North Bay Woman

52 NORTH BAY WOMAN F A L L 2 0 2 0 recovery, I was back in the office for a short time before Covid hit, and I've now been working from home. Some- times I do stave the 6 p.m. wine craving with a cold glass of lemon ice water in a stemless wine glass. I actually enjoy the new habit of not drinking more than the Chardonnay habit, and I decided to stick with it. Weight loss, a new sense of clarity, and stronger family communica- tion are all up-sides to this unexpected change. I still Zoom wine taste with the girls, with bubbly water in my wine glass. I did enjoy sangria with dinner on summer va- cation, and have had a couple glasses of wine with my Mom and my sister-in-law. In the spirit of transparency, I fully partic- ipated in this year's virtual To Celebrate Life wine and food pairing before their fundraising gala. The difference is that drinking wine, for me, is no longer a dai- ly activity. I no longer worry about the nightly glass or three and I no longer come up with the clever excuse to have to have a glass at the end of a busy day. I plan to continue this healthier lifestyle without the daily glass of wine. I do find life often to be serendipi- tous, and was inquisitive when I saw a social media post from contributor, Adri- enne Shubin. She recently embarked on a health journey, giving up alcohol, after traveling and contracting the Dengue Fever. She commented that she gained way more insights than she gave up, which I can certainly relate to. I asked if she had any tips, and she has generous- ly shared them. n 5 Tips for Staying Alcohol Free By Adrienne Shubin 1 Read 'Quit Lit' I've spent years reading various books and articles on how to reduce or eliminate alcohol. From personal journeys and how-to to books about what alcohol does to your body and mind, reading about life free of alco- hol gave me hope and inspired me to commit to my new lifestyle. My fa- vorite book – and most impactful – is "This Naked Mind" by Annie Grace. 2 Write it down Start a journal dedicated to your alcohol-free life. On the first page make a list of the pros and cons of going alcohol free. You can add to the list over time and refer back when you need motivation and inspiration. My personal favorite pros are losing weight, sleeping soundly, saving money and having a sharp mind. 3 Reward yourself When you first begin your alco- hol-free lifestyle, every day you don't drink will feel like a win, because it is! So why not reward yourself? When I first quit, I ordered treats I would rare- ly let myself enjoy. It got me through the first few weeks. If you don't want a food reward, find another way to celebrate your victories — buy a best seller, binge watch your favorite series or get a manicure. 4 Stay busy Fill your calendar and to-do list with all those home projects, hob- bies and exercise goals you've been putting off for years because you will have some free time now. Clean out those closets, paint your bedroom, practice some new yoga poses and learn a new language. You'll be so busy, you won't have time to think about alcohol. 5 Connect with others My husband gave up alcohol the same day I did. I am so grateful we have each other to lean on. I also joined some private alcohol free groups on social media and I follow a few sober Instagram accounts. My so- cial life took a hit when I quit alcohol, a common issue, so finding like-mind- ed individuals in real life or online is important to keep from feeling alone in your journey. n

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