Today's episode features a list of top tips for self love - follow me on here to see the list as a visual or sign up here if you'd like it sent to you as an email

Hello, darling heart, and welcome to the drink less, live better podcast.

This is the podcast that helps you to see that drinking less doesn't need to be stressful, lonely, or boring.

I'm your host, Sarah Williamson, and I decided to have a year alcohol free as a little life experiment and haven't looked back.

With my experience and training, I now help other people with their alcohol free or drink less adventures.

You can find out more and sign up to my 5 day drink less challenge at drink less live better dot com.

I'm here to tell you that you can connect, and have fun without alcohol in your life.

Join me here each week to find out how.

So I've just had to give mister w a talking to.

He's working from home today, and whenever I try and find a moment to record a podcast, he seems to get on the phone at that precise moment.

Mister w doesn't really need a phone to communicate with his clients.

I'm sure if he just opened the window they could hear him from wherever they were. He is so loud.

Take a deep breath and let go, it's okay, I've told him don't pick up that phone for the next 10 minutes.

We're towards the end of September right now and just around it the corner is October and of course I'm gonna love calling it sober October.

Is this the moment you've been waiting for? The first of a month.

We're heading towards the end of 2022, and this could be your opportunity to take in the last quarter of the year alcohol free.

As it happens, my one to one coaching program is a 3 month program.

So if you would like to make the very best of the end of this year now would be a perfect time to sign up.

You'll find the link in my show notes.

Today's episode is all about small acts of self love.

What can we do for ourselves to bring a little bit more love and care into our lives?

My first and number one tip to you all is turn off the news.

Mister w thinks I'm crazy for this, but I did it back in 2019.

At that point, I turned the radio off.

I was listening to so much negativity in the morning.

My kids were getting ready for school in the kitchen and asking me questions about the items that were on the news that I

couldn't really answer, and it was not filling any of our hearts with positivity and joy in the morning.

The radio in the kitchen was the first thing to go.

Then went the 10 o'clock headlines, I just stopped watching the news and I'm so glad I did before the pandemic set in.

I don't have anything on my social media feeds as far as news is concerned, and the only things that I get sent are things

by friends or family that they think might be of particular relevance or interest to me.

My mum cuts things out from the physical newspaper and sends them to me. I love that.

That is a truly edited news feed. Acts of self love.

So first, turn that news off if you can. 2nd, just take 15 minutes to get in that shower.

I know at times in my life when I was feeling really rubbish, the most difficult thing of a morning was getting into the shower. Make that a priority always.

Have you got time to read a chapter of your favourite book?

Now I love self development and learning as much as the next person, but I can't tell you what joy I get from reading a really good novel.

I'm afraid I've deleted my Amazon Prime account. Shh. Don't tell them.

And I've gone back to the old fashioned library.

It's a complete joy because I use the app to order the books that I want which means I know that they'll be on the shelf waiting

for me when I get down there.

I love the act of borrowing a book and then taking it back.

I don't need to own physical copies of these books unless it's something I particularly love and want to own, in which case

I might go and search it out to keep. A cup of tea.

I am the number one fan of sitting in that chair with that freshly brewed cup and just staring over the steam, over the rim

of the mug, out of the window and really enjoying that drinking experience. Respect your body.

Move it in a way that feels just right for you.

If running isn't your thing that is fine, move slowly, stretch, just do whatever it takes to really feel into your physical body.

I have stopped doing so much running now and I would consider myself to be much more of a walker and I'm all the more happy for it.

Eat and drink as best as you can possibly manage in any given moment.

Don't buy that food that you know you really don't want to eat.

I know it's easy to say, but just don't do it.

Be absolutely patient with and kind to yourself.

Congratulate yourself on all even the really teeny tiny ones.

Develop yourself some medium long term plans and goals.

What are you aiming for next in your life?

Seek out those people who are doing what you want and follow them closely behind, and indeed ask them for support and love. Stop the comparison.

So whilst it's okay to look at other people who are a few steps ahead of you and desire a bit of what they've got, you do

not need to compare yourself to them.

This will only decrease your self love.

You are doing you and they are doing them.

Focus very closely on your self talk.

Be as loving and compassionate as you possibly can be to yourself.

Speak to yourself how you would a very dear friend. Do find comfort

And are you friends with other people who are on a self love journey?

Seek out some new friends if you need to who are open to this way of life.

Be open and curious about who could come into your life at this moment.

And lastly, do more of the things that you love and where you possibly can do less of the things that you don't.

Check out the show notes on this podcast or any other episode.

You'll find details about the drink less, live better 2020 retreat. I'm so excited.

You'll see the link to a hidden podcast episode to help you with your 5 PM cravings, and you'll be able to read about my one to one coaching program.

I'd love it if you could follow and download the podcast, and if you feel inclined to leave a review, that would be lovely as well.

Thank you for listening in again today.

Please come back next week, and, PS, I believe in you.