Are you stuck in the endless loop of coming home from work and drinking yourself to sleep? More often than not, it’s easy to get sucked into drinking every night. Especially because alcohol helps you relieve the stress from your job and day-to-day life. 

Drinking every night after work is harmful, even if you don’t black out; even if you don’t drink until you’re sick or do reckless things. 

Sometimes you get so caught up in a routine that you don’t realize that your glass of wine turns into two or three. Then a whole bottle. And even if you show up on time to work, the foggy mind of a boozy night is there—and it might be taking a bigger toll on you than you realize. 

So how do you stop drinking every night? And why should you if you’re not an alcoholic? 

The first step to help you stop drinking every night is to recognize your patterns and triggers. 

Take a Look at the Role Alcohol Plays in Your Life 

Alcohol is sneaky and quickly goes from an occasional drink to an alcohol use disorder. This is why you should pay attention to your drinking patterns. 

If you find yourself drinking alcohol every night and you don’t know how to stop, it’s time to take a step back and rewind. 

Why do you drink? Is it to relax after work? Or because you’re stressed and anxious? Or simply because you’re bored and one glass can’t hurt, right? 

If you’re relying on alcohol for stress relief, to escape your job’s issues, or to have fun, it’s the first sign of a problem. That’s when you know you should stop drinking alcohol every night. 

You shouldn’t rely on alcohol for anything. It’s okay to drink and have fun. But it’s not okay when you can only have fun if you drink. 

Alcohol is a backstabber and it takes over, even when you think you have it under control. If you give your body alcohol when you’re stressed out, you’ll start craving it every time there’s a stressful situation. 

The more cravings you have, the harder it is to stop drinking every night. 

And if you drink to have fun in social events, your brain will start craving it in every single social event. When you train your brain to need alcohol in any situation, it will start craving it more and more.

If you identify yourself in any of these situations, it might be time to take a break. 

How To Stop Drinking Every Night 

You’ve already figured out what role alcohol is playing in your life. Now, how do you take control back? 

Here are some tips to help you stop drinking every night: 

1. Find a New Activity to Do After Work 

According to DayBreak (a mobile app that helps you reduce your drinking), the prevalence of drinking after work among its users is higher, especially when it’s already part of your routine. 

Source: https://hellosundaymorning.org/2018/08/06/5-steps-to-breaking-your-after-work-drink-habit/

To break this cycle, finding a new hobby or activity after work is key. This can be anything from taking a walk to learning how to knit. If you come home, sit on your sofa, and turn on the TV, the cravings for alcohol are harder to control. 

Try filling up your schedule with new activities and keep busy. This is the best way to stop drinking every night. 

2. Set Yourself a Sober Goal to Stop Drinking Every Night 

There are many benefits to quitting alcohol. You can read all about them, but there’s nothing better than experience. You might not notice the effects alcohol has on your body, but they’re there, and when you stop drinking every night, you notice them. 

When you drink, your decision-making abilities are impaired, and this is true even the day after, not only when you’re drunk. You live in the shadow of your hangover without even noticing it. 

When you quit drinking alcohol for a short period of time, you see for yourself what a sober life looks like—and it’s not as bad as you might think. So set yourself a sober goal and start enjoying the benefits.

A great way to start is with Sober October. Put the breaks on for a month and see how you feel. It might be difficult for the first few days, but it only gets easier, and you get an amazing feeling of self-control and empowerment. Plus, you stop drinking every night. 

3. Sober-Up Your Home + Have Alcohol Substitutes 

In order to succeed and stop drinking alcohol every night, getting rid of temptation is important. You might think it’s okay to keep it around, but cravings are powerful, and not having drinks readily available makes it easier. 

Before you start your sober month or months, get rid of all the alcohol from your home. You can give it to a friend or store it somewhere where it’s not accessible. 

A great way to fight cravings is to have alternatives to drink instead of alcohol. This can be a mocktail, sparkling water, Sobrietea, or whatever you like best. 

Find a list of the best mocktails here. 

4. Celebrate Your Success

To make the journey easier, and way more fun, give yourself rewards for every little milestone you reach. And I don’t mean have a drink to celebrate—quite the opposite. 

Use the money you’re saving from drinking to get yourself a new pair of shoes or get dinner at your favorite restaurant. Whatever you want. 

Write down your goals and your rewards for every goal you meet. Staying sober is not easy, and you should celebrate your hard work. 

The Takeaways 

Stopping drinking alcohol every night might not be easy but with the right mindset and support, it’s possible. Remember to be open and up-front about it, so your friends and family act as accountability partners. 

If you need extra support for when cravings creep up, Sobrietea has your back. Its alcohol support recipe helps you stay sober naturally. 

Sobrietea is crafted with high-quality herbs aimed to support your health and your sober journey—all with a refreshing lemon-mint flavor you’ll love. 

For an alcohol-support mocktail, brew a cup of Sobrietea, add honey, basil, or rosemary, your favorite fruit cut in pieces (peaches are a great option!), and enjoy. Easy, delicious, and with all the support you need. 

Order Sobrietea here to succeed this Sober October and stop drinking every night.