10 Hacks to get you through Go Sober
By Juliet Hodges, Bupa UK on
Bupa UK’s behaviour change advisor Juliet Hodges shares her top ten hacks to help all those who are going booze-free.
Believe in yourself
You might be feeling apprehensive about a whole month without alcohol and wondering if you have the willpower to last a full 31 days. Research shows that yes, you do – as long as you believe you do. People who believe that willpower is unlimited tend to be better at dealing with tasks that require self-control, and also tend to be happier. Tell yourself that you can do it, and it’s more likely that you will!
Get your friends on board
Our friends and family are vital to our success with this kind of thing , – they can either be your biggest supporters, or biggest liability if they’re determined to get...
How to prepare for your Quit for October Challenge
By Go Sober Team on
No one said that giving up something you enjoy was easy. Only the bravest and most fearless champions will see it through to November. You’re doing something amazing – and we salute you.
So we've put some tips together to help you smash your challenge
In preparation for your October:
- In the month prior, try to cut down on your chosen abstinence to half of what you would normally consume.
- Remove all temptation from your house. Ask a friend or family member to take away any items that could distract you
- Prepare your mind as well as your body
- Set yourself a goal for the month – a fundraising goal, eating healthier or perhaps starting an exercise program.
- Recruit some friends to do the challenge with you – it’s easier with...
Setting goals
By Mel Ingram on
Many of us set ourselves tasks and goals to achieve what we feel will make a difference to our lives. Sometimes we find it difficult to achieve these goals as the journey becomes too long, too hard or it simply gets overshadowed by other ‘higher priority’ tasks and therefore these goals are pushed to the side.
Start by asking yourself some simple questions that can help you take control of your life and achieve your goals –
- What are you trying to achieve?
- What are your habits and what do you want to change?
- What have you achieved in life?
- Do you live in the moment?
What are trying to achieve and what is your ultimate goal?
Is it to live cleanly, train for a 10km fun run, sleep better, lose weight, drink more water, change careers, start a...
Tips on cutting down after your Sober October
By Go Sober Team on
Carry on your good work from October through to November and beyond. Here are some practical tips if you want to try to cut down on the amount of alcohol you’re drinking.
Quench your thirst!
Before you start drinking, quench your thirst with a non-alcoholic drink.
Drink slowly
Have a drink of water with your alcoholic drink.
Make every second drink non-alcoholic
Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. This will help space out your drinks.
Eat when you drink
Eat food when you’re drinking, but avoid salty foods – these make you thirstier.
Dilute your alcoholic drinks
For example, a shandy (beer with lemonade) or a wine spritzer (wine with mineral water).
Treat yourself
Alcohol isn’t the only thing you can indulge in. Why not try...
Top Skincare Tips from Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisor Aliyah Mughal
By Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisor Aliyah Mughal on
There are so many benefits to looking after your skin, and a big benefit of going booze-free for the month is that your skin will thank you for it.
Aliyah Mughal has been a Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisor since 2016. Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors are No7 Advisors trained by Macmillan and Boots to give face to face advice to help people cope with visible side effects of cancer. From defining sparse brows and lashes to caring for nails that are suddenly more brittle, they offer lots of tips to help people feel, and look, more like themselves again.
Suddenly the colder weather is upon us, so having dryness and getting dreaded spots is very common right now. Let’s get stuck in with Aliyah’s top tips for healthier skin:
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Always cleanse every...
Kate Bee’s Tips For A Successful Month
By Kate Bee on
1. Make a firm decision, not a flimsy one
Treat your break from drinking in the same way you’d approach cleaning your teeth. You don’t try and clean your teeth, you just make it happen. Even if you’ve had a busy day, you still find time to brush your teeth! It’s non-negotiable. However difficult, try and treat your Sober challenge the same way.
2. Mother yourself for the month
Think of it this way: if your child was grumpy, restless and irritated, you wouldn’t reach for the wine bottle to soothe them, right? Instead, you’d troubleshoot the problem and try to make things better. You’d mother them. Are they tired? Hungry? Thirsty? Bored? Do they need a cuddle? Connection? As adults, our needs are basically the same. So, when that alcohol...
Boost your wellbeing this October with the National Garden Scheme’s top tips
By The National Garden Scheme on
Why not develop those green fingers of yours as part of your booze-free October? Gardening is not only rewarding but it gets you exercising in the fresh air, positively impacting your wellbeing. While you’re keeping your mind and body healthy through Sober October, these tips will help keep your garden healthy too.
So, whatever the weather, venture outside and get stuck in with the National Garden Scheme’s top tips for October in your garden:
1. Get Tidying
This is the time of year when a small amount of work with the right tools can bring you satisfying results in the garden. Trim branches, sweep up fallen leaves, clear brambles, and carry out path repairs, or to lay new ones – there’s lots to do. Start creating compost!
2. Plant Trees...
A short guide to non-alcoholic beer – plus five of the best
By Tom Hallett on
Whether it's a couple of cans of beer in front of the TV or a few pints down the pub with friends on a weekend, it's the rituals associated with booze many moderate drinkers miss the most when they reduce their alcohol intake.
And while many pubs, bars and restaurants have been slow to take advantage of the non-alcoholic beer revolution (the market grew 39% in 2018 alone), your choices are no longer limited to a dusty bottle that's been lingering for years on the back shelf behind the bar.
The situation away from pubs, bars and restaurants is even more rosy. Supermarkets and off-licences have upped their non-alcoholic beer game significantly, while there are dozens of online stores that specialise in non-alcoholic drinks.
Why...
I gave up alcohol ten months ago and here’s what’s happened since
By Scott Pearson on
I used to wake up with a feeling of dread. You know, that feeling that you’ve said or done the wrong thing in a drunken stupor? Sometimes I’d have to do my best Poirot and piece the night together from stories others told me of my behaviour, along with Uber email receipts and transactions on my banking apps. After too many years of making the same mistakes, and realising I only had myself to blame for my rising anxiety, poor fitness, and debt levels to challenge those of a small country, I knew something had to give.
In October 2018 I woke up one morning with the worst hangover of my life, and from that point on I knew my relationship with alcohol was over. The important thing to mention is, that even when I was drinking, my life wasn’t...
