to Drink Less & Change Your Relationship with AlcoholShow Notes
Setting a goal to have just one drink can feel simple enough when you make the decision ahead of time. But then you finish that drink, you want another, everyone around you is still drinking, and suddenly all the reasons you had for stopping at one don't feel nearly as convincing.
This week, I'm answering a listener question about how to stick to your goal of one drink when the alcohol is flowing. Most of us put all our attention on the number and assume following through comes down to discipline or willpower. But there's another part of the plan that's easy to overlook, and it can make all the difference when it's time to stop.
Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/
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Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/489
What if you've been given the wrong explanation for why it's so hard to drink less? Take a Break with Master Certified Coach Rachel Hart offers a radically different approach to changing your relationship with alcohol. Where alcohol isn't demonized and you're not constantly reminded of all the reasons drinking is bad for you. Instead, you'll learn how alcohol, your brain, and behavior change actually work together and get practical tools to change your drinking in a way that works for you.
More from Take a Break from Drinking: Practical Tools to Drink Less & Change Your Relationship with Alcohol
When your drinking isn't causing problems in your life, it can be hard to know whether there's any reason to change. Maybe your relationships are good, you're doing well at work, and alcohol genuinely helps you relax, have fun, or feel less bored. If nothing seems to be going wrong, are you just creating a problem where there isn't one?
Have you ever felt pressured to drink even when no one was actually pressuring you? Maybe you order a glass of wine because everyone else is drinking, or you say yes to another round because you don't want to deal with questions about why you're stopping. No one is telling you what to do, and yet saying no still feels surprisingly difficult.
It can be incredibly confusing to keep reaching for a drink when you're not even enjoying it that much. Maybe it doesn't taste as good as you expected, the buzz isn't delivering what you imagined, or you find yourself pouring another while wondering why you're doing it at all.
Being surrounded by alcohol can make drinking less feel almost impossible. When your partner drinks, your friends want another round, or so much of your social life revolves around alcohol, it's easy to believe you'd have more success if you could just get rid of the temptation.
Wanting to drink less for the people you love can feel like powerful motivation. Maybe you want to be a better parent, a more present partner, or simply stop giving the people closest to you a reason to worry. But relying too heavily on those reasons can create a problem you might not see coming.