President Ramaphosa has done it again!
He’s banned alcohol and put us all back in lockdown…
These days many South Africans have a “lockdown stash” to cope with ongoing alcohol bans.
So your first reaction to the latest “Family Meeting” may well have been to get stuck into the wine to numb out the anxiety..
How about dealing with the lockdown just a bit differently this time?
Take a Break from Alcohol Instead!
How about using this opportunity to actually take a break from alcohol?
Play the movie forward to the end of lockdown….which of these two scenarios appeals to you the most?
- Anxious and exhausted, carrying an extra kg or two and increasingly dependent on that daily glass/bottle of wine OR
- Calmer, thinner and more energetic – as you begin to thrive in your alcohol free life and even wonder if this could be the “answer” to all those niggling health worries?
Why not get curious and see this lockdown as a bit of an experiment – admittedly it won’t be easy if you have a serious wine habit but why not give it a go? Yes, get sober curious!
7 Reasons Why Parents Should Try a “Dry Lockdown”
- Alcohol damages our immune system and compromises our gut health. We need a strong immune system to keep ourselves and our families healthy during these difficult times. Our bodies treat alcohol as an infection so daily drinking fires up our immune systems. Give your immune system a break and it will have a fighting chance to protect you from Covid.
- Good quality sleep also boosts our immune system. A few glasses of wine may lull us off to sleep but then we wake up at 3am racked with anxiety. And, of course, drinking alcohol is like “pouring gasoline on our anxiety”– and surely we are all anxious enough during these Covid days.
- We need to call time on the “mommy juice” culture. We’ve been manipulated by the liquor industry for quite long enough. The wine industry has been stunningly successful in targeting women (and moms) and it’s time we started seeing alcohol for the harmful toxin that it really is. Let’s get smart and start changing our mindset.
- Parenting and alcohol don’t mix. Whatever their age our kids are well aware that Covid is a crisis. If we ramp up our wine habit then we are messaging that drinking alcohol is the way to deal with a crisis. Children may also sense that we need wine to cope with them which tells them they are annoying and need to be “numbed out”.
- Alcohol is sneaky – 20% of social drinkers will become dependent over the years so a Dry Lockdown is a great way to test your dependence. If it’s a breeze for you to get through a few weeks without a drink, then that means you have a very healthy relationship with alcohol. If it’s really hard, then you may need to make a few changes.
- The reality is that parenting is hard – but alcohol isn’t going to make it any easier. Clare Pooley, author of the “Sober Diaries” found herself drinking red wine out of a mug one Sunday morning as she tried to cope with a crushing hangover, and three noisy children – ouch!
- Just as our kids observe our drinking habits they will also be our biggest supporters if we decide to take a break. They will be inspired and possibly relieved if they have been worried about you. Make your kids the “wine police” and they will be sure to keep you on your toes!
Enter the Sober Curious Trend
The “Sober Curious” movement has created a valuable “space” for us to consider our drinking. No longer do we have to declare that we are worried about being an “alcoholic” – much easier to declare ourselves as “sober curious”.
Being Sober Curious simply means that you want to see “what your life would be like without alcohol.”
Helping us to get Sober Curious is the global revolution in alcohol-free drinks. Here in SA we have drinknil.co.za who have more than 100 alcohol-free drink choices and will deliver to your door.
One of the most difficult things to cope with when we give up drinking is socializing. Our President has conveniently granted us a few weeks break from social events which means we could get a flying start to our sober curious life.
Imagine finishing lockdown and socializing again? And telling your friends that you took a few weeks off the booze during lockdown and feel so amazing you’re going to make it a permanent lifestyle change?
Be a Sober Influencer
Rather than give in to “peer pressure” from the other moms, join the growing band of Sober Celebrities and become a Sober Influencer. Build your own Sober Curious Crew and start hosting alcohol free events. Be a rebel – not a sheep!
Admittedly it will take courage and confidence – but it could just change your life!
