How can you have a Merry Sober Christmas?

Silly season is upon us, and with that can come a lot of pressure to drink alcohol to be merry. Here are some of my top tips for navigating the party season as a non-drinker.

Tell people

Tell people you are going to have a sober Christmas. The more confident you are with this decision, the less likely people will booze bully you into changing your mind. Maybe you did Sober October and felt the benefits and want to continue? The main thing to remember is that you do not have to have a drinking problem to choose not to want to drink. Don't worry about what others think; concentrate on what's right for you. There are a lot of people choosing to stop drinking alcohol as a lifestyle change. As long as you're not preaching, then people shouldn't have a problem.

Have an exit strategy

Have you ever thought that maybe you drink alcohol to be able to tolerate repetitive conversations and surface-level chit chat? If that rings true, once you have been sociable and said hi, it could be handy to ask someone to call you as an excuse to leave, or you can plan something exciting for the morning after the night before that you won't want to miss. Make it easy for yourself to go when you need to.

You can do it all - if you want to!

There are so many events and things happening during the festive season, and if you are drinking excessively, that can be hard work. The thought even makes me feel tired nowadays!

Waking up hangover free every day, able to go to the next party with natural energy feels so good. When you are sober, you can party hop because you stay fresh and drive between parties when you haven't been drinking - Work Christmas lunch? Tick. Child's nativity? Tick. Dinner with the inlaws? You get the idea. In the past, the Christmas lunch would have finished me off. When you go alcohol-free, people worry about the fear of missing out - but you don't have to miss out - you really can do it all, on the same day, without feeling like you are letting anyone down; unless you don't want to, of course, and that's OK too.

Let go of the fear of judgement

The fear of being judged has a lot to answer for and can stop us from letting go and having fun without drinking alcohol. When you think about it, though, the fear that you experience when you have consumed too much alcohol the morning after is worse, especially if it comes after the work Christmas party; and you can't remember how the night ended. No one wants to be the 2021 office story.

Wear your loudest Christmas jumper

The mix of colours and statement slogans is a sure way to distract from what's in your glass. People will be so enamoured by your outfit choice that they won't be worrying about what you are drinking anymore.

Christmas is expensive

Presents, Christmas decorations, food, the list goes on. Christmas is an expensive time of the year. When you don't drink alcohol, the savings can mount up quickly - taking some of the financial pressure off.

A waistline like Santa

Alcohol is full of empty calories. Santa's diet of mince pies and sherry shows the impact on his waistline. It also makes us less mindful of our eating. Christmas is about treating yourself, but not to the point of making yourself feel ill.

If you are on your own

Christmas can be a lonely time of year, and it can be tempting to reach for the bottle. Remove all temptations from your home and replace them with other treats, whether that's a lovely fruit juice or an alcohol-free alternative. Know that you are not alone; through the power of social media, you can speak with others who may not have family and friends around them too.

The big day

How many times have you ruined Christmas day after getting over-excited on Christmas eve? Waking up on Christmas morning with a banging head when you have a busy day ahead is no fun at all.

When you start drinking early, the day can go by in a blur, when so much time and energy has gone into making the day happen in the first place. It seems a shame not to make memories that you won't forget.

Christmas traditions

Breaking the habit and traditions which revolve around alcohol isn't easy, such as the bucks fizz first thing in the morning or the beer down the pub at lunchtime. If you have done something for years-old habits, take time to break. You might feel a bit lost. Try making a new tradition like going for a Christmas morning swim or walk or swapping the drink for another treat without alcohol.

You may have the best Christmas ever without alcohol, or it may be challenging. One thing's for sure, if it's your first sober Christmas, then it will feel different. If you know that drink no longer serves you, it's important to remember your why and remember that it's OK to say no and do things differently.

“Yule Got this!”

Have a Merry Sober Christmas x