Breaking Up with Alcohol

I often talk about breaking up with alcohol like ending a relationship. It worked well for a while, was fun, controllable and added to life. However, over time, what once helped can become unhealthy and start taking more than it gives.

One of the techniques I use in my coaching comes from motivational interviewing (Miller & Rollnick, 2013). When deciding it’s time to take a break, it’s important to look at both sides of your relationship with alcohol. Seeing the good things alongside the not-so-good things often helps break the ambivalence and makes the next step much clearer.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Write down the good things.
What did alcohol give you? How did it work for you? Be honest.

Step 2: Write down the not-so-good things.
What does it cost you? Think about your health, sleep, mood, relationships, self esteem, finances, and energy.

When you see both lists side by side, it’s easy to see alcohol is taking more than it’s giving. That can be the first step towards breaking up with alcohol.