#277 Is it Time for a Tactical Break from Alcohol? With Andy Ramage (Re-Release)
May 28, 2022
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In this engaging discussion, Andy Ramage, a performance coach and co-founder of One Year No Beer, shares his journey from casual drinking to six years alcohol-free. He highlights the surprising benefits of taking breaks from alcohol, urging listeners to reevaluate their drinking habits. The conversation touches on societal pressures, mental health impacts, and the ripple effect of personal choices on relationships. Andy also offers practical tips for navigating social situations and embracing a more fulfilling lifestyle without relying on alcohol.
Taking a break from alcohol can bring surprising benefits to those who don't think of themselves as problematic drinkers, including improved sleep, increased productivity, and enhanced mental health.
Social pressure and cultural conditioning play a significant role in people's relationship with alcohol, making it important to retrain oneself to socialize and have fun without relying on alcohol and explore alcohol-free alternatives.
Changing one's relationship with alcohol is not a linear process and involves setbacks and failures, but it's crucial to view these as learning opportunities and persist with self-compassion in order to make lasting changes.
Choosing alcohol over a life filled with meaning and vitality can hinder the ability to fully engage in meaningful experiences and pursue personal goals, emphasizing the value of holistic well-being and purposeful living.
Connection and finding a supportive tribe are essential for well-being, as lack of connection can lead to compensatory behaviors, emphasizing the importance of building a supportive community that encourages positive changes.
Deep dives
The Importance of Taking Breaks from Alcohol
The speaker emphasizes the importance of taking breaks from alcohol and how it can have a positive impact on one's overall well-being and vitality. He specifically mentions the 30 to 60 year old age bracket who have grown up in a culture of alcohol and may not realize the long-term effects of their drinking habits. The goal is not to convince everyone to give up alcohol completely, but rather to encourage individuals to run the experiment of taking a break and see the potential benefits it can bring, such as improved sleep, increased productivity, and enhanced mental health.
The Power of Social Pressure and Cultural Conditioning
The podcast highlights the significant role that social pressure and cultural conditioning play in people's relationship with alcohol. It discusses how social expectations and norms often lead individuals to feel the need to drink, even if they don't necessarily want to. The speaker shares personal experiences of succumbing to social pressure and feeling the fear of being judged or excluded for not drinking. He emphasizes the importance of retraining oneself to socialize and have fun without relying on alcohol, and mentions the availability of alcohol-free alternatives as a useful tool in this process.
The Journey of Changing Behavior
The speaker acknowledges that changing one's relationship with alcohol is not a linear process and that slip-ups and failures are a common part of the journey. He encourages individuals to view setbacks as learning opportunities and not as reasons to give up. The speaker shares his own experiences of stumbling and fumbling along the way and highlights the importance of persistence and self-compassion in making lasting changes. He emphasizes that failure is a natural part of the process and that it takes time to retrain oneself and fully embrace a new perspective on alcohol.
The Trade-off of Alcohol for Meaning and Vitality
The podcast explores the trade-off of choosing alcohol over a life filled with meaning and vitality. The speaker discusses how alcohol can often hinder one's ability to fully engage in and enjoy meaningful experiences, such as spending quality time with loved ones or pursuing personal goals. The emphasis is on recognizing the value of one's time and energy and making choices that align with leading a fulfilling and purposeful life.
The Power of Connection and Tribe
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of connection and finding a supportive tribe. It highlights how human connection is crucial for overall well-being and how lack of connection can lead to compensatory behaviors like excessive drinking or overeating. The host shares personal experiences and stories from their online community, showcasing the positive impact of having a supportive tribe that understands and encourages positive changes.
Motivation and Changing Mindsets
The episode delves into the topic of motivation and explores how it evolves over time. The host highlights the importance of understanding that motivation changes and that relying solely on willpower or a 'big why' is not sustainable. They discuss the power of mindset shifts, changing perspectives, and finding intrinsic motivation by focusing on the immediate benefits and enjoyable aspects of a goal or behavior. The concept of the 'motivation wave' is also mentioned, emphasizing the need for strategies beyond initial motivation to maintain long-term change.
Overcoming Social Pressure and Labels
The podcast addresses the social pressure and stigma surrounding alcohol consumption and the challenges individuals face when taking a break or changing their relationship with alcohol. It emphasizes the importance of not labeling oneself and finding a balance between all-or-nothing approaches. The host shares insights on handling social situations, offering tips such as having a clear plan for ordering drinks and visualizing success. The idea of an 'alcohol-free adventure' is introduced, promoting a positive and proactive approach to alcohol-free living.
The Power of Visualization and Treating Yourself Like an Athlete
Visualizing success and adopting the mindset of an athlete can help improve performance in all aspects of life. Top athletes use visualization techniques to excel, and we can apply the same principles to achieve our best performance in relationships, work, and personal goals. By visualizing success and embracing the concept of marginal gains, we can strive for continuous improvement in all areas of life.
The Benefits of Dry January and Overcoming Social Pressures
Participating in Dry January is a valuable opportunity to reset one's relationship with alcohol, but it requires the right mindset and approach. Instead of seeing it as a month of deprivation, it is more effective to view it as a chance to embrace a vibrant and alcohol-free social life. Engaging in social activities, trying alcohol-free alternatives, and focusing on the benefits like increased energy and vitality can help overcome social pressures and fully experience life without relying on alcohol.
This is part of my re-release series and was first aired in 2019.
How does alcohol fit into your life? Have you ever given it any thought?
My guest on this week’s podcast is Andy Ramage, a performance coach and author. He’s also one of the founders of One Year No Beer, a habit-changing programme that invites people to try 28, 90 or 365 days alcohol free – and see what it does for them. Andy was like many of us, he was not an alcoholic but he was what he calls ‘a middle lane drinker’. He would drink a little bit to unwind, at work events, when he saw his friends and probably a little bit more on the weekends. Andy started off on a 30 day trial without alcohol and now hasn’t drunk any alcohol for six years and says he can’t envisage doing so again. But his agenda is not to make you stop drinking for good. It’s to demonstrate that taking a break from the booze can bring a surprising host of benefits, even if you don’t think of yourself as a problematic drinker.
Andy and I delve into just what some of those benefits might be. We discuss how alcohol is so ingrained in our social lives and often our work culture that often we don’t even consider what life would be like without it. It’s linked to every part of our lives from relaxation and fun to social bonding or even just relieving boredom. We talk about societal expectations and peer pressure and both of us share our own individual stories and our own journeys with alcohol. Finally, Andy shares some brilliant, practical tips to help anyone who maybe considering tactical break from alcohol.
This is a really inspiring conversation. Whether you’re already thinking of cutting down, it’s not something you’ve considered, or even if you’re already abstaining, I hope you’ll find some life-enhancing lessons in this podcast.
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
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