I’ve been 5 years alcohol free. Wow. That's half a decade of living life without alcohol. For the champagne-loving, cigarette-smoking version of me from the past, this is so hard to believe. And not just that, I don’t miss it one bit! Here are some of my reflections as I hit the 5-year sober mark…   Coping with stress First, I’ve changed my approach to stress. I’ve developed new and healthy ways to manage stress so that I deal with (rather than avoid) the stressors, and support myself through difficult situations quickly and effectively. I always say to the ladies in my coaching programs ..read more

Perimenopause and strong cravings for alcohol – yes, it’s a Thing. Alongside all the well-known symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, cravings for alcohol are more prominent in so many of us at this time. If you've found yourself craving alcohol more during perimenopause, you're not alone. Here’s what’s going on, and how you can navigate increased alcohol cravings during perimenopause. Hormone Havoc During perimenopause, our bodies experiences significant hormonal fluctuations, particularly in estrogen and progesterone levels. These hormonal changes can affect our mood, energy levels, an ..read more

I used to think alcohol-free holidays would be BORING. In fact, I rarely even imagined a holiday without late afternoon boozing in the sun, and nights drinking copious amounts of wine. Did I want to go on alcohol-free holidays? No. Did I end up LOVING alcohol-free holidays when I finally quit drinking for good? Yes. Alcohol-free holidays are genuinely relaxing, invigorating and a blast. They take some planning and getting used to but once we do, we can bring our best selves, and stay present and aligned with what the holiday is meant to be about – rejuvenation. Here’s how to have alcohol-free ..read more

When we take alcohol out of our lives, we need to add more fun in. If alcohol has been our main source of fun for years, then we need to replace it with activities, events, and people that light us up and make life more enjoyable. Otherwise, we start thinking an alcohol-free life is boring, flat, and uninspiring – and that’s just not the case.  As I write in my book Beyond Booze: How to Create A Life You Love Alcohol-Free in the chapter Titled ‘What’s Your Fun Plan?’… If you need alcohol to enjoy something or someone then you don’t enjoy that thing or person. It’s time to embark on a jou ..read more

From hot flashes and mood swings to interrupted sleep, menopause symptoms are exacerbated by drinking alcohol. In perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, hormone levels change dramatically and so do the enzymes that process everything we eat and drink. As we age, women have smaller amounts of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that metabolises alcohol in the stomach. That means women absorb more alcohol (than men) into their bloodstream. Symptoms of menopause are then exacerbated like hot flashes, mood swings and insomnia. Even bone density. Here are five signs that alcohol is making your ..read more

When you quit drinking, it feels like people will go out of their way to question you. But why? For how long? Why would you? Some will even try to derail your efforts. They’re used to you showing up for them in a certain way (often as a drinking buddy) and it doesn’t suit them when you change. It can be confronting to them that you are changing your relationship with alcohol - when they can’t. So, why do partners, loved ones, friends, colleagues or even neighbours try to derail your sobriety? Here are the three top reasons … 1.    Comfort in Familiarity When someone in your so ..read more

Wow. Here we are already at Christmas! The invites to work parties, neighbourhood gatherings, family get togethers, social catch ups and everything in between are flooding in and suddenly you’re wondering how the hell you’re going to manage your first Christmas without booze? And with that comes all the questioning from friends and family. ‘Why aren’t you drinking?’ or ‘Just have one’ or ‘Don’t be so boring – it’s Christmas’. Well - read on for all my top tips around socialising without booze this Christmas and still having a GREAT time! I get it. I remember my first Christmas and how nervous ..read more

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 ..read more

When it comes to parenting and drinking: The kids are watching. We may think a glass of wine in the afternoon or a rush to get them to bed so we can ‘relax’ is going unnoticed by the kids - but it isn’t. So, how does our drinking impact our kids? And why is it helpful to change how we role model alcohol to young teens? We need to understand the impact… Our kids are astute observers, silently absorbing the essence of our behaviours. What may seem like a casual sip to us can carry weighty implications for them. Research, including studies from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol ..read more

Christmas often arrives with a whirlwind of festivities, expectations, and an overwhelming To Do list. The pressure to create the ‘perfect’ celebration can leave us feeling stressed and drained. Let's embrace a different approach—one that prioritises sobriety, and self-care. It's time to take a few things off our plates, forget about unrealistic expectations, and make space for a Christmas that nourishes our wellbeing. Here's how to use sobriety to support your nervous system for a more serene Silly Season. 1. Make going alcohol-free easy and enjoyable Going alcohol-free during the holidays c ..read more