Christmas is an interesting time, we can find that old triggers pop up, the stories we used to tell ourselves, we can also find ourselves trying to step into new identities, or playing the role of the ‘perfect hostess’ or the ‘fun mum’, chief cook and bottle washer, before ending up frazzled and exhausted.
This year, take the time to notice what you want, how you want this Christmas period to be for you. When you are sober, you can be authentic and value yourself and your needs, you can, with compassion, tell others what you need, set boundaries, and if necessary, literally butt out.
Determine what you DO want, create a ‘woop’ for your Christmas and New Year – we do this in The Sober Club and it really works:
W stands for WISH – What do you want this Christmas to be like?
O stands for OUTCOME – What will it really look like if you get the wish, i.e. in detail what do you want to happen?
O stands for OBSTACLE – Realistically what might get in the way, or trip you up?
P stands for PLAN – How can you plan to ensure that you will succeed, what can you put in place, what support do you need?
It’s super important to identify the triggers that may come up for you, is it that you always drink a certain drink as you put up the Christmas tree? Have a Sherry or a glass of Port with the Queen’s speech? Whatever it used to be – remember the mantra: Keep the ritual, change the ingredients!
Don’t allow the wine witch to creep in, making you feel ‘left out’. You are not missing out on anything by not drinking – (well only the toxic liquid), you are gaining the ability to be fully ‘present’.
So get some of the fabulous alcohol free drinks to add to your sober toolkit and ask yourself what tiny new habits or micro steps you need to put into place to make this festive season your best ever.
Delicious Mulled Wine
You can make a simple alcohol free mulled wine by using any cheap alcohol free red wine, add a sachet of mulled wine spices, an orange with cloves studded through, and a teaspoon of coconut sugar, you may want to add a cinnamon stick, and some orange juice to taste. You could also add a dash of Lyres Italian Orange – yum!
Here’s a fancier recipe courtesy of a Sober Club member Abi Skerrit…
INGREDIENTS
1 bottle of AF red wine
400 ml Orange juice
200ml Cranberry juice
1 stick of Cinnamon
3 Star Anise
10 Pink Peppercorns
100 g dark brown soft sugar or Coconut sugar
1 Orange studded with Cloves (about 15 cloves)
1 teaspoon Ginger powder
½ teaspoon ground Nutmeg (freshly grated if possible)
METHOD
Pour red wine, Orange juice, Cranberry juice into a pan
Stud a small Orange with Cloves and add to the pan
Add all the other ingredients and mix well.
Gently bring the liquid to the boil and then simmer for about 10-15 mins.
SERVE!!! Remember its AF so can be enjoyed anytime! Garnish with a slice of Orange or a few Pink Peppercorns!
If pouring into a thick glass, put a metal spoon in the glass first to stop the glass breaking!
There are a myriad of delicious alcohol free options, sparkling wine, cocktails, beer, kombucha….and many more on the market. You can read about them and be in with a chance of WINNING if you enter our competitions here.
Finally, ask yourself what tiny new habits or micro steps you need to put into place to make this festive season your best ever.
Want to get creative mixing alcohol free cocktails? You might like our alcohol free cocktail making tutorial video masterclass here:
Would your life be better physically and emotionally without alcohol? If your answer is yes … what’s holding you back?
Wherever you are on your sober journey The Sober Club inspires you to live your best life without the booze. If you are looking for support, inspiration, connection and transformation this Christmas and beyond….we welcome you.
You can join us for one month and then cancel, you still get the gifts worth £50! Check it out, join the Facebook group and see if it resonates. You can also grab our new free guide: 9 ways to combat FOMO (fear of missing out).
Join our community HERE and live the life you really want
‘Since joining this club I have changed so much, who would have thought I would enjoy connecting with Angels, changing my diet to a much healthier one, actually doing couch to 5k, starting to meditate, enrolling in a creative writing course, meeting the most amazing people and focusing on health and happiness instead of fearing my menopause! Thank you, Janey!’ – Sober Club Member