A gift to yourSelf: Join the Alcohol-Free for 40 Challenge
Let’s talk booze.
Today’s parents have been sold into believing that the only way to make it through the witching hour of parenthood is with wine or an evening cocktail.
Society has brainwashed parents into thinking they need “juice” (aka adult beverages) to manage whiny kids, calm kids, misbehaving kids, and even kids who behave. Because shouldn’t we celebrate their goodness?
After all the hard work put into this parenthood business, you deserve a treat, right?
You’ve been led to believe this “juice” will help manage the stress of raising kiddos. It’s supposed to help you relax and unwind so you can lighten up and have fun, and who doesn’t want to be the fun parent?
Even health professionals have touted the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, which for women is 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
If you fall into the moderate alcohol consumption category – congratulations. If adult juice has become part of your daily routine or you’ve found yourself going back for seconds and thirds before the night is over, I have a challenge for you #AlcoholFreeFor40
Could you give up alcohol for 40 days?
Going alcohol-free for 40 days may feel intimidating. But I see how you show up for all the other challenges parenthood has given you. I see the way you rise up. I know the way you work and persevere for your family. I see you striving every day to be the best version of yourself for your kids.
For these reasons, I invite you to join this year’s Alcohol-Free for 40 Challenge.
For the 40 days of Lent, give up the adult juice and turn it into your self-experiment. Allow yourself to experience the benefits of going booze-free on your mind, body, and spirit. See how it impacts your personal and professional relationships and overall health and how you parent.
The challenge: Give up all alcohol from February 23th until April 6th, which is 43 days, if you include the six Sundays in Lent, which is highly encouraged.
Why Take the Challenge?
This self-experiment isn’t about cutting out alcohol forever. Nor am I saying that alcohol is inherently a bad thing.
Perhaps your cocktail has become a habit, and you don’t even realize how frequently you are drinking or how it’s impacting your day-to-day life. The Alcohol-Free for 40 Challenge is a perfect opportunity to change the habit.
The simple act of surrendering a daily habit and replacing it with healthy alternatives like hot tea, sparkling water, or an evening walk can help instill more mindfulness and self-awareness.
Isn’t Wine Good for Me?
Over the years, there’s been a lot of press and hype on the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. However, there has not been enough education or attention given to the risk and side effects of regular alcohol consumption.
Alcohol interferes with our sleep. Sleep deprivation can take a toll on our energy, increase food cravings, alter our mood, and impact our hormones as well as the health of our skin.
Not to mention the empty calories alcohol adds, which can contribute to unwanted weight over time. From a mental health perspective, alcohol is linked to depression, anxiety, and dementia.
Alcohol also increases our risk for certain cancers. For example, one alcoholic drink daily can increase breast cancer risk in pre-and post-menopausal women. As little as a single serving of wine or beer daily increases pre-menopausal breast cancer risk by 5 percent and post-menopausal risk by 9 percent.
The more you drink, the higher your risk.
With continual over-drinking, your whole body is impacted. You might get used to and accept the less-than-good feeling as “normal.”
But what if you could wake up with more energy, clarity, and focus? Aren’t you a little curious?
What You’ll Notice:
Within a week or so, you’ll likely notice more energy when you wake up and in the evening. You will think and sleep better. You should see less puffiness, especially in your face and around your eyes. You might even shed a few pounds.
You may even surprise yourself with how much more engaged you are with your kids and spouse.
The cravings for alcohol will dissipate, and you’ll notice that the habit of your evening cocktail becomes easier to replace with other habits.
Ready to take the challenge?
Join our #AlcoholFreeFor40 group on Facebook to accept the challenge, follow the journey of others, and share your own experiences, successes, zero-proof cocktail recipes, and photos.
The bottom line:
It’s a self-experiment worth trying. Giving up alcohol may not be something that you choose to continue long-term, but depending on the results of your own personal #AlcoholFreeFor40 challenge, you may decide that it’s worth it to at least dial things back a bit over the long term.
