Creating a successful alcohol-free environment

Remember when the “old you” thought it would be nice if the “future you” could stop drinking without the “current you” making any changes to your environment? Didn't work, right?

Here are 3 thoughts on creating a successful alcohol-free environment.

Home, other places + within

• Home

If you were trying to quit smoking would you have a display of cigarettes in the living room? Would you have a cigarette cabinet in the dining room? I think not. 

The bar's got to go.

Whether it goes in the trash or just out of sight is up to you. The bottles on my bar were banished to the basement and replaced with pretty NA options. 

Years later, the banished bottles are still down there collecting dust. Out of sight out of mind seems to work on my husband and guests too. I haul the bottles upstairs for holiday gatherings where they're barely touched before they go back to their crate in the dark, unfinished side of the basement. 

In addition to dismantling the bar, I needed to make a few requests from my husband. One was not to drink wine in front of me. Another was not to pour a drink and then leave me alone with it. His stinky beers weren't tempting but back then I didn't want to have to even think about the option of caving. 

I'm lucky that my partner accepted my requests. At the time I felt bad asking but I knew living in a temptation-free home was critical to my success. 

• Other places

A few people have told me they think it's “amazing” that I quit drinking during Covid. I think it's amazing that anyone could quit outside of a global pandemic. Being “locked down” took away my choice to go to other places.

I hate to break the news but skipping parties, dinners, and girls' nights out is for the best in early sobriety. It's not forever - just while you're building that new muscle.

When you're ready to put yourself in an environment where “everyone” is drinking, plan for how you'll deal. If it's a house party BYO fun NA drinks. If it's a restaurant, do a little research on a fun NA concoction you can order from the bar. Make sure you have a way to get home if you want to leave earlier than the person you came with. Set yourself up for success.

• Within

Let's not forget the environments we create within.

Let me tell you, for a girl who could plow through life with the nastiest of hangovers, not getting a full 8 hours of perfect sleep can now throw off my day. My inner space is a temple. 

Some of the things I do to keep the peace within:

Pray, cold plunge, monthly massage, meditate, gratitude, mantras, self-resonance, nutrition, walks, racquet sports, laughter, telling the truth, therapy, hydration, yoga, breath-work, inspirational reading.

Setting yourself up for success is a whole lot easier when you feel good inside.

Quitting drinking is hard. Creating successful environments both within and around you makes it a whole lot easier. 

What may feel like work to set up in the beginning becomes the environment that will continue to give you peace, comfort, and the ability to grow.