Take a Break from Drinking

So you've got your compelling reason—your rationale to go after change in the face of discomfort. The only problem is, it doesn't seem to be helping you drink less or stop altogether. Is it not compelling enough? Maybe that's part of it, sure (and that is easily fixed, as I'll share). But perhaps you're putting too much stock in that compelling reason. You could be expecting too much from it. Instead, it's time to change your mindset. Tune in to this episode for a quick refresher on what a good compelling reason can be and how to work with it. You'll learn the most common stumbling blocks and how to avoid them, including connecting with your compelling reason on a regular basis. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/407

It's almost here: Dry January. You know you want to take a break, but you're not sure how. Even worse, maybe you've tried this before and either couldn't stick with it or didn't see any changes. You might not realize it, but your plans to focus on not drinking may be setting you up for failure. Instead, you need to shift your thinking about the substance and focus on becoming a person of substance. Tune in to learn how to purposefully direct your brain away from what's easy and toward a different direction—where real change occurs. Then, find out the six things you need to focus on to have a successful Dry January and drink less this year. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/406

It's easy to see why you might pour yourself a glass of wine when things aren't going your way, but what happens if your life seems to be working out fine? Why are you still reaching for a drink? You've been tricked into thinking happiness must be obtained, which is why, in order to change your actions—using alcohol for quick relief—you must first change how you think. The truth is, negative emotions are just a part of the human experience. Listen in to learn how to avoid the trap of thinking you have "no right to complain," which can actually worsen your relationship with alcohol. Even more, you'll find out how to accept any emotion you are having at this moment. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/405

It's around this time of year that you start thinking about making changes, but what happens when you decide to stop drinking and you're not happy? Is the answer to go back to alcohol or simply settle for a lackluster life? That's what alcohol does to your brain—it applies a thin veneer to a harsh reality. But it may interest you to know that there's a third choice. You can upgrade your life. Listen to find out why alcohol tricks your brain and how to break that cycle. Even more, you will learn how to take meaningful steps to a better life with one simple exercise. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/404

If you're taking a break from drinking this holiday season, you might feel like you're stuck at the kids' table at every gathering. The reality is, we have been socialized to view alcohol as a sophisticated, adult activity. Those thoughts—implanted by TV, movies, and marketing—create desire and fuel a vicious habit cycle. Tune in to explore how your brain learned to outsource certain beliefs about adulthood to the contents of your glass. You'll also discover how to retrain your brain, because it's easier to say no when what you're drinking doesn't make you feel like a kid. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/403

Picture this: You and a few friends have decided to split a bottle of wine. Everyone fills their glass, but there's still a little left in the bottle. You can probably guess what happens next. But did you know that the decision to finish the bottle might not actually be your own? It may be a pair of mental blocks preventing you from tuning in to the sensation of having had enough to drink. Listen to this episode to explore those mental blocks and how they can easily lead to overdrinking. You'll also learn how to reconnect with the concept of "enough" rather than relying on external indicators. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/402

"Alcohol is poison." "It's toxic—why would I put it in my body?" These are common refrains from people who quit drinking. But are they helpful in reshaping your relationship with alcohol? Humans have used alcohol for centuries to alter how they feel. Demonizing it or treating it as entirely good or entirely bad can block you from deciding its role in your life. In today's episode, I explore why this black-and-white mindset lacks nuance, prevents curiosity, and how shame and guilt, while effective in the short term, rarely lead to lasting change. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/401

You've been there: You're with friends, and you're doing your best not to drink (or stop after one), and suddenly you're met with resistance. A lot of feelings bubble up. What do you do next? It can be challenging to say no in certain situations, and setting rules or restrictions isn't going to help. Instead, you must learn to manage those feelings that arise to change your relationship with alcohol. Listen in to learn how to weather someone's disappointment so you can be your authentic self, and why keeping a commitment to not drinking is less about being strong and more about allowing yourself to feel uncomfortable sensations. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/400

Counting drinks is a common strategy that many people use to try to drink less, but it can often backfire and leave you feeling frustrated and ashamed. While it can be a useful awareness-raising tool in the beginning, relying on external rules and numbers disconnects you from your own inner authority and doesn't address the unconscious desires driving your drinking. Instead of trying to become a perfect rule-follower, the key to lasting change is developing a strong sense of authority over yourself and your choices. In this episode, I share why this matters so much and how you can start to cultivate it. By the end, you'll have a new perspective on why counting drinks hasn't worked for you in the past and a roadmap for what to focus on instead. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/399

Do you ever wish you could just be a "normal" drinker? Do you fantasize that if you could fix your drinking, you'd finally feel okay about yourself? The truth is, becoming a normal drinker isn't really about the alcohol. It's about the story we tell ourselves - that if we can just change this one thing, we'll be worthy and whole. Spoiler alert: it doesn't work that way. In this episode, I dive into the fantasy of normal drinking and share the worst and best news about what it really takes to change your relationship with alcohol and with yourself. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ Get the full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/398