Sober October is upon us once again and given the strange times we have all experienced over the past months, I feel it’s the perfect time to put down the booze for 31 days, reset and reconnect with ourselves. 

A survey conducted by Alcohol Change over lockdown concluded that more than a quarter of people have drunk more during lockdown, and 1-in-5 people have been drinking as a response to stress or anxiety. 

Sober October is a great opportunity to put healthier habits and coping mechanisms into place for the last quarter of the year. I think a month of sobriety  (although I would suggest 3 months if you really want to feel the deeper benefits of an alcohol-free life) is enough time to reap the rewards of better sleep and improved skin, to feel more focused and motivated, and to benefit from improved mood and increased energy. 

There really is nothing to lose by going alcohol-free but everything to gain. 

To help keep you motivated and on track, I have put together my 5 top tips to help you through a Sober October. 

1. Find great AF [alcohol-free] alternatives:  We’re lucky enough that the no/low alcohol drinks category is one of the biggest growing and most exciting sectors out there. You won’t be stuck for choice when looking for an alcohol-free alternative… and some taste that good you won’t actually miss the real thing. It’s a good idea to get stocked up as this will help navigate reaching for something stronger whether you’ve had a stressful day, want to celebrate or want to unwind. My personal favourite AF spirits are Lyre’s, Caleno and Everleaf, my favourite fizz is Noughty or Wild Life Botanicals and my favourite beer is Heineken 0.0, Big Drop or BrewDog.
2. Enjoy hangover-free mornings: Imagine no groggy mornings, no feelings of regret or anxiety and no wondering where all your money disappeared to. You’ll get to wake up feeling fresh, motivated and ready to attack the day. You could even put a morning routine in place: think 10 minutes of mediation, a 20-minute run or yoga, and then write down 5 things you are grateful for. This has been a game-changer for me and I guarantee it will help you to stay on track!
3. Take up something new: Not only are you going to have more energy, but you will also have more time, you won’t be wasting a morning in bed with a hangover, and naturally you will be going to bed earlier than usual allowing you more time to do the thing(s) you have always wanted to do. Perhaps this is a simple as reading a book you have always wanted to read, listening to a podcast, taking up a new gym class, signing up for a course or visiting a park you have always want to visit! Whatever it is, write ONE thing down right NOW and go do it in the next few weeks.
4. Keep your social life: Make sure you still go out and do the social things you have planned. Sober socialising can be one of the scariest things to do, sans booze, but one of the most important. Be kind to yourself. If going for the whole evening seems too much, allow yourself to go for an hour and then leave. The fact you showed up and were present is definitely enough.
5. Find sober pals: This is the perfect opportunity to find some sober pals, either other people you know that are taking part in Sober October or what about using this as an opportunity to connect with some new people? You can always head to our Sober & Social website to join our membership where we operate a sober buddy system and run weekly events so you can connect with like-minded people. Look for communities like Club Soda or head to Instagram and start finding some sober accounts to follow and reach out.

Emily Syphas is the founder of global brand and community Sober & Social that supports those wanting to explore and lead a teetotal lifestyle. The core ethos of Sober & Social is to empower, encourage and celebrate you living your healthiest and happiest life. 

Want more support on your Sober October? Head to www.soberandsocial to find out more.