4 Natural Ways to Unwind Without Alcohol
As we're ending Sober October we might be looking at ways to continue our new habits into the following months.
It's easy to slip back into old ways, after all, there are many short term benefits offered by the exciting array of wines, spirits & beyond filling the supermarket shelves. What's less focused on however are the long term effects, which aren't always quite as pretty.
Instead of preaching about the harmful effects of alcohol, we're here to look at more natural ways to unwind into the evening without the evening G&T's.
1- Preparation - We know how easy it is to pick up a bottle of something alluring when on the go. We've all been there, it looks good, your day's been stressful, why not treat yourself? After all, who wants a coke or AF beer to take the edge off when you get home and slip into some comfy socks & netflix? This is the problem, alot of retailers don't stock quality, natural, plant powered alternatives to alcohol. So when faced with the options on your way home, or off to a party, it's easy to default to the usual Savvy B. Being prepared and planning ahead (with monthly subscriptions or pre orders of your favourite alternatives) eliminate on the spot indecision on what to drink.
2- Routine - I fell into this category above countless times before going tee-total. Often blaming, lack of choice as the reason for defaulting back to old ways. And when looking for ways to take the edge off in the evenings the advice was always the same, exercise, yoga, meditate etc etc. Most of which never appealed. Then I wanted to take it seriously, I needed to figure out what routine would help me destress without alcohol, it wasn't meditation nor yoga or mindful breathing, but I devised a Friday night routine which didn't feature alcohol, and always helped me get from where I was mentally, to where I wanted to be. Once I nailed this, I never thought again about inviting the whispering Angel back into my evening plans.
3- Influence - It's true in all areas of life, but who you surround yourself with is so important. Your tribe, support network, chosen family, whoever, are so key in keeping things going. You don't have to cut out friends who still love the Friday night sesh, but by spending more time with people who have the habits & lifestyle you aspire to really helps prevent relapsing. Also, as in point one, if you are around those on a different vibe to you, by being prepared with your drinks of choice, you'll find it easier to resist the temptation.
4- Research - Being prepared is great, but you might be wondering what actually will help find that zen & calm without alcohol. When creating Acqua - The Relaxation Blend, I spent months looking for the most potent & effective plant based ingredients to help give that wine like sense of ahhh. I landed on Vitamin B6, Ashwagandha, Reishi Mushroom & L-Theanine, all hailed as the Grade A, natural relaxation ingredients. These work for me, and 100s of other customers, however, if these aren't for you, a little time spent on working out the most effective, natural sources that help you switch off & into a peaceful slumber is definitely time well spent & investment in your overall wellbeing.
I hope this helps, please do let me know what you think & what works for you!
Bye for now, Eirian x