If you’re taking a break from drinking this holiday season, you might feel like you’re stuck at the kids’ table at every gathering.   The reality is, we have been socialized to view alcohol as a sophisticated, adult activity. Those thoughts—implanted by TV, movies, and marketing—create desire and fuel a vicious habit cycle.   Tune in to explore how your brain learned to outsource certain beliefs about adulthood to the contents of your glass. You’ll also discover how to retrain your brain, because it’s easier to say no when what you’re drinking doesn’t make you feel like a kid.   ..read more

Picture this: You and a few friends have decided to split a bottle of wine. Everyone fills their glass, but there’s still a little left in the bottle. You can probably guess what happens next.   But did you know that the decision to finish the bottle might not actually be your own? It may be a pair of mental blocks preventing you from tuning in to the sensation of having had enough to drink.   Listen to this episode to explore those mental blocks and how they can easily lead to overdrinking. You’ll also learn how to reconnect with the concept of “enough” rather than relying on extern ..read more

You’ve been there: You’re with friends, and you’re doing your best not to drink (or stop after one), and suddenly you’re met with resistance. A lot of feelings bubble up. What do you do next?   It can be challenging to say no in certain situations, and setting rules or restrictions isn’t going to help. Instead, you must learn to manage those feelings that arise to change your relationship with alcohol.   Listen in to learn how to weather someone’s disappointment so you can be your authentic self, and why keeping a commitment to not drinking is less about being strong and more about a ..read more

Do you like being alone? It’s a simple question that can offer great insight into your relationship with alcohol, which is why today’s episode revisits this crucial concept. If you have a low tolerance for solitude, you likely seek out distractions instead of spending time alone, including pouring a drink. But if you could actually learn to enjoy this time, you might be able to change that habit. Listen in to learn how the quality of your thoughts when alone impacts your feelings and actions (the think-feel-act cycle), what you can do about them, and how these changes can positively affect y ..read more

Pouring a drink at the end of the day can be a treat. But it can easily sabotage your goal of changing your relationship with alcohol. Especially if you have a love-hate relationship with your desire for rewards.  This episode will help you stop framing the reward you want as good or bad. Instead, you’ll learn why it’s important to view the desire for a drink as neutral, and how that can help you tap into the inner workings of the habit.  Discover the real problem when it comes to wanting to reward yourself at the end of the day, and why a drink might actually be a mismatch for what ..read more

Society tends to talk about people being in “denial” about their drinking. But this belief often causes more harm than how much someone drinks. In this episode, learn the truth about why you might not be taking action even though you know your relationship with alcohol is unhealthy. Discover what’s really behind the idea of “being in denial” and how it can get in the way of change. You are not a problem that needs fixing, which is good news. Even if you’ve been shaming yourself about your drinking, this doesn’t mean that you’re in denial. Changing your drinking is not a simple matter of “facin ..read more

Taking a month off from drinking can be an incredibly powerful New Year's resolution. But if you don’t prepare for the most common stumbling blocks, your best intentions can backfire.  In this episode, you’ll discover how to set yourself up for success. You’ll learn about five key areas: urges, excuses, temptation, the habit, and staying on track. You’ll walk away with tips and tricks to help you get the most out of a month without alcohol. Even if you’re unsure about Dry January, this episode will shed light on the patterns keeping you stuck. Get full show notes and more information here ..read more

You’ve been there. A no good, very bad day occurs and, seemingly out of nowhere, a voice in your head urges you to pour a drink. Yet you don’t abide.  You might be surprised by the ease at which you respond to such a moment of temptation. But then again, you know that developing a lasting change to your drinking requires an understanding of what that drink truly represents. This week, you’ll hear a story about how not accepting the false narrative that breaking the habit is a life-long battle can make saying “no” so much easier.    Get full show notes and more information ..read more

If you had a drink after deciding you were taking a break, you might have the thought that “it doesn’t matter.” This is an extremely common thought to have when you’re struggling to stick with your commitment to change your habit.   This week, learn how the excuse of “it doesn’t matter” is getting in the way of changing your habit, and how to keep taking strides towards improving your relationship with drinking.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/353 ..read more

When all you want is a glass of wine, a cold beer, or a cocktail, water can feel boring. No matter how you dress it up, it can leave you feeling resentful, disinterested, and wanting an alcoholic drink. This week, learn why water is not the problem, and how to use a glass of water to reveal what is really driving your habit and relationship with drinking.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/349 ..read more