Dry January: The Health Benefits From Taking A Break From Alcohol : NPR

Women and parents of young children seem to have been hit particularly hard. A nationwide survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association in February found that one in four adults reported drinking more this past year to manage their stress. That rate more than doubled among those who had children between the ages of 5 and 7. This can be a huge hurdle to overcome for many, as it is honestly quite uncomfortable to do something outside of our norm to make a change.

Phase 1: Curiosity—The Allure That Starts Before the First Taste

You’ll be surprised at how much mental energy you can free by using this one simple rule. Let’s look at some steps you can take to overcome boredom. On the drinking out of boredom one hand, life is full of things that we can and should be doing. Not all of those things are pleasant or enjoyable, but they need doing nonetheless.

• Women and parents of young children seem to have been hit particularly hard.
• I encourage anyone in recovery to be open, honest, and willing to do the work.
• So it’s not that sobriety is inherently boring; it’s that your serotonin and dopamine levels are now very low.
• The basal ganglia, a part of our brain involved in habit formation, strengthens the association between drinking and the context in which it occurs.
• Often, being bored without alcohol seems intimidating because when there’s no task to put your mind to, you’re forced to notice the things that are making you unhappy.

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Pick a random podcast, website, or ebook and start learning. You may also want to do some more hands-on learning by taking a class or course on one of the many learning websites. Or look for professors who post their lectures on YouTube.

Understanding the Link Between Boredom and Drinking

• If you’re a casual drinker, you should understand the ramifications of regular drinking.
• This cycle can lead to unhealthy consumption patterns when feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
• Activities like talking a few short walks or periodic stretch breaks during the day provide a mental and physical break from usual routines.
• Instead, you should find ways to cope with your boredom that keep you productively occupied and are more fulfilling.

The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. In the meantime, the Soberish community is here to support you and help you get there. I certainly would have if I’d read this article five years ago. This is the part where you figure out how to enjoy life without a little something extra to help loosen you up. Feeling bored, sad, lonely, or anxious about something are all very human things to feel. It’s especially important to eat foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins.

Alternative Activities to Replace Boredom Drinking

Ocassationally, there may still be times when you reach for a snack when you’re bored. Rather than eliminating the foods you crave, try eating them regularly but in moderation. This might help reduce your urge to snack on those foods when you’re bored. There are many reasons why you might be eating when you’re bored. Disordered eating can sometimes seem similar to boredom eating, but it’s a more dangerous condition.

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• By becoming more involved in your community, you can effectively replace boredom drinking with meaningful connections and activities that improve your overall mental health and well-being.
• Boredom eating in unique situations like this may be nothing to worry about.
• In this article, we’ll unpack bored drinking and help you figure out whether boredom is a drinking trigger.
• Boredom and isolation are known relapse triggers for people with substance use disorders.
• They need to equally understand that when someone is not drinking, they oughtn’t to finance everyone else’s champagne or cocktails.
• Adding variety to your day keeps things feeling fresh and exciting, and it might fend off boredom eating.

While boredom is to be expected and is nothing unusual, some individuals equate boredom with lack of productivity and negative connotations. In response, some people seek outlets that are detrimental to their well-being. Drinking out of boredom is common, especially among those suffering from other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. At the moment, bored drinking might not have a negative impact on your work or family life. If you start noticing these side effects, it’s time to re-evaluate how you deal with boredom.

On the other hand, when you’re experiencing boredom hunger — or another type of emotional hunger — you may crave a certain food without any of the traditional signs of physical hunger. When your body is physically hungry and in need of calories for energy, you may notice signs like your stomach growling, a headache, and feelings of weakness or fatigue. Mindful eating is useful in differentiating between boredom and hunger, as it emphasizes paying close attention to your cravings and hunger and fullness cues. Some people like to have three meals and a few snacks each day, while others may prefer to have more or less.

Getting drunk did not magically change the dynamics of that situation. We were all just sitting around and getting drunk, perfectly content to not really do anything together. My friends and I got together for happy hours after work. It all felt normal, even the terrible parts like awful hangovers and hangxiety. It’s why nothing seems fun or exciting, and you struggle to motivate yourself to have a good time.

But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community. Don’t get down on yourself because you can’t get wasted at the bar with your friends anymore. And while these things might sound serious and scary, it’s important to note that it’s one piece of a larger puzzle.