At this time of year our calendars are filled with work parties and endless "we must catch up before Christmas" social invites. By the time the 25th of December rolls around, we're all worn out from back-to-back socialising, finishing work projects for the year, shopping and planning family feasts and holidays.
The feverish pace pushes our stress levels through the roof and the abundance of rich food and alcohol take a big toll on our bodies. No wonder people get to the New Year feeling exhausted and unhealthy.
They don't call it the silly season for nothing.
Navigating the silly season without drinking
If you've been trying to stop drinking, getting through November and December sober can be the ultimate challenge. Staying away from the endless flow of drinks on offer isn't easy but if you're really determined to get on a sober track, you can do it.
As someone who tried to give up drinking for years and now has long-term sobriety, here are my tips on how to get through the silly season without drinking,
Have a sober plan before you attend a social event – a vague notion that you'll say no to a drink isn't going to cut it. Work out exactly what you'll be drinking instead of alcohol and how you'll respond when you're offered a drink. You don't have to disclose that you're trying to get sober but maybe a comment about not drinking for health reasons will be enough to satisfy someone who's pressuring you to drink.
Place a timeline on how long you'll stay at a social event. This provides a definite point that you can leave, which comes in handy if you're starting to waver about giving in to a drink. This will do you a big favour and help you stick to your resolve as people start to get "merry" around you.
Don't feel sorry for yourself that you are not drinking or choosing to leave early. You might notice that the best conversations with people happen when they are relatively sober. A few drinks in, people get louder and start to repeat themselves, which can get very boring when you're the non-drinker.
Focus on conversations and connection with people you haven't met before. This will open you up socially in a new way and is a distraction from drinking.
Eat a healthy meal or snack and drink plenty of water before you attend an event. You're much less likely to be tempted by a drink if your stomach is full of good food and you're well hydrated. This hack also helps you to eat less rich party food, which has got to be good for your health and mood.
Find a way to help out – offer to help your host serve food and tidy up. Your efforts will be appreciated and you'll have a good excuse to step away from people who might be drinking a lot and want you to join in with them.
Before you go to an alcohol-fuelled party, write down your reasons for wanting to get sober. Keep it in your phone or write it down a piece of paper so you can look at it again when you're at the party during a quiet moment. This is a way of returning to the moment and reminding yourself of your goals and what matters to you.
Text or call a trusted friend when you've left the party and let them know you managed to get through without a drink. Arranging to do this beforehand provides a level of accountability that is often a powerful tool to stay on track with your goal.
Consider not attending some events. Not everyone can attend every party at this time of year and people often decline invites. Ask yourself if this event is important enough for you to put your newfound sobriety at risk and make the call based on your wellbeing.
Sober coaching is a great way to support yourself through what can be tough and challenging journey. To find out more about coaching contact Paulette on 027 231 5970, email info@goodhealthcoach.co.nz or book a discovery call here.
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