Ho, Ho, Hum… how are you really? It’s still early December, but it’s not too early to decide how you want to experience this holiday season. I know, you might be thinking, “experience it? I just want to survive!”. But the truth is, there are quite a few things we can do to set ourselves up to have the best AF holiday yet!
One of the first things I ever created in my coaching business was a ‘Guide to Navigating the Holidays Sober.’ It got an update in 2022, but I realized I had never shared it with my podcast listeners. So, in this episode of The Sober Edge Podcast, I review just a few of the suggestions and tips in the guide. Being prepared and paying attention to mindset are our best defense when the holidays hit head on.
I hope you will listen to the episode but also grab the guide – it’s pretty good if I do say so myself;) In this episode I share just a few of the ideas from the guide, including:
- Make your own plans: consider going late and leaving early. You may choose to stay in a hotel vs. with family. You are in charge – and you deserve to protect your energy (and your sobriety).
- Escape Hatch: ideas to remove yourself if things become hard to handle. And, what to do to come back into yourself.
- Manage your thoughts: this is key to creating a flow and ease to any event. Reminder: ask for what you want, not what you don’t want. Where our attention goes, energy flows.
Each of us will be in a different place this year. Honor your place. You might be just navigating the first few days without alcohol and using some willpower to get through; honor this. You might be a few months in and feeling solid, but the stress and familiarity of the holidays might hit a little hard – honor that. Wherever you are, don’t beat yourself up if you have a drinking thought. Your brain is likely trying to protect you by offering what used to be a balm. And, it’s a relief to remember that ‘thinking is not drinking’. Know that you are practicing how to navigate the holidays without booze. It will be easier each time you do it but the first time is likely not pretty. That’s okay.
Grab your FREE guide: Navigating The Holidays Sober
