7 Tips for Mindful Drinking
Too much alcohol can have negative consequences. In this post, we are going to share seven tips to help you drink mindfully.
There is no denying that alcohol can be a fun and enjoyable part of life. However, too much alcohol can also have negative consequences. In this post, we are going to share seven tips to help you drink mindfully.
1. Drink slowly
Drinking slowly not only helps you to savor your drink, but it also helps you to avoid getting drunk too quickly. It will also help you to drink less overall. Try setting a rule for yourself, such as taking a break after every drink or only having one drink per hour. This ties to the next point on choosing quality over quantity.
2. Choose quality over quantity
It is better to focus on quality over quantity when drinking alcohol. This means choosing drinks that you really enjoy and savoring them instead of trying to drink as much as you can to get to the tipsy feeling.
For example, I have always enjoyed Scotch and have found a renewed appreciation for it after my visit to Scotland a few years ago. I have a bottle or two that are fairly expensive (more than $100 a bottle). However, I never have it as my daily or weekend drink and it's saved for special occasions when I want to reward myself. This encourages me to drink less and savor each of these special drinks.
3. Drink non-alcoholic beverages
The non-alcoholic beverage industry has exploded in the last five years. There are a few reasons for it (which I will cover in another article), but the options for non-alcoholic beverages are vast and run the range from traditional drinks like kombucha and flavored sparkling water to entirely new categories like hop water, dealcoholized wines, non-alcoholic spirit replacements, natural switchels, and a bunch of non-alcohol beers made by craft breweries.
Either you can switch to a 100% zero-proof lifestyle or alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
4. Pay attention to your body
When you drink, be sure to pay attention to your body. If you start feeling tipsy or drunk, stop drinking and wait until you feel more in control. Regardless of gender, there is an obvious safety reason for being in complete control of your mental faculties that lets you avoid unsafe situations.
5. Don’t drink alone
Drinking mindfully is a social activity, so if you want to drink mindfully, it's important to do it in a social setting. When you're with other people, you're more likely to pay attention to your drinking and be mindful of how much you're consuming. Plus, you can enjoy your drink more when you savor it with friends. So next time you're heading out for drinks, invite some friends along and make sure to drink mindfully.
However, keep in mind that we are always influenced by the company we keep. If your friends are heavy drinkers, then it is best to limit your interactions with them when alcohol is involved.
6. Set a limit for yourself
When you are drinking, it is important to set a limit for yourself and stick to it. This will help you to avoid drinking too much and experiencing negative consequences. If you are unsure of how much is too much, try using a drinks tracker app or keeping a journal of your drinks.
When I go out I aim to not have more than two drinks. This is a hard limit and I try to make a game out of it – do I have the willpower to stick to my limits or will I cave in?
7. Visualize the next day
Remember when you got drunk and ended up with a massive hangover the next day that killed your plans for the day, including the cute brunch date that was planned? Or the time when you started puking after having one drink too many?
Drinking heavily means I lose out on both my sleep and any activities that I have planned for the next day. Or even if I can do these activities, I am not as productive or energetic. This motivates me to keep my drinking in control or as I call it “mindful drinking”!
How do you drink mindfully?
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