211. Welcome to your Sober Spring

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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, and find resources on my website, drinkless,livebetter.com. I hope you enjoy this episode. Let's get straight to it. Welcome to your sober spring.

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Spring isn't just about blooming flowers and fresh starts. It's about something more than that.

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Let's have a talk today about the top three advantages of embracing a sober lifestyle this spring and why they might matter more than you realize. Number one, mental clarity.

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Imagine your mind as a windshield that's been perpetually foggy.

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Alcohol clouds your judgment, dulls your emotions, and creates a constant mental haze.

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Sobriety, it's like using the most powerful windshield wipers you've ever experienced.

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The mental clarity is about seeing your life with unprecedented sharpness.

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When you remove alcohol, you're not just stopping a substance, you're unlocking your brain's true potential.

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Suddenly, problems that seem insurmountable do do become manageable. Your emotional intelligence skyrockets.

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This can feel amazing, but it can also feel confronting at times.

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Make sure you get the support you need for this.

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Research shows that even short term sobriety can improve cognitive function, memory, and decision making skills.

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Imagine giving your brain a spring clean, removing the cobwebs of confusion, and letting pure light shine through.

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When I first decided that I was going to have my alcohol free year experiment, in the run up to it, I was feeling all kinds

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of low level anxiety, brain fog, and general discombobulation.

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I would say that the mental clarity has been the very best thing for me along this alcohol free journey.

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Oh, I hate referring to it as a journey, but it is actually the best word for it.

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And, actually, having just described your mental windshield, maybe it is a good thing calling it a journey, and we'll imagine being in our cars together.

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Number two, the second thing I want to mention, emotional connection. Alcohol is so often a mask.

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It's a way to numb feelings or create artificial connections.

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A sober spring will remove that mask, revealing your most authentic self.

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True emotional connection happens when you're fully present, vulnerable, and real to those around you.

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Sobriety allows you to experience emotions in their raw, unfiltered state.

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Again, maybe a great thing, maybe not so much.

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It's good if joy becomes more vibrant, but maybe difficult if sadness becomes more present for you.

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Relationships do tend to transform from surface surface level interactions to something more deep and meaningful with those who mean the most to you.

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You will discover that genuine human connection doesn't require liquid courage.

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Instead, it requires courage from within, the kind of courage that a period of time alcohol free allows you to cultivate,

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and it also allows you to reconsider those connections that may not actually be all that fulfilling for you. Number three, physical renewal and vitality.

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Your body is a complex and incredible machine.

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Alcohol, it's like pouring it's not like.

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It is pouring toxin into a finely tuned mute tuned machine.

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Physical benefits of sobriety extend far beyond just avoiding the hangovers.

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We're talking here about comprehensive body renewal.

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They say that your whole cell system renews every seven years.

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Imagine improved sleep quality, enhanced immune function, better skin health, better weight management, and increased energy levels. Your liver regenerates. Your brain repairs.

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Your entire system breathes a huge sigh of relief. Okay.

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Let's think about some practical approaches then. There's one to one coaching.

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Of course, you can choose me to be your coach, and personal coaching provides tailored support for your unique journey.

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A professional and empathetic coach will help you to understand your relationship with alcohol, develop personalized strategies,

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navigate emotional challenges, create sustainable lifestyle changes, and we'll make sure there's a structured support system

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in place for you, nonjudgmental, stable, and secure.

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Other things include making sure that you have access to sober resources, podcasts.

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Use your preferred podcast platform and search sober, alcohol free, drink less, sober curious, and see what comes up alongside this podcast, obviously. Quit lit.

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Who knew there was such a category of books as quit list? Quick lit.

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They tend to fall into two categories, either scientific or memoir.

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Unless you buy the book drink less, live better, that kinda sits firmly between the two.

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Have a look through sober social media.

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Use hashtags, and look and see if there are any sober meetups near you.

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Have a think about your emotional regulation practices.

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What are the holistic approaches that that will support you to process the emotions you might have suppressed with alcohol and find something more meaningful?

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You might experiment with meditation, yoga, creative workshops, some nature therapy, perhaps some physical fitness programs.

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And remember that sober spring isn't about restriction. It's about feeling liberated.

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It's about choosing yourself, your health, and your potential.

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I've got two coaching options for you right now. There's alcohol free April.

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You can sign up anytime this month for four weeks of sober support or ninety days of one to one coaching.

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Both options are linked in the show notes. Your journey starts now. Are you ready to bloom? Thank you for listening in today.

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Check out the show notes also for a link to a hidden podcast episode that will help you with your 5PM cravings and details about each of my coaching programs. And, PS, I believe in you.