220. Sober Summer: Five Strategies for Finding Serenity

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Hello darling heart, and welcome to this episode of the Drink Less Live Better podcast.

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This is the podcast that helps you to see that drinking less doesn't need to be stressful, lonely or boring.

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I'm your host, Sarah Williamson and I decided to have a year alcohol free as a little life experiment and haven't looked back.

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I'm here to support you with your Alcohol Free or drink Less adventures.

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You can follow me on Instagram at Drink Less Live Better Find resources on my website drinklesslivebetter.com I hope you enjoy this episode. Let's get straight to it.

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Sober Summer five Strategies for Finding Serenity We've all heard of dry January and sober October, but what about a sober summer?

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I know, I know, it sounds almost contradictory.

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Summer is supposed to be about on patios, beer at festivals, champagne at weddings.

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But what if I told you that some of the most serene, joyful summers can happen without a drop of alcohol?

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Today's episode is inspired by a powerful quote from Theodore Roosevelt.

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Believe you can and you're halfway there.

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And trust me, by the end of this podcast episode, you'll believe that a sober summer isn't just possible, but it might be exactly what you need. Let me share a story.

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It's a Summer's Day in June 2017.

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Someone boards a London train back home.

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They are completely drunk, vulnerable and emotional.

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The next day is a complete write off.

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Poor parenting, emotional eating, underperforming at work and going to bed early, wrapped in a fog of regret.

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They kept that train ticket not as a memento of a fun night out, but as a reminder.

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It's of a moment when they knew something had to change.

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You might think that this was their last drinking day, but it wasn't.

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It took another two and a half years to reach the beginning of a sober life. Here's what held me. I mean them back. Just kidding. Of course it was me. Of course it was me.

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And maybe the thing was holding me back is holding you back too.

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The fear of missing out over the summer, the worry about navigating a friend's wedding without champagne, enjoying a festival

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without beer, or showing up to a barbecue and not bringing wine.

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But here's what over five years of sober living has taught me.

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We don't need to be confined to other people's expectations about when it's acceptable to take a break from alcohol.

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We can make our own rules, create our own experiments, and choose our own timeline.

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Let's be honest about why summer feels particularly challenging for sobriety.

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January makes sense for a reset dry January. We're all over it. We're financially tighter after the holidays.

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Perhaps maybe we overdid it during the winter festivities.

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A sober October fits nicely between summer excess and Christmas chaos. But summer?

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Summer is when we switch from red wine to from heavy cocktails to light spritzes.

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Summer is festivals, weddings, barbecues, and holiday mode.

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It's when alcohol feels most integrated into our social fabric.

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And that's exactly why a sober summer can be so transformative.

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When we remove alcohol from the season when it feels essential, we discover what actually is essential.

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And it might not be what you thought it was.

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So here are a few ideas to help you see a sober summer positively Strategy Number one Be intentional.

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Here's our first truth and it's foundational. Don't see drinking as inevitable.

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This might sound simple, and that's because it is.

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Instead of defaulting to of course I'll drink at this event, start asking yourself some powerful how would I like to think about alcohol today?

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How would I like to feel about alcohol at this party?

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How would I like to behave around alcohol on this occasion?

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Picture it all in your mind's eye. Write it down. Talk to yourself about it. It's not just about positive thinking.

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It's about rewiring your relationship with alcohol itself. And here's a bonus.

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You'll likely enjoy some physical benefits quite quickly.

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We're talking about improved sleep, better cognitive function, clearer skin.

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Your body will thank you faster than you might expect.

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Okay, strategy number Script your social situations.

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Let's talk about the elephant in the room.

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What do you say when people ask why you're not drinking?

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Well, first, remember you will never owe anyone an explanation for choosing not to drink. Never.

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But I'm not going to deny that having some go to responses can can boost your confidence. Thanks. I'll have a ginger beer.

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Oh, I'd love a sparkling water, please.

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And in fact, sometimes you don't need to say anything at all as a reason, an explanation, an excuse. Here's what's really important.

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Plan your responses ahead of time, then follow through with them.

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There's something really empowering about arriving home from a social event.

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Knowing you can rely on yourself to stick to your decisions.

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It does wonders for your self esteem and confidence. Think practically.

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Will you be choosing from available drinks on offer or can you bring your own?

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Having a plan removes the stress of in the moment decision making.

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Simplify your summer. This strategy is about avoiding summer stress and overwhelm.

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And this might be the permission you've been waiting for.

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What can you do to simplify your life this summer, can you reassess those social activities you've been assuming you should attend?

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Can you say no to invitations that don't fill you with joy? See this as an experiment.

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If you're not 100% sure what you actually love doing in summer, now is a perfect time to find out.

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The emotional space created by removing alcohol allows you to reconnect with yourself and identify which social situations

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truly energise you versus those you merely tolerate with a glass in hand. This is about quality over quantity.

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Choose experiences that align with who you want to be, not who you think you should be.

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Try all of this as an experiment.

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You don't have to commit to forever if it feels wrong or too difficult right now.

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Just enjoy what's ahead for the next couple of months.

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See how you feel during a sober summer, notice if you feel more serene and then reassess in the autumn.

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Are you ready for the new drinks to explore?

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Ginger beer with lime cordial or a club soda or a classic Shirley Temple?

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The world of alcohol free beers, non alcohol sparkling wines and botanical drinks has exploded with options worth exploring over the last couple of years.

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Can you create the space to re evaluate your relationship with alcohol on your own terms?

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A sober summer and then rethink in the autumn?

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Remember Roosevelt's words, believe you can and you're halfway there.

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The belief that you can enjoy summer, truly enjoy it without alcohol, is the first step towards making it your reality. So here's my challenge for you.

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What would your most serene summer look like?

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Not the summer you think you should want, but the summer that would truly, truly nourish you. Thank you for listening in today. Come back again next week.

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Check out the show notes for a link to a hidden podcast episode that will help you with your 5pm cravings and details about

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my one to one life coaching and sober coaching programs and P S. I believe in you.