Mindful Drinking

By Author: Care Addiction
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Rather than quitting alcohol or going dry, mindful drinking involves being aware of what you drink and why. A mindful drinker pays attention and thinks while drinking. How does it make you feel? When you drink, how does it affect you and others around you? Are there ways to maximize enjoyment and minimize hangovers, regrets, and anxiety?

People who feel they need to curb their alcohol consumption are increasingly choosing mindful drinking.

You can have a healthier relationship with alcohol by examining why you drink, how it makes you feel, and how it affects your relationships, work, and health. Alcohol has become a habit for many people. Perhaps you grab a beer after work or open a bottle of wine after dinner. What impact do those choices have on the rest of your life?

The mindful drinking movement is different from sober curious. Sober curious is about restriction and stopping drinking entirely, as opposed to mindful drinking, which focuses on reflection and awareness.

How To Be A Mindful Drinker

A mindful drinker ...
... is one who decides what is right for them and stays in control. These ideas can help navigate situations as you start to drink more mindfully:

Question yourself: is this really what I want right now?

It can be easy to fall into a default behavior or habit. Ask yourself why you want this drink - am I Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired? Or Thirsty? If you answered yes, do something about that first.
If you still want that drink, you may want to consider alternatives that will accomplish the same results, or whether you actually need it.

Have a plan and stick to it.

Make a decision ahead of time about how much to drink. In addition to deciding how much you want to drink, have a backup plan.

Order first.

Ordering first and choosing a non-alcoholic drink can help avoid the peer pressure of “I’ll have what they’re having”.

Practice what you’ll say.

What will you say when someone offers you an alcoholic drink? How will you decline? By knowing what you’ll say, you can take control. Remember, you don't need anyone's permission to make the right decision for yourself.

Pace yourself: order drinks with half the shots, alternate with water, and order food.

Be prepared and ask the bartender to make your drink with half the alcohol. Pacing is another way to stick to your goals. Alternating drinks with a big glass of water helps with hydration, and eating an appetizer - or even dessert - can help break up drinking.

Savor your drink.

Sip slowly and savor. Your drink will last longer. Experts say you should love what you drink. If you don’t love it, don’t drink it.

Benefits Of Mindful Drinking

Mindful drinkers associate their mindfulness with a better life. Mindful drinking isn’t about what you’re losing; it’s about all that you stand to gain. Here are several benefits of consuming less alcohol:

Better liver function
Better heart health
A clearer head
No more hangovers
Better hair and skin health
Better sleep
Save money
Being able to enjoy the moment

If you’re considering taking a step closer to sobriety, slowly cutting down your alcohol intake by mindful drinking is a great way to start.

If you or a loved one need help with alcoholism or addiction, Care Addiction Center can help you along every step of the way. Call our Illinois rehab today at 630-402-0144.

Care Addiction Center provides compassionate, confidential & professional treatment services for adults suffering from alcohol & substance abuse. We believe that recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is possible, even in very late stages. Our experienced and caring staff is dedicated to providing comprehensive drug treatment services for alcoholism and substance abuse with multiple levels of care. Substance Abuse Treatment for Kane County, Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles, Elburn, South Elgin, West Chicago, and Aurora Illinois.