How to Quit Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol addiction is a serious thing that can affect all aspects of your life and put your relationships with your peers at risk. 5-Minute Crafts has 9 suggestions for you to quit it for good.

1. Make a plan.

Sit down and carefully choose a plan that works for you. Think about things you can do when you feel like drinking and set goals. For example:

• Determine the day you will be starting your alcohol-free life.
• Plan what you will do if you feel like drinking.
• Keep a record of your doctor’s recommendations.
• Write down your intermediate goals, such as going one week alcohol-free, one month, 3 months, etc.

2. Find support in the people around you.

This decision requires help and support from your friends and family. Let them know how you feel during this process and write down a list of people you can call when you feel like drinking. Talking to these people is a great way to discuss your problems. You can also ask them to meet you and you can do something fun instead of drink.

3. Talk to your doctor.

This is one of the most important steps. You should talk to your doctor about this decision. The withdrawal of alcohol can be very dangerous as it can slow down your brain. A doctor can make the process much safer.

4. Get rid of any bottles of alcohol you have in your house.

Avoid this kind of trigger. Make it impossible to drink at home by getting rid of all bottles and cans of alcohol.

5. Learn to say no.

Learn how to be comfortable saying “no, thanks” when someone offers you a drink. Don’t hesitate to say no or you’ll have enough time to think about an excuse to drink. Be proud of your progress.

6. Avoid social situations where people are going to drink.

You should avoid situations where you’ll meet with people that are going to drink, like while eating out at restaurants, going the pub, etc. Avoid temptation at all costs.

7. Find and practice self-care strategies.

Long walks and meditation are very good practices for such cases. You can also repeat positive affirmations before bed. For example, recall how proud of yourself you are and the good things you’ve accomplished.

8. Reward yourself.

Acknowledge your progress and how great you’re doing. Start rewarding yourself for every goal you reach, like when you hit one week of being alcohol-free, one month, and so on. For example, buy yourself some new clothes with the money you’re saving from not drinking alcohol.

9. If you feel like giving up, remember the reasons why you’re going through this process in the first place.

Remind yourself that this process can be long and you may experience some setbacks. Remember all the reasons why you’re doing this. Some of them may include:

• You want a better family life and to have more time and energy to spend with your kids.
• You want to perform better at work.
• You want to be healthier.
• You want to have full control of your actions, etc.