Many women think of a glass of wine at the end of a stressful day as self-care – but it isn’t. Drinking alcohol puts us in a cycle of trying to take the edge off stress, while negatively impacting our anxiety and mood. It’s a vicious cycle. Sober October might be the perfect time to take a break from alcohol and see how not drinking positively impacts your physical and mental health.

The effects of 2020

Last year, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation found that one in 10 Australians consume more than 10 standard drinks a week. During the pandemic, one in eight Australians report­edly drink alcohol every day. This year, The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported women were drinking twice as much more alcohol than men during lockdown. The study showed drinking had increased by almost 20% for women and 10% for men in this round of lockdowns. Ongoing border restrictions and not seeing loved ones interstate is adding to the pressure, uncertainty and isolation.

How to do quit drinking

Let’s face it, one of the biggest obsta­cles women face when quitting drinking is not only daily stress but the people around us. We worry our friendships will change or our relationship won’t be the same. That’s why Sober October is a brilliant opportunity to buddy up and do it together – keeping each other accountable and supporting each other through any challenges that may come up.

Prove you can do it

Women who drink consistently sometimes fear they simply can’t quit – so a break like Sober October offers them a window into what life is like sober and who they are sober. Once they’ve proven to themselves that they can quit drinking, they start feeling the incredible benefits like better mood, self-esteem, confidence, glowing skin and more energy. October is also mental health awareness month, so it’s the perfect time to discover how not drinking can positively impact your mental health.

Sarah Rusbatch is a grey area drinking coach and women’s health and wellness coach. Find her at sarahrusbatch.com.

5 Tips for Sober Success

-Take on Sober October with a friend or your partner for accountability and support. You’ll also find plenty of supportive groups online.

-Tell friends and family you are quitting drinking for Sober October and ask them to be supportive.

-Track your progress in a journal- mood, sleep and energy levels.

-Remember, quitting alcohol isn’t easy. Be gentle and kind with yourself. When urges to drink hit – go for a walk or call a friend.

-Join an online community such as The Women’s Wellbeing Collective on Facebook for support, friendship, information and advice.

5 Great Reasons to Give Up Greg

-Losing weight. Quitting alcohol can help you to lose weight- particularly around your midsection.

-Improved mood. Alcohol has a direct impact on mood, anxiety and depression.

-Save money. Put all the money you’d spend in a month on alcohol in an account to spend on something special- when you’ve achieved your goal.

-You’ll sleep better. Wake up in a better mood thanks to a better alcohol-free sleep.

-To prove to yourself that you can do it. You may want to stay alcohol-free after October- and just keep going.