10 PROVEN WAYS PREPARE FOR SOBRIETY - (Episode 177 re-release) #sobercurious #sober #sobriety

Summary

In this video, Jay shares 10 practical ways to prepare for a sobriety journey, drawing from personal experiences of overcoming addiction. He emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, building a support system, removing triggers, and making lifestyle changes. Jay also advocates for seeking professional help, journaling progress, and celebrating milestones to reinforce commitment. He offers bonus tips, like starting on a Thursday and clearing out alcohol from home. Throughout, he encourages viewers to embrace progress over perfection and provides a supportive, non-judgmental space for those struggling with sobriety.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start your sobriety journey with clear goals and reasons for wanting to achieve sobriety.
• 📚 Educate yourself about the effects of addiction and learn how to manage withdrawal symptoms.
• 👫 Build a support system of friends, family, or a sober community to help you through your journey.
• 📈 Create a detailed plan for your sobriety, including finding local AA meetings or online support groups.
• 🚫 Remove triggers that lead to alcohol use by changing your environment and finding healthier coping mechanisms.
• 👩‍⚕️ Seek professional help from medical professionals and therapists who specialize in addiction.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Adopt a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and proper sleep to aid in recovery.
• 📝 Keep a journal to document your thoughts, feelings, and progress throughout your sobriety journey.
• 🎉 Celebrate milestones in your sobriety by setting up rewards for yourself as you reach specific goals.
• 💪 Remember that sobriety is a journey with ups and downs, and it's important to be persistent and ask for help when needed.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about preparing for a sobriety journey, offering 10 ways to help individuals who are about to start their path to sobriety.

Why is it important to set clear goals when starting a sobriety journey?

Setting clear goals is important because it provides motivation and direction, helping individuals understand their reasons for wanting to achieve sobriety and what they hope to gain from it.

What is the '10 in 10 method' mentioned in the video and how does it work?

The '10 in 10 method' is a strategy for reducing alcohol consumption gradually. It involves reducing daily alcohol intake by one unit every day until reaching zero after 10 days. It's a way to taper off alcohol slowly, but the video advises consulting a doctor before attempting this, especially for those who consume more than 10 units per day.

Why is building a support system crucial for someone starting their sobriety journey?

Building a support system is crucial because it provides a network of understanding individuals who can offer guidance, encouragement, and help during the challenges of early sobriety attempts. It's about surrounding oneself with positivity and people who have experienced similar journeys.

What does the video suggest as a practical step in creating a plan for sobriety?

The video suggests finding out where local AA meetings are held, joining online sobriety groups, watching educational videos, and using tools like the '100 No Challenge' to track cravings and progress.

How can identifying and eliminating triggers help in maintaining sobriety?

Identifying and eliminating triggers can help in maintaining sobriety by changing the environment and avoiding people, places, or things that lead to alcohol use, thus reducing the chances of relapse.

What role does professional help play in the sobriety journey according to the video?

Professional help, such as medical professionals and therapists specializing in addiction, plays a vital role by providing personalized guidance, therapy, and medical support tailored to individual needs.

Why is adopting a healthy lifestyle important during the sobriety journey?

A healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and proper sleep, is important for helping the body recover and reducing cravings, thus supporting the overall sobriety journey.

How can keeping a journal assist someone in their sobriety journey?

Keeping a journal can help track thoughts, feelings, and progress, identify toxic patterns, and remind individuals of their achievements, which can be motivational and insightful for managing cravings and maintaining sobriety.

What is the significance of celebrating milestones in the sobriety journey as mentioned in the video?

Celebrating milestones is significant as it reinforces commitment, boosts self-esteem, and provides a positive reinforcement for the progress made, making the journey more manageable and rewarding.

What are some bonus tips provided in the video for preparing for a sobriety journey?

Bonus tips include not waiting for a special occasion to start, getting rid of all alcohol from the house, being proud of the decision to get sober, and understanding that progress is more important than perfection.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Sobriety Journey

The speaker, Jay, welcomes the audience to the 'Getting Sober' series and introduces the topic for the day: 10 ways to prepare for a sobriety journey. Jay encourages viewers to engage with the video by liking and subscribing, and to share their own sobriety tips in the comments. Jay shares a relatable story about the struggle with alcohol, highlighting the cycle of trying to get sober and failing, which often leads to self-anger and a sense of helplessness. Jay emphasizes the importance of community and support, which is why the 'No Judgment Sobriety' community was created. The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of achieving sobriety and the importance of perseverance, suggesting that even if one falls 10 times, getting up one more time is crucial. The paragraph concludes with an introduction to a list of 10 ways to prepare for sobriety, emphasizing the need for commitment, planning, and support.

05:01

🎯 Setting Clear Goals for Sobriety

Jay discusses the first step in preparing for a sobriety journey, which is setting clear goals. He advises defining the reasons for wanting to achieve sobriety, such as weight loss, saving money, or improving relationships. Jay stresses that having clear goals provides motivation and direction. He also talks about identifying enemies to sobriety, which include understanding the 'who,' 'what,' 'when,' 'where,' and 'why' of one's triggers. Jay suggests practicing sobriety by eliminating these triggers and adopting healthier habits. The speaker also mentions a video on the 'who, what, when, where, and why' and encourages viewers to check it out in the video description.

10:02

📚 Educating Yourself on Addiction

The third paragraph focuses on the importance of educating oneself about the effects of addiction. Jay talks about the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of alcohol and the need to understand withdrawal symptoms. He shares his personal experience with the '10 in 10' method, a strategy for reducing alcohol intake gradually. Jay cautions against abruptly stopping alcohol consumption, especially for those with high intake or using certain medications, and advises consulting a doctor. The paragraph also covers the potential health problems associated with alcohol abuse, such as high blood pressure, liver issues, and various cancers, and encourages viewers to comment if they relate to these issues.

15:03

🤝 Building a Support System

In the fourth paragraph, Jay emphasizes the importance of building a support system for sobriety. He acknowledges the fear and hesitation people may have in reaching out to friends and family due to fear of judgment or lack of confidence. Jay encourages viewers to find supportive communities, like the one on the YouTube channel, and to practice sobriety. He uses the analogy of being a rookie in need of guidance from experienced individuals. The paragraph also discusses the need to create a detailed plan for sobriety, which can include finding local AA meetings, joining online groups, or using resources like the '100 No Challenge' method. Jay advises identifying personal triggers and developing strategies to overcome them.

🚫 Removing Triggers to Alcohol

The fifth paragraph discusses the need to remove triggers that lead to alcohol use. Jay suggests identifying and eliminating these triggers, which can involve changing one's environment or finding healthier coping mechanisms. He compares cravings to weeds that need to be addressed at their root to prevent being overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, and depression. The paragraph encourages proactive steps towards sobriety and the development of new, healthier habits.

👩‍⚕️ Seeking Professional Help

Jay talks about the importance of seeking professional help in the sixth paragraph. He acknowledges that while YouTube videos can be informative, sometimes personal support from medical professionals and therapists is necessary. He encourages viewers to consult with specialists in addiction to receive personalized guidance and support. Jay also mentions the affordability of online therapy and provides a link in the video description for a discount on the first month of therapy.

🏋️‍♀️ Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle

In the seventh paragraph, Jay focuses on the importance of making healthy lifestyle changes as part of the sobriety journey. He suggests regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and proper sleep to aid in recovery and reduce cravings. Jay also recommends a checkup with a doctor before starting the journey to assess one's health and to plan for a follow-up after the first 30 days of sobriety. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of time and patience in developing new habits and avoiding the trap of expecting instant results.

🧘‍♂️ Developing Better Coping Skills

The eighth paragraph discusses the need to develop better coping skills for stress, anxiety, and other emotions that may have been previously numbed with alcohol. Jay encourages exploring new hobbies and activities as alternatives to alcohol consumption. He warns against comparing new coping methods to the immediate effects of alcohol and stresses the importance of solving problems and ending the cycle of creating new ones.

📔 Keeping a Sobriety Journal

Jay suggests keeping a journal to document thoughts, feelings, and progress throughout the sobriety journey in the ninth paragraph. He provides tips on how to use the journal effectively, including noting cravings, tracking potential triggers, and monitoring lifestyle factors like sugar and caffeine intake. The paragraph emphasizes the value of self-awareness and the importance of understanding personal patterns and routines that may impact sleep and sobriety.

🎉 Celebrating Sobriety Milestones

In the final paragraph, Jay talks about the importance of celebrating sobriety milestones and setting up rewards for oneself. He encourages viewers to calculate the money saved by not drinking and to use it for something positive, like home improvements or therapy. Jay also provides bonus tips for preparing for sobriety, such as not waiting for a special occasion to start, getting rid of all alcohol at home, being proud of the decision to get sober, and embracing the idea of progress over perfection. The paragraph concludes with a motivational message and an invitation to engage with the community and other resources provided.

Keywords

💡Sobriety Journey

The sobriety journey refers to the personal path an individual takes to stop consuming alcohol and adopt a healthier, addiction-free lifestyle. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of preparing for this journey through goal setting, building a support system, and developing healthy coping mechanisms.

💡Triggers

Triggers are the people, places, emotions, or situations that prompt a desire to drink. The video suggests identifying these triggers (the who, what, when, where, and why) and removing or avoiding them to support a successful sobriety journey.

💡Support System

A support system includes friends, family, or a community that helps someone stay committed to sobriety. The speaker encourages building a supportive network of individuals who understand the challenges of addiction and can offer encouragement, such as online groups or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

💡Goals

Setting clear, specific goals is highlighted as a crucial first step in preparing for sobriety. These goals might include improving health, relationships, or financial stability. The speaker explains that having well-defined goals provides direction and motivation throughout the journey.

💡Cravings

Cravings refer to the strong urge to drink alcohol, which can be triggered by stress or other emotions. The speaker discusses managing cravings through techniques like the '100 no challenge,' where individuals track how many times they successfully resist the temptation to drink.

💡Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Adopting a healthier lifestyle involves regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and proper sleep, all of which support the recovery process. The video emphasizes that making these changes helps reduce cravings and improves both mental and physical health.

💡Cold Turkey

Cold turkey refers to abruptly stopping alcohol consumption without gradually reducing intake. The speaker warns against this approach for heavy drinkers, as it can be dangerous, and suggests using methods like the 10 in 10 method to taper off alcohol under medical supervision.

💡Perfectionism

Perfectionism, or the all-or-nothing mindset, is the belief that one must achieve sobriety perfectly or not at all. The speaker encourages viewers to practice sobriety rather than aiming for perfection, emphasizing that mistakes are part of the process and progress is key.

💡Coping Skills

Coping skills are the techniques individuals use to manage stress and emotions without turning to alcohol. The speaker suggests developing healthy coping mechanisms, such as meditation, deep breathing, or engaging in hobbies, as essential tools for maintaining sobriety.

💡Milestones

Milestones represent significant achievements in the sobriety journey, such as completing a day, week, or month without alcohol. The speaker encourages celebrating these moments to boost self-esteem and reinforce the commitment to sobriety, as well as to track progress.

Highlights

The speaker encourages viewers to set clear goals, defining their reasons for wanting sobriety, such as improving health, relationships, or personal growth.

Sobriety requires identifying and eliminating triggers, such as specific people, environments, or emotions that lead to alcohol use.

Educating oneself on the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of addiction is crucial for successful sobriety.

Building a strong support system of friends, family, or a sober community is essential for long-term sobriety.

Developing a detailed plan for sobriety helps navigate challenges and keeps one on track toward their goals.

The '10 in 10' method is suggested for tapering off alcohol consumption safely, reducing intake by one unit per day over ten days.

Sobriety doesn't require perfection, and it's important to practice patience and persistence, allowing for progress over time.

Keeping a journal to track daily thoughts, feelings, and triggers can help individuals better manage their sobriety journey.

Celebrating milestones such as the first weekend sober or 30 days without alcohol can reinforce commitment and boost self-esteem.

Developing healthier coping skills, such as exercise and hobbies, can reduce the likelihood of relapse.

Seeking professional help from doctors, therapists, or addiction specialists can provide personalized support and improve chances of success.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of removing all alcohol from the home as part of preparing for sobriety.

Adopting a healthier lifestyle with regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and better sleep can help manage alcohol cravings.

Practicing vulnerability and honesty with friends, family, and the support system is crucial to sustaining sobriety.

Sobriety is a journey with setbacks, but consistently getting back up after falling down is key to long-term success.

Transcripts

all right welcome back to getting sober

dot dot dot again my name is Jay and

today we're going to talk about 10 ways

to prepare for your sobriety Journey but

first if you haven't yet don't forget to

give this video a thumbs up and if you

care about your sobriety as much as we

do then make sure that you're subscribed

to this Channel all right let's get

started before we officially get started

I wanted to ask those of you out there

who are already sober what are your tips

that you would like to share for those

out there who are about to start their

sobriety Journey comment down below tell

me if this sounds familiar you thought

about getting sober and then you tried

getting sober and then you failed at

staying sober and each time you'd feel

like you let yourself down you get angry

with yourself you let a few months pass

and then start the cycle all over again

I know because me too at the first sign

of stress I would drink to alleviate

whatever anxieties I was feeling I would

drink to celebrate a good time or to

grieve over tough times I would drink I

would drink because I was happy sad mad

bored stressed out because the game was

on because I was at a party or for just

no reason at all I was always looking

for a reason to drink and just like you

I'd wake up the next morning hating

myself for getting drunk dot dot dot

again I'd find myself right back at the

same place I was in yesterday and the

day before that and the day before that

tired hung over miserable having a poor

night of sleep and dreading the day and

everything that came with it no amount

of caffeine could save me and nothing

really made happy other than the thought

of getting drunk and those are the

reasons why I started this community

here on YouTube because I don't know

about you but I don't like being judged

that's why we call this community no

judgment sobriety because most of us

don't get sobriety right on the first

try or even on the 10th try but what's

important is that if we fall down 10

times we just have to get up one more

time so regardless of how many times

that you try to get sober and failed I

wanted to put together this list of 10

ways to prepare for your sobriety

Journey so that you have a clear guide

at your fingertips for the next time

that you find yourself off track

remember preparing for a sobriety

journey is a significant step that

requires commitment planning and support

I know you're tired of feeling sick and

tired I know that you're tired of

feeling helpless I know that you so

desperately want to believe in yourself

again and to get your life back again to

improve your mental health and your

physical health and to improve your

relationships with your friends your

family and most importantly yourself dot

dot dot again so here are 10 ways to

help you to prepare for your sobriety

Journey the first way to prepare for

your sobriety journey is to set clear

goals Define your reasons for wanting to

achieve sobriety do you want to lose

weight save money stop arguing with

people that you care about and

embarrassing yourself whether it's for

your health relationships career

personal growth having clear goals will

give you motivation and Direction know

what the enemies to your sobriety are

the who the what the when the where and

the why and start practicing putting

yourself on a diet of getting rid of the

who what when where and all the wise

that no longer serve you and your new

goals by the way we have a video on the

very topic of the who what when where

and why and we'll have a link to that

video in the video description down

below the second way to prepare for your

sobriety journey is to educate yourself

learn about the physical emotional and

psychological effects of addiction

understand the withdrawal symptoms that

you might experience and how to manage

them personally when I got sober I used

the 10 in 10 method but be advised that

going cold turkey from alcohol can be

fatal and the same goes for

benzodiazapines like Xanax and Valium

it's always advisable to taper off of

alcohol slowly and that's why we

developed the 10 and 10 method here's

how it works let's say you drank about

10 units of alcohol a day like I did the

goal is to be at zero drinks 10 days

from now so you'd have your normal

amount of alcohol today I know good news

and tomorrow have one less unit of

alcohol and then the next day after that

have one less unit of alcohol and then

10 days later you'll be down to zero

drinks of alcohol but again remember

that this is a YouTube channel not

medical advice so please talk to your

doctor first especially if you're

consuming more more than 10 units of

alcohol per day it's important to know

how the effects of alcohol can affect

your mental health as well as your

physical health health problems that you

may already be experiencing may include

high blood pressure brain damage liver

fibrosis pancreatitis I have that

gastrointestinal bleeding oral throat

esophageal and liver cancer weakened

immune system inflammation gastritis

stomach ulcers and so much more and if

you're suffering from any of those

symptoms comment down down below the

third way to prepare for your sobriety

journey is build a support system I know

that you may not have anyone in your

life that's sober that's why it's part

of this journey to reach out and to find

what and who you need surround yourself

with supportive friends family or a

sober Community like this one a lot of

you are probably scared or hesitant to

reach out to friends and family because

a you don't want to be judged for having

a drinking problem or B you aren't

confident that you can stick with it and

you don't want to be ridiculed sobriety

doesn't just take preparation it also

takes practice remember you are

practicing sobriety get out of the

Perfection mindset this All or Nothing

mindset Michael Jordan wasn't naturally

amazing at basketball he practiced every

Elite Athlete on the planet practiced

for years or even decades before they

won a title a medal or a championship

it's important to build a support system

of people who understand what the

challenges are during your early

attempts at sobriety think about it like

this right now you're a rookie and a

rookie or any Prospect needs positivity

and guidance of coaches and other

players who've been there and who've

done that and remember practice makes

progress so be patient with yourself

while you continue to practice these new

steps that you're currently learning on

how to prepare and remember be

persistent the fourth way to prepare for

your sobriety journey is to create a

plan develop a detailed plan for your

sobriety journey and just like writing a

paper there's going to be a first rough

draft you're definitely going to add to

it and make changes along the way a plan

can include finding out where local AA

meetings are held which bonus tip you

can also drive to meetings slightly out

of town if you're worried about seeing

people in your own community and I know

a lot of you have that exact anxiety so

you could also join an online sobriety

group or watch YouTube videos like this

one or you can also buy books on

sobriety outline the steps that you're

going to take take the challenges that

you might face and the strategies that

you'll use to overcome those challenges

also too feel free to use our 100 no

challenge method to keep track of your

Cravings there's going to be a link to

that video also in the video description

down below the idea is simple all you

have to do is download a counter app on

your phone and every time that you crave

a drink you open the app and then you

add that craving to the total once you

get to having said no 100 times you'll

be days weeks or maybe maybe even months

into your sobriety and like we talked

about earlier it's important to know who

is going to trigger you to drink what is

going to trigger you to drink when are

you going to be triggered to drink where

are the places that you may be triggered

to drink and why you drink so heavily in

the first place was it out of boredom

stress your job or your environment do

you have childhood trauma are you still

getting over a breakup or a divorce but

you never went to therapy or got any

professional help for it was there a

death in the family or some other major

life events that put you in a state of

surviving instead of thriving these are

all reasons to be mindful of that'll

help to give you the success that you

need to maintain your sobriety the fifth

way to prepare for your sobriety journey

is to remove triggers just like we

talked about you need to identify and

eliminate triggers that lead you to the

use of alcohol and maybe other

substances this can involve changing

your environment avoiding certain people

places or things and also too finding

healthier coping mechanisms we know that

we're going to get Cravings just like we

know we're going to get weeds in our

front yard and it's our job to get to

the root of the triggers before our mind

is weeded and overwhelmed with stress

anxiety and depression that led us to

want to drink in the first place the

sixth way to prepare for your sobriety

journey is to seek professional help

YouTube videos are pretty good but

sometimes we just can't do it on our own

we all constantly battle with with what

we need to do versus what we're actually

willing to do inherently we all have

varying sizes of lazy bones and if we

can get away with putting in less effort

we tend to try to put in less effort

which is why we tried getting sober with

not much effort and then we almost

always failed right It's always

important to consult with medical

professionals and also two therapists

that specialize in addiction they can

provide personalized guidance therapy

and medical support tailored to your

need needs and bonus points for all of

you out there that are actively

attempting to be proactive towards

getting sober before your friends and

family or maybe your doctors hold an

intervention for you but somehow weren't

we always able to afford a b tab or a

bottle of liquor or a bottle of wine or

a case of beer we could easily spend

$100 a week on alcohol which by the way

is about the same price as online

therapy part of sobriety is also

eliminating excuses and taking our own

destiny into our own hands and if you're

interested in affordable online therapy

that you can do from the comfort and

privacy of your own home or maybe even

on your lunch break at work click on the

link in the video description and you'll

get 20% off your first month of online

therapy and you can also cancel any time

you want or even change therapists if

it's not working out the seventh way to

prepare for your sobriety journey is

healthy lifestyle changes focus on

adopting healthier Lifestyle Changes

such as regular exercise balanced

nutrition and proper sleep to help your

body recover and also too to reduce your

cravings and I also want to throw this

very important tip out there I know a

lot of us out there are anti-d doctors

but meeting up with your doctor and

letting them know before you're about to

start your sobriety journey is a great

way to get a basic checkup to see what

your blood pressure is and maybe also

too do your blood labs to make sure that

nothing else is wrong and then after

your first 30 days is up you can plan to

revisit your doctor and then see just

how much your health is improved when we

start a new habit like sobriety do you

think it would be a good idea to paired

up with old bad habits no so give

sobriety new friends new hobbies new

associations and know that it's going to

take time repeat after me it's not going

to happen overnight you don't go to

school on the first day and expect a

degree by the end of the week nobody's

ever gone to the gym one time and looked

in the mirror and said wow you don't go

on a date and expect to Fall in Love by

the end of that date and you wouldn't

start a new job and have any

expectations that you'd be running the

place by the end of the year anything

that's worth doing that's transformative

and lifechanging takes time know that we

hardwired our brains into wanting to

feel good On Demand but we're all smart

enough to know that good feelings on

demand are unrealistic expectations so

don't fall into that trap and take the

time right now to get ahead of that

excuse too the eighth way to prepare for

your sobriety journey is develop better

coping skills it's important to learn

and practice healthier ways to cope with

stress anxiety and other emotions that

you've been avoiding with alcohol and

engaging in new hobbies can be

incredibly helpful but don't be the

person that finds themselves saying I

tried meditating deep breathing and

going for a long walk but it's nothing

compared to getting drunk it's not

supposed to be alcohol became the duct

tape solution for our Good Times our bad

times and everything in between think of

all the times that you are angry

depressed and anxious I bet that if you

could force yourself to remember the 10

most embarrassing and regrettable

moments of your adult life alcohol would

probably be involved in most of them

it's time to start solving your problems

and put an end to Crea new ones the

ninth way to prepare for your sobriety

journey is to keep a journal document

your thoughts your feelings and your

progress throughout your sobriety

Journey it can help you to track your

successes identify toxic patterns and

remind you of how far that you've come

along your sobriety Journey here's a pro

tip in your journal on the days that you

had strong alcohol Cravings due to

outside influences such as stress fold

the corner of that page after keeping

the journal for about 30 days or so take

a look back at those 30 days to find out

what the common problems were maybe

Circle them in red was it with your

significant other your job bills were

you being tempted Maybe by friends that

still drink were you feeling the fear of

missing out was there a special occasion

or an anniversary of maybe somebody who

passed away did you have bad dreams the

night before or maybe a poor quality of

sleep also the night before keep track

of your sugar intake your junk food

intake how much caffeine that you're

consuming and the times of day that you

consume them personally I figured out

that if I consume caffeine after 12:00

p.m. I was more likely not to fall

asleep when I wanted to and then I would

end up getting a poor quality sleep that

night you're basically just keeping

track of yourself and here's how to do

it so in the morning when you wake up

take note of how you feel do you feel

rested yes or no write down what you ate

before bed that night night and what you

did before bed such as did you watch TV

read go on your phone did you doom

scroll through social media were you

watching the news were you smoking were

you vaping Etc eventually you'll find

out that certain bedtime routines are

causing you poor sleep then at the end

of your day at night time write a

paragraph about your day and if you had

any alcohol cravings take note of when

you have the alcohol cravings and a

ballpark estimate of how many alcohol

Cravings that you had I would suggest to

write the amount of alcohol cravings at

the top corner of the page and then

Circle it so that you can quickly

reference how much the alcohol cravings

decreased each day the more information

you have about you the better that you

can be at managing your thoughts your

feelings and how you react to them and

before we get to the 10th way to prepare

for sobriety stick around we have a few

more suggestions to help you prepare for

your sobriety Journey oh and if you

haven't yet don't forget to give this

video a thumbs up all right the 10 and

final way to prepare for your sobriety

journey is to celebrate your

Milestones set up rewards for yourself

when you hit specific sobriety

milestones we all have to hit 24 hours

sober the first weekend sober a first

full week sober 10 days one month a

first birthday Labor Day Thanksgiving

New Year's Eve and so on you're going to

save a ton of money and now by getting

sober you're actually doing something

worth celebrating just not with alcohol

so here's a fun exercise pause the video

right now and realistically calculate

how much money that you spent on alcohol

and other alcohol rated expenses each

week alcohol rated expenses could

include taking an Uber or a lift it can

also be maybe a DUI and all of its

related costs how about getting your

card towed getting in a fight going to

jail getting a lawyer it could be

something simple like all the late night

fast food that you ate to get sober or

maybe since alcohol is depressant maybe

after a certain number of drinks you

might find yourself at the end of the

night night wanting to put a little pep

in your step if you know what I mean

calculate how much money you'd be saving

and maybe set that aside every week to

buy yourself something nice maybe you

can make some Home Improvements or go

wardrobe shopping buy some home workout

equipment or maybe get that therapy that

you know that you need but you've been

putting off for so long you are now

investing in you instead of investing in

Budweiser Jack Daniels your local bar

and all the tip money that you gave away

to your bartenders celebrating these

achievements can help to reinforce your

commit ment and boost your self-esteem

which I'm willing to bet that you may be

suffering from a lack of self-esteem

after all of the years of binge drinking

and all of the bad decision-making

remember that sobriety is a journey and

it's Unique for everyone no two paths

will be the same part of the process

includes that there's going to be

setbacks along the way you're still a

very complicated and unique individual

who has feelings hesitations and regrets

and also too now a growing motivation

and inspiration and who desperately

wants to be free from excessive alcohol

use and also too all the other bad

habits that have been keeping you from

being the best version that you can be

if you find yourself struggling don't

hesitate to ask for help from your sport

system from your doctor from your

therapist from your addiction specialist

from an AA meeting from your sponsor

from an online sobriety meeting or from

our community right here on YouTube and

don't forget to reach out to your

trusted friends and family members

practicing vulnerability is also part of

the sobriety Journey so to is being

honest and truthful even when we're

feeling less than our best all right and

now for a few bonus tips of advice for

preparing for your sobriety Journey

bonus tip number one is you don't have

to wait for a special occasion it

doesn't have to be New Year's Day or

even on your birthday personally I like

the idea of starting on a Thursday so

that by Friday night which is one of the

when triggers from the who what when

where and why getting sober on a Friday

then won't seem so daunting because

you'll already be 24 hours sober if if

you quit drinking on Thursday that way

you'll have all the momentum that you

need going to the rest of the weekend

and you'll be more likely to stay sober

bonus tip number two is simple get all

the alcohol out of your house I don't

care how much you paid for it get rid of

it I'm sure your drinking buddies will

gladly take all the booze off your hands

bonus tip number three is be proud of

this decision instead of acting like

you're some sort of victim or some sort

of alcohol martyr it takes real strength

to get 30 days sober and after you've

hit those 30 days you'll be looking good

feeling good and full of confidence that

you're on the way to Breaking this toxic

cycle of addiction and bonus tip number

four is just do it you don't have to be

perfect you just have to make progress

say it I don't have to be perfect I just

have to make progress remember that

small change adds up are you feeling

inspired yet if you haven't yet don't

forget to give this video a thumbs up

and don't forget to leave us a comment

in the comment section down below our

mission is very simple to help save

lives don't forget to binge watch more

of our videos by by clicking on the

playlist at the end of this video and

check the video description down below

for those videos that we mentioned

earlier and with that I want to wish you

good luck on your self-improvement

journey and I will see you in the next

video if you want to see another one of

our videos click

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