For many people when they think of relaxing, they imagine sitting down in front of the TV with a glass of wine or another alcoholic beverage of choice. However, if the drink doesn’t stop at one or two, then this could be classed as binge drinking – and if it happens almost every day, it could be extremely unhealthy in the long run. Having a drink here and there isn’t bad, and some studies suggest it could be good for you. That being said, getting into bad habits and actually relying on alcohol to relax is bad. This guide will help you to relax after a long day, without drinking any alcohol. Read on for some ideas:
Replace The Alcohol With A Relaxing Drink
You’re going to want a nice drink to relax with, and plain water is unlikely to cut it. Drinking diet fizzy drinks might be ok, but they often contain caffeine – so rather than help you to relax, they will perk you up and could impact a healthy sleep routine.
Try a relaxing drink like caffeine-free tea instead. You could try rooibos tea or chamomile, for example. Some people even like to drink CBD tea to help them drop off – but if you don’t like tea, you could use CBD Oil instead. Just make sure you do your research before you incorporate a new supplement into your routine.
Learn What Your Triggers Are
People often have triggers that lead them to wanting to drink. For some it’ll be a stressful day, or maybe even an argument with a spouse. Knowing your specific triggers could help you to become more mindful. Even articulating your feelings to yourself could be a huge help. For instance, ‘I’m feeling stressed and irritable, and it’s making me want a drink. I’m going to have a nice cup of tea instead.’ Take deep, mindful breaths, too. This is all about staying mindful and refusing to give in to the old patterns and habits that have held you captive for a long time.
It’s too easy to do things in front of the TV like drink to excess and eat junk, because we don’t have to think. We can just stare at the moving pictures and zone out. However, being mindful in everything we do is key to a fuller, more meaningful life!
Take A Bath
A bath can be a nice way to unwind and prepare for bed, providing it’s not too hot. A warm bath is often better in the evening, as hot water can wake us up and leave us struggling to drift off. To make your bath even more relaxing, add salts, essential oils, and use nice products. Make a ritual out of it and focus on the self care aspect of it. If you take your time and really enjoy applying your products and soaking in the bath, you should feel good about yourself and hopefully a little sleepy.
Find A New Hobby
A new hobby could give you something to focus on. What is something you’ve always wanted to try, but never actually got around to trying? Give it a go, even if you don’t think you’ll be any good. Everybody has to start somewhere, and you might just discover your very own style of doing things. Just take a look at all of the painters out there: everybody has a different style, and just because somebody might do hyper realistic paintings doesn’t mean your cartoonish paintings aren’t any good. Enjoy yourself and just see what happens!
Rediscover Things You Loved In The Past
As well as finding new hobbies to enjoy and focus on, you could try to rediscover a hobby you loved in the past. We tend to stop doing the things we enjoyed as children because adulthood and responsibilities get in the way, but that doesn’t mean the passion goes away. When you pick back up an old hobby, you’ll probably realize how much you missed it and wish you got back to it sooner. Don’t waste anymore time – grab some jewellery making supplies, some clay, or a puzzle. Have fun and relive your youth, or even your childhood. You’ll soon realize that you don’t need alcohol to have fun or unwind at all.
If you want to start unwinding and relaxing without alcohol, you need to be determined to make a change. Stay mindful and do your best. Don’t beat yourself up – and remember to get help if you need it. Thanks for reading!