I’m a party girl through and through. There’s nothing I love more than going out, letting loose, and getting extra. So, I thought it would be nearly impossible to make a big change to that lifestyle and cut back on alcohol. How do you party the same but drink less … and still have fun?
Cue mindset shift.
It clicked for me when I thought about drinking less like this: going sober-ish wasn’t a punishment. It would be a new, powerful way to connect with myself. Plus, through my ambassador work with HOP WTR, I’ve realized that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, which took the pressure off. That’s when I started to crave getting to know myself way more than sipping on my go-to drink. I knew then it was time to commit. And I did.
After three months of being sober-ish, I’m happy to report that I’m still that exact same party girl! (I go out just the same, but I’m hungover way less). It’s been crazy to have the realization that even without alcohol, I’m still my wild self.
But I’m also more myself now that I’m drinking less. It’s been really empowering to understand “the why” behind some of my partying habits, and now I’ve come to trust the way I operate in social settings. I'm totally comfortable saying "no thank you" to invites or leaving early if that's what I need—I know I’m not missing out on anything.
Other realizations: alcohol isn’t actually the only way to have a good time, or the only remedy after a long, hard day. In all honesty, I’ve actually learned alcohol is a terrible choice for me in both of those scenarios.
I’m proud of myself for committing to something, seeing it through, and learning so much in the process. You have to feel all the feelings when you’re sober (I never knew I had so much social anxiety! That explains a lot … ) and it’s been eye-opening to say the least.
I’m also proud of the work I’m putting in to become the human I want to be. It’s a never- ending process, but this sober-ish lifestyle has been the spark to a lot of self-realization and positive change.
Want the same for yourself? Here are 3 things that helped me stay sober-ish for 3 months:
- Therapy. Seeing a therapist helped me realize that a lot of my drinking to "manage" my social anxiety. But in reality, drinking was making things way worse. Therapy has given me the tools to deal with my anxiety without reaching for alcohol.
- Tracking sleep. Noticing how much my sleep improves when I don't drink is extremely motivating! The stats on my screen don’t lie. Because I’m sleeping better, I feel better during the day, too.
- Daily reminders & rewards. I make a conscious effort to remind myself just how good I feel when I don't drink. It can be easy to forget! So, I remind myself how much more energy I have, how much better my mood is, how good I feel overall. This kind of self-hype has really been a game changer for me, especially when I add a reward, like HOP WTR. Now I raise a can to my wins, not a shot of tequila!
By Kaisa Keranen
April 18, 2023