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Hello, darling heart, and welcome to the drink less, live better podcast. This is the podcast that helps you to see that drinking
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less doesn't need to be stressful, lonely, or boring. I'm your host, Sarah Williamson, and I decided to have a year alcohol
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free as a little life experiment and haven't looked back. With my experience and training I now help other women with their
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alcohol free and drink less adventures. I'm here to tell you that you can be truly joyful with alcohol in your life. Join
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me here each week to find out how. Today I'd like to tell you a story about Christmas, A story that isn't the one with father
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Christmas, elves, Scrooge, reindeers, snowmen, or the sweet baby Jesus, or any other character we all know. It's the one where
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you feature and the central role. Now, if you're anything like me, there's an old story running in the back of your mind about
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Christmas. Mine features mulled wine at Christmas fairs, red wine by open fires, sparkly g and teas on nights out, cocktails
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with the girls, Prosecco whilst wrapping presents or cooking Christmas lunch, and more. Of course, there are the corresponding
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feelings of low level anxiety, brain fog, and horrific hangovers, but they are always glossed over when I'm reminiscing about
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Christmas past. Now I have a present or future me Christmas story, which is all about loving the atmosphere and company when
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I'm with friends, hot chocolates shared with my kids, enjoying the cooking experiences, and not giving myself anything to
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get stressed about that I then don't need to unwind from. There are beautiful adverts for alcohol everywhere this time of
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year, beautiful people drinking beautiful drinks. Of course, we never see the morning after pics or the midnight pics or,
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indeed, the 10 PM pics, just the pretend start of the evening ones. A small side note here. I went out clubbing last weekend.
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I know. I still got it at 43. Thanks very much. And I took a selfie on the way out and when I got back home, and there is
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very little difference in how I look. I compare that to past me getting in from a night out and think what a wreck I used
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to look. No judgement on past me, just an observation on what an alcoholic night out looked like. Anyway, where was I? Ah,
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yes. There is so much advertising of alcohol at this time of year, and I never realized how much until I stopped drinking.
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It is everywhere. Is it because we cannot possibly enjoy our time out with colleagues, friends, and family unless we have
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a drink? That can't be the reason, surely. Well, what should we do when we get that invitation to a Christmas party? Let's
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break it down into the 6 most important steps. Number 1, decide. Do I want to go? Is this night out with people I choose to
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spend a night out with? Do they fill my heart with joy? If it wasn't Christmas, would I feel obliged to go? If you answered
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no to any of these questions, I'd suggest politely declining the invitation in the first place. If you find yourself in a
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position where you've accepted but are now thinking you'd rather not go, well, then don't. Either give advance notice that
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you won't be able to go or send a message excusing yourself on the evening. You don't owe anyone an elaborate excuse or explanation,
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just keep it simple. Number 2, prepare yourself by having a short, simple, and non explain y reason why you're ordering lime
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and soda, ginger beer, sparkling water, alcohol free gin and tonic, or whatever, if anyone asks you, which they might not.
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I'm driving. I've got a fitness class at 6 AM tomorrow. Whatever feels most comfortable. I've had my fair share of telling
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little white lies such as I'm on antibiotics just to get people to leave me alone. But do remember, it's none of anyone else's
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business why you are choosing not to have a drink. Number 3, go with your decision firmly made. I'm not drinking tonight is
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a better mantra to go out with than I'll make a decision when I get there. Number 4, plan what you will drink in advance.
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Do you know the venue? Do you know what they serve? And do you know what you'd like to drink? Call them so that you're prepared.
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If there's something you'd particularly like, ask them to get it in for you. Number 5. Have an escape plan. Know that when
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you've had enough, you are free to go home. Number 6, have fun. Know this more than anything else. Go out knowing that if
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you're out with people you love, alcohol makes no difference to the good time that you can have, and only adds to the joy
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of the Christmas period by alleviating you of any rough feelings the next day, any shame, guilt, or anxiety, and knowing that
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your family will get the best from you in the run up till Christmas. This is my 3rd sober Christmas, so these tips feel normal
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to me now. I'm really well practiced at saying no to what I don't want in my diary in the first place, and you can perfect
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perfect the art of this too. Drop me a DM on Insta or on Facebook if you'd like details of my December coaching program. There's
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still time for us to work together this month. Thank you for listening in to this episode, and please listen in again next
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time. Thank you. And PS, I believe in you.
