Sober October initially started as a way to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support but has since then taken off. It is a health challenge that many people undertake for different reasons, and it can be a challenge. So here are some of our top tips to help you get through 31 days of not drinking alcohol. 

Know Your Motivations

The number one way to stay motivated through any challenge is to know why you are doing it in the first place. What made you decide to do Sober October? Here are just some reasons you might choose to participate:

• To give your liver a rest from alcohol

• To raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support

• To take a step back from alcohol and reassess your relationship with it

• To deal with grey area drinking habits

• Because you are Sober Curious

• To prove to yourself or someone else that you can 

• To help focus on a specific project in the month 

• To save money 

There are endless reasons to participate in Sober October. So whatever your reason, remember it and keep reminding yourself of it when you begin finding the challenge tricky. If you are clear on your motivations, you will know why to continue and smash your sober goal! 

Do it with Friends

Social pressure is one of the main reasons people drink, often when they do not want to. So, if you can find a group of friends that want to attempt Sober October with you, it can make the month much easier to manage. That way, you won’t be tempted to drink when your friends drink because you will have friends to keep you company in sobriety. 

When you are losing motivation, friends can help motivate you, either with words of kindness or through some friendly competition. All in all, completing a sober challenge with friends can make the month a much more enjoyable experience. And you may find that you enjoy other ways to connect with your friends that you hadn’t expected. 

Stay Social 

It can be easy to avoid being social if you are not drinking. By shutting yourself up in your house, you can avoid the temptation to drink alcohol. But staying social helps your overall mental well-being and happiness. So, if you want to avoid bars, go for it, but there are plenty of places to stay social with friends and avoid alcohol at the same time. Staying social will help keep you motivated and happy throughout the Sober October Challenge. 

Reach Out for Support

Sometimes quitting alcohol, even if it is for a short time, can be incredibly difficult. This is especially true if you don’t have any family or friends participating in the challenge. Luckily, there are plenty of forums, Facebook groups and other channels where you can interact with and get support from others who are attempting the challenge. 

If you are struggling with quitting alcohol, you might find you need to reach for professional help. There is no shame in this. It could completely change your life. So, don’t forget, you never need to do Sober October alone. There is all sorts of support available to help you through the challenge. And this might even help you continue leading an alcohol-free lifestyle after November 1st. 

Reflect on the Positive Changes in your Life

Often, when you think about dry month challenges like Sober October, you think about the negatives and the hardships of quitting alcohol. But the reality is, every year people try dry challenges and realise the benefits of going alcohol-free. It can be life-changing. 

So, one thing to do this Sober October is to reflect on the positive changes that quitting alcohol has had on your life. There are so many benefits to quitting alcohol. Even after just four weeks of living an alcohol-free lifestyle, you might notice the positive effects of sobriety. 

Some benefits of quitting alcohol include:

• More energy 

• More stable mood

• More time and more productive time

• You are more able to be efficient and intentional 

• Better decision-making

• Better sleep 

• Better sex

• Weight loss

• A stronger immune system

With better sleep, more energy and a more stable mood your life will improve. You will have much better mental health and well-being. You might also find it easier to deal with stress. 

Reflecting on the positive effects of quitting alcohol can help you reassess the role you want alcohol to play in your life. You might find you want to cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink because of how much better you felt during Sober October. Sober months can help people find the joy in sobriety (or cutting down alcohol intake). 

Reward Yourself with Alcohol-Free Drinks

When you do something challenging but healthy, it is always good to reward yourself. Many people reward themselves with an alcoholic drink, but that is a no-go when participating in a sober challenge. So why not reward yourself with a delicious alcohol-free drink?

With over 500 alcohol-free spirits, numerous alcohol-free beers, wines, ciders, meads and anything else you can think of, you are guaranteed to find an alcohol-free drink you love. All you need to do is dive into the world of alcohol-free drinks to find your new favourite beverage. Your imagination is the only limit to the amount of delicious alcohol-free cocktails you can make.

Sign Up to the JOMO Club

Want to explore the world of alcohol-free drinks? Then sign up for a JOMO Club subscription. With a JOMO subscription, you will regularly receive a hamper filled to the brim with alcohol-free goodies directly to your front door. Each box is mindfully curated using only the best and most ethically made alcohol-free products available. Now is the perfect time to reward yourself for participating in Sober October and find the joy of missing out.