It’s my 5th Sober Christmas – Here’s How I Feel
It’s my fifth sober Christmas and the way I feel surprises me. I feel overwhelmingly grateful for the decision I made in April 2019, to remove alcohol from my life altogether.
My last boozy Christmas was in 2018 when my drinking was at its highest. I was looking for giddy oblivion, but it didn’t come. I was drinking more and more to get the high I craved but I just didn’t get there. In hindsight, my body was tired and tolerant after an alcohol-fueled lead-up to Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, I felt anxious, flat, and nauseous. But that didn’t stop me from starting drinking from lunchtime, just because...Well, it was Boxing Day.
So, let me share 5 reflections on my 5th sober Christmas and why I feel such overwhelming gratitude …
1. Pride
Feeling present, clear-headed, and proud on Christmas Day are feelings I would never again trade for a hangover. Having my kids jump on my head at 5 am squealing with excitement on Christmas morning fills me with such gratitude for my sober life. In previous years I silently wished them away. I was always hungover on Christmas morning. Now I embrace and cherish every single moment of their pure and unfiltered delight.
2. My neural pathways have well and truly changed
Alcohol is everywhere at this time of year; the marketing and advertising are extreme, and all the images make it look oh-so enticing. Not a single image gets shared of the hangovers, the vomiting, the shame, the anxiety, or the fear of what we may or may not have said at the office Christmas party.
We drink up to DOUBLE the amount in December. It shows me how far I've come when I see an image of a chilled bottle of prosecco, and it has no more appeal than an overflowing ashtray.
3. A sober Christmas is liberating
There is something deeply liberating about going against Big Alcohol and its incessant marketing while proving to yourself that you don't need alcohol to enjoy Christmas. It's all about mindset. Choosing to enjoy more energy, mental clarity, feeling prepared, being present with your loved ones, and feeling a childlike joy for what you're experiencing. Plus treating yourself to lovely food and connection makes for a different experience. That’s a choice.
4. You don’t have to go to ALL the things
We feel so much pressure at this time of year to attend everything and catch up with people just because it's Christmas. We feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and stressed. For me, if it's not a “Hell yes” then it's a “Hell no”.
I've said No to more things this year than ever before. I'm choosing who I want to spend time with, what activities I want to do, and how I want to feel. I've even canceled a Christmas lunch and swapped it for an hour of reflexology. My nervous system will thank me.
5. Never underestimate the power of the basics
Sleep - we know that alcohol ruins our sleep so now I absolutely treasure getting into bed after a Christmas event, knowing I've had a great time, but I won't be hungover in the morning.
Movement - prioritising exercise is essential at this time of year. Again, when I was hungover it was so easy to skip a run or a class. Now it's non-negotiable and my mental and physical health reap the rewards of this.
Nutrition - of course, I indulge at this time of year. But not in the way I did when I was drinking. I still make sure I'm eating well. This means my mental wellbeing stays strong.
Stress management - I used to think Sancerre was self-care. Now I know that is so far from the truth. Self-care for me looks like saunas, meditation, walks, and spending time with people who nourish and nurture me.
This all makes me overwhelmingly grateful for the journey I’ve been on as I celebrate my 5th sober Christmas.
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