Is it time to rethink how much you drink?

"My doctor told me to watch my drinking. So I'm off to find a bar with a mirror." -- Anonymous

I don't know why alcohol (rather than yoga) is on my mind today. It might be because:

• A good friend of mine just celebrated 28 years of sobriety and proudly showed me his AA coin. Congrats!
• I'm reading the memoir "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing" by actor Matthew Perry, who openly shares his struggles with addiction. Remember Chandler?
• I'm seeing discussions of Dry January and Damp January all over social media.

Let's be real, alcohol can be awesome. It can make you more sociable and fun, less anxious, and it temporarily numbs the feelings and stressors that come with everyday life.

What's not to like!?!

But here's the thing, if you're drinking to cope -- as opposed to drinking for pleasure -- alcohol is a band-aid solution. BTW, studies have found that women are more likely to drink to cope than men.

It numbs the pain temporarily, but it doesn't fix the underlying problem. And for many of us, it can lead to more problems down the road.

So, if you notice a little voice in your head telling you that you're drinking too often and that drinking is starting to become a problem for you, know that you are not alone.

Let this be a wake-up call to cut back on your alcohol consumption.

But what's the best way to go about it?

Should you eliminate alcohol completely (go dry) or should you take a more moderate approach by cutting back on alcohol (go damp)?

I've found that the all-or-nothing approach of going dry worked best for me.

Initially, I set a goal not to have a drink for a week. One week turned into two weeks; then four weeks. Hey, I can do this!

Soon, one month turned into many months. And as they say, "the rest is history".

It's been over eleven years since my last drink. I don't have any urges anymore to pick up an alcoholic drink (which certainly wasn't the case during my first few weeks of going dry). I still like to smell a nice glass of wine, but I'm not tempted to sip.

Why did I quit drinking? I stopped because ...

• I was sick of waking up with hangover headaches;
• Alcohol was bad for my mental well-being; it relaxed me in the moment but depressed me over time;
• I was afraid I was becoming dependent on alcohol.

How did I do it? For me, it was easier to quit cold turkey than to try cutting down gradually.

I know that I'm less likely to slip up if I don't allow myself any wiggle room. When I give myself wiggle room, it's too easy to come up with excuses ("it's a special occasion", "one drink won't make a difference", "my friends will think I am boring").

Over time, I replaced alcohol with yoga, walks outside, creative hobbies, and -- yes! -- chocolate. I love waking up every day with a clear head and a smile on my face.

That being said, I know that not everyone is the same and that going dry might not be the right approach for you. You may find that cutting down on your alcohol consumption is a more sustainable approach. It's all about figuring out what works best for you.

Even just cutting back on alcohol can have some serious benefits. It can improve your mental state, allow you to sleep better, and give you your energy back. And your liver (and doctor) will thank you!

If you want to cut back on alcohol, you might enjoy my previous blog post titled "11 Tips for Cutting Back Your Alcohol Consumption."

So, cheers to a healthier and happier you!

Best,
Christine

P.S. Want to try yoga but don't know where to start? Download your FREE Starter Guide to Yoga: