January leads a lot of people to think about their habits, and their relationship to those habits. We have all seen or attempted to adjust our habits in the New Year. Common goals include eating less sugar, working out more, losing weight, or stopping drinking. Sobriety, the state of being sober, is a attractive goal in the New Year. Whether it’s easy or hard, trying out sobriety is highest on our personal agendas in January. Across the world people like you are giving it a go. 41% of Americans are trying to drink less alcohol ([source](https://ncsolutions.com/the-goods/sober-curious-nation-alcohol-survey/)). As many as 28% of young adults in the UK do not drink ([source](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/28/i-know-my-limit-how-gen-z-became-britains-sober-curious-generation)), which is really promising to see. I strongly believe drinking alcohol will be seen by historians as the biggest drag on humanities progress. I’ve been sober since September 2012 – That’s 4,481 days of saying no to drinking. That’s a lot of days. It does not make me an expert on sobriety. I have learned a lot in the last 12 years, 4 months and 5 days. I hope by sharing these experiences it’ll help someone and continue the normalisation of sobriety in our modern society. ==Why consider sobriety?== You don’t need a reason to try out being sober. In case you wanted one, here’s a few: - Health: Your body sees alcohol as a toxic carcinogen which causes damage to your brain, heart, liver, and other organs – cutting this out can cause serious health benefits - Finances: Alcohol is expensive, and the poor choices you make whilst drunk cost even more money too - Mental Health: This is the biggie, removing your dependence on alcohol can completely overhaul your mental health - Relationships: Whether it’s your friends, family, or loved ones alcohol can cause a massive strain on those in your life So, you want to try out sober life? Great, welcome to the club! A word of caution; it’s one thing to understand the need for getting sober, staying sober is another beast entirely. ==What are my top 10 recommendations to staying sober?== - **Reach out**: Trying on your own is just harder, so if possible reach out to family and friends. - **Professional support**: For some looking to start and stay sober, professional support is needed. Going ‘cold turkey’ can be dangerous if your body is dependent on alcohol, reach out for professional help if you need it - **Face withdrawal head on**: Some of us have consumed more than our fare share. You may wake up with the shakes, panic attacks, confusion. Stay hydrated, eat nutritious food, and keep your brain busy (reading, walking, talking) - **Remove temptation**: Keep alcohol out of your house or living space, I’ve found zero tolerance very helpful. We’ve not had alcohol in our house for the last 12 years and we haven’t missed out on anything. - **Start a new hobby:** You’ll have a lot more spare time now. You aren’t in the pub or club. You aren’t drinking in front of the TV or suffering through hangovers. Find something and exciting to fill the time void - **Find a sober community**: Whether you join a sober friends running club or your local Alcoholics Anonymous. Find a group that meets your needs - **Avoid HALT**: Breaking your sobriety streak is easiest when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. If you are feeling HALT, it could lead to you to take actions you might later regret - **Create a social exit plan (and stick to it)**: Meeting up with colleagues after work could be okay for you. However, it can quickly spin out of control for those on the sober path. Create your own social exit plan before you need one, and stick to it when you need it most - **Stock up on snacks**: Carb heavy snacks can help quell cravings (pretzels are my favourite). Drinks can be fun too, flavoured sparking water and kombucha are tasty treats after a successfully sober day - ‘**Alcohol Free’ drinks**: As more people cut or quit alcohol, the same companies are trying to keep us in their clutches. They do this with alcohol free alternatives. These could be great for some people. Personally these are a ‘no’ for me as it mimics drinking alcohol. These are my top 10 tips for those looking to try, or stay, sober in 2025. I’d love to hear your tips for staying sober in 2025, drop them below. For those struggling, my door is always open. Please feel free to contact me in whichever way works for you. Here’s to a sober 2025, folks! 🙌 #blog #sobriety