You know those days when you’re flat out from morning to night? Running around, trying to keep on top of things…
And yet the to-do list never quite gets done. By the evening, you still haven’t had a single moment to yourself.
That’s when the thought creeps in: I need a glass of wine. I deserve one.
Sound familiar? If a drink is the only reward you’re going to get today, this video might be just what you need to hear right now.
Key points
Behind every craving is an unmet need – and yours might be joy
When you’re craving wine after a manic day, most of the time you’re not really craving alcohol. You’re actually craving something much deeper: maybe joy, pleasure, fun or happiness. That glass of wine feels like your reward and your prize for getting through a tough day. It might be the only moment of joy you get (which makes giving it up feel extra tough).
The problem with outsourcing happiness to alcohol
Obviously, you totally deserve joy and pleasure. But when we use alcohol to supply this, there are two big problems. First, there are the obvious downsides – the hangovers, the regret, the way drinking affects your physical and mental health the next day. None of that is particularly joyful. But here’s the second problem: when you keep turning to alcohol for pleasure, it’s as if you start wearing blinkers. Nothing else seems as good as that glass of wine.
The wine blinkers effect
When you have your blinkers on, you stop noticing the other enjoyable moments in your day because you’re so focused on that evening reward. It’s as if you’re on a track where joy only comes from drinking. Nothing else seems as important as that glass. You dismiss other opportunities for fun because you’ve got your head down, pushing through, trying to get to that glass of wine at the end of the day.
Peace isn’t found at the bottom of your to-do list
When you’re in the middle of a crazy day, it seems as if things would be so much better if only you could get through everything. But more often than not, your to-do list is too long for you to get everything done, so that peace never comes! And on the rare occasions you do get through it all, you’re so wound up afterwards, you end up reaching for wine to help you decompress from it all.
Try this instead: add in micro-moments of joy
I invite you to experiment with adding tiny moments of joy and happiness throughout your day, rather than saving all your rewards for wine o’clock. Take a moment to pause and enjoy your coffee in the garden. Notice the feeling of the sun on your face at lunchtime. (What else could you do to slow down more during the day and add in more joy?) Think: simple pleasures. When you’re not so drained and frazzled by the evening, you’ll be less reliant on wine to help you unwind. Give it a try and let me know how you get on.
Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.
The post Frazzled? Here’s Why You’re Reaching For Wine appeared first on The Sober School.
