Seven Top Tips for Mindful Drinking
Written by Kathryn Stone.
In recent years there has been a growing movement of people cutting back on alcohol or cutting it out completely, for a whole range of different reasons. Many of these people practice mindful drinking.
So, if you are bored with needing to drink to have a social life or no longer want to pour a “stiff drink” the second you get home from a stressful day at work, maybe the mindful drinking movement is for you!
What is mindful drinking?
Mindful drinking is a growing movement of people looking to redefine their relationship with alcohol. Instead of going completely sober, mindful drinking is about learning to drink mindfully.
Drinking mindfully? What does that mean? Drinking with intention and attention. It is about evaluating why you are drinking, keeping track of how much you are drinking, and choosing when you do or don’t want to drink, instead of relying on it in specific situations.
Once it becomes a habit, the art of drinking mindfully is really simple. So here are some top tips to get you started on your mindful drinking journey.
1. Ask yourself why you are drinking
One of the first things to do when you reach for a drink is to ask yourself why you are drinking. Is it because you are stressed? Or maybe you are feeling a little shy?
Are you going to enjoy the drink, or is it just a habit or a coping mechanism? If you think you are not going to regret the drink, then enjoy it. If it's a habit or a coping mechanism, then maybe you are going to regret the drink and now is the time to start unlearning unhealthy habits.
2. Plan ahead
If you know that you are going to be socialising this evening or going to a place where you will be surrounded by alcohol, it is a good idea to plan ahead and decide beforehand if you intend to drink.
When we just wing it, it’s much easier to follow the crowd accidentally and have a drink, which leads to another, and you know how the rest of that story goes.
If you already know that you aren’t planning on drinking, you can choose a bar that has a good selection of mocktails or alcohol-free drinks. Or, if you are going to a friend’s house, you can stock up on your favourite alcohol-free drinks so that you know you are going to enjoy your drinks all night!
3. Don’t give in to panic at the bar
Ordering at a bar can be a little stressful. It’s so easy to give in to the stress and order your usual drink so that you don’t keep anyone waiting. But you have every right to take your time, choose an exciting alcohol-free drink, chat with the bartender and find out what they offer that is without alcohol. And if you know you are likely to panic at the last minute, you could even check the menu beforehand!
4. Set specific goals
For a lot of people, “cutting down on drinking” is not a very clear goal. So, one of the best ways to actually cut down on your drinks is to set specific goals. Maybe the goal is only having three drinks all week, or maybe your goal is to cut down to three drinks on a night out. Whichever it is, this allows you to celebrate your achievements and, as an added bonus, keep track of how much you are actually drinking.
And the important thing about having goals is to keep an eye on the goals, keep them intentional and achievable and reward yourself for meeting them.
Have you managed an entire month of mindful drinking? What better way to reward yourself than to order an entirely alcohol-free subscription box? It’s both a reward and motivation to continue your mindful drinking practice!
5. Drink slowly and intentionally
If you do choose to drink alcohol, there are several things you can do to make it a nicer experience all around:
Eat! If you have a full stomach, alcohol is broken down more quickly, meaning you will be more in control of how much you drink and have less of a hangover!
Drink a glass of water between each beverage; that way, you stay hydrated and, again, reduce the chances of a killer hangover.
Drink slowly! Make sure to enjoy your drink. Take sips and savour the flavour.
Why not try asking for half shots? That way, you reduce your alcohol intake but still get the same flavour and experience. Drink smarter, not harder!
6. Socialise mindfully
Often, the go-to place to socialise with friends, family, colleagues, you name it, is to meet at a pub and have a drink. But, in reality, there are so many places you can meet and socialise with people and so many activities that are not based around drinking alcohol.
Similarly, the chances are that you are not the only person in your friendship group, amongst your colleagues or in your family, that wants to reduce your alcohol intake.
So why not try organising social events that don’t revolve around alcohol? You could head to a coffee shop, go out for dinner, have a picnic, go for a walk, or host a movie night. The options are really endless.
7. Enjoy the benefits of a healthier relationship with alcohol
There are so many benefits to joining the mindful drinking movement and redefining your relationship with alcohol. So, enjoy your healthier body, clearer mind and your weekends free from hangovers. Say goodbye to post-alcohol depression and enjoy connecting with people directly instead of mediated through alcohol.
And enjoy the changes that mindful drinking can have in other aspects of your life. When you start looking mindfully at one of your habits, you might start to notice that you are living more intentionally in other areas of your life.
Kickstart your mindful drinking journey
If you want to kickstart your mindful drinking journey, then sign up for a monthly subscription box filled with non-alcoholic beverages. You won’t want to drink alcohol when you’ve got a delicious and exciting alcohol-free option arriving every month!