How to Quit Drinking After the Holidays

How to Quit Drinking After the Holidays

Overindulging during the holiday is all too easy. There are always too many toasts from Thanksgiving through Christmas to the New Year. Drinking is something most of are guilty of, and the first work week in January is always a hangover week. If you've just had a new born, you may be tempted to indulge just a little after not drinking during your pregnancy. A survey conducted by Harris Interactive concluded that 40 percent of people use the holidays as an excuse to drink.

So what can you do once the holidays are over? Many feel that it is the right time for a post-holiday detox. Read on to find out how you can quit drinking after the holidays.

Take a Break from Drinking

In Europe, they have an idea of a “dry” month. The concept was first introduced in Finland when the government created “Sober January” in 1942 as part of its war effort. Currently, the Charity Alcohol Concern in the UK runs a campaign called “Dry January”, which advocates for people to quit alcohol for a month. This idea is an excellent way to break your drinking habit. You do not have to go for a whole month, but you will notice a change within the first week. After the first week, your continued reduction of alcohol will have positive impacts on your health. If you feel you drunk excessively during the holiday, plan for a short detox to help your body recover from the effects of alcohol.

The One-Week Detox

Detox is a period in which you abstain from or get rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances. Detox allows you to remove alcohol from your diet and enables your body to organs such as the liver to recover. There are many detox programs and many products to help you. Here is a simple detox method.

• Set aside a week when you will carry out your detox.
• If you slip and have a drink, make sure it is only one. Remember, you are just cheating yourself.
• Eat healthily. Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet. You can also enjoy raw food and salads and avoid heavily processed foods.
• Drink a lot of water and juice. Alcohol dehydrates the body, so you need to replace the lost fluids with water or juice. Water will also help in flushing out the toxins and plump up your skin.
• Start exercising regularly, but you can start slow if you are not used to physical exercises.
• Try a mental detox where you clear your mind. Look for meditation programs and ensure you have some ‘me’ time during the one week.

You may feel the temptation to give up detox, but if you persevere, you will find that the benefits are worth your effort. Your skin will be brighter, and you will have more energy. However, do not return to drinking once you have completed your detox. Build a good practice and use detox as an excuse to quit drinking. There is nothing wrong with a social drink, but remember the adverse effects of alcohol. Look for a way to give up drinking without rehab by reading the story of the Stop Drinking Expert.

The post How to Quit Drinking After the Holidays appeared first on ParentsNeed.