Recently, noted outlet The Guardian published an insightful article about sobriety trends and how dates on a calendar do not have to mean the end of alcohol abstinence. Their piece referenced the popular Sober October movement that just ended on the 31st. For many, starting a new month (like November) doesn’t mean you have to jump back into your old habits. In fact, if you tested the waters of sobriety and enjoyed it; why not continue the trend?
We actually covered the Sober October trend last month. In recent years, it has become extremely successful and led thousands of people to cut alcohol out of their diet. Adrian Chiles, writer of The Guardian piece, happened to be one of them. In his article, he described how he (and many in his circle) were inspired to keep up with a clean lifestyle throughout the holiday season.
Chiles even issues a challenge to the Guardian readers. Another major sobriety month happens to be Dry January (which is meant to recoup from Christmas and New Years indulgences). Well, what if you could push yourself to remain clean for the entire stretch between Sober October and Dry January? This of course would be challenging because of holiday temptations; but it would be a major victory to pull off; as Chiles writes.
“If it is not your intention to moderate your drinking in the long term, it possibly is fine, up to a point,” Chiles wrote in his piece when describing people who quick revert back to alcohol after Sober October. “But an opportunity like holiday sobriety may be your way of proving to yourself that you are in control of your drinking rather than the other way around.”
It is certainly an interesting challenge and Chiles goes on to describe helpful tools that can keep people from slipping over these next two months. One idea was downloading the Drink Less app, which can help people live healthier lifestyles without a dependence on alcohol. He also advised listening to the Wet and Dry podcast, which offers support to people looking to curb their drinking habits.
Those are all good ideas, if you ask us. And this concept is certainly very enlightening. We know just how challenging the holidays can be for people with addictive tendencies. And the quarantine isolation of COVID-19 makes it that much harder. Please do try to keep any bad habits in check this season and know that help is always available, if you need it.
