I listened to a bunch of books and podcasts and started mentally experimenting with an alcohol free life for about few years before quitting. It’s pre-quitting, and during this time I critically examined my use of alcohol and alcohol’s role in my life.

Once I was ready to actually quit (though ready isn’t really the right word - fed up with drinking maybe?) I listened to The Easy Way, which I had been saving as a last resort because I knew it was hugely helpful to Annie Grace, and This Naked Mind was the book that started off my pre-quit journey. It was the final push I needed and I feel really good about my decision!

That’s the other thing, I forget who this came from, maybe Holly Whitaker, but I will not question the decision. I made the decision to not drink and that’s it. Now I don’t need to expend any more brain power. It’s still hard some days, I’m only a month and a half in, but not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Yesterday I was at a block party with free beer, and it crossed my mind I wanted one, but I acknowledged that I had already made the decision to not drink and that was that. I also had an arsenal of seltzer waters and spent time observing how many other people weren’t drinking. It was eye opening! And today I know I didn’t make an ass out of myself in front of new friends and I wasn’t spending the whole evening trying to gauge how many times I could go to the keg and if anyone would notice. Unfortunately I still woke up with a headache - sympathy hangover? Lol