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While other months of the year are memorable for prevention of substance use and other similarly important themes, Sober October (#SoberOctober) is a time for self-challenge – to see if you can go an entire month without any alcoholic beverages. During the month of October, people who are participating try not to drink alcohol for all 31 days, and then they can see what happens to their health! Hey, if you’re even an occasional drinker, this might be something to do. (What happens if you discover while trying to abstain that you’re a bit more than an occasional drinker, and what happens if you find it impossible not to drink for that long? That you’re maybe approaching being a functional alcoholic?!)
Benefits from Abstaining
Many people who participate in #SoberOctober find themselves sleeping better, having lower blood sugar levels, sometimes even their blood pressure goes down, and some lose weight. Clinical Studies show that others even experience better digestion and liver function, and use this month as an opportunity to explore themselves more (i.e., becoming more self-aware) and utilize mindfulness techniques, like yoga and meditation. Some people find that abstaining from alcoholic beverages during the month of October even affects friendships, exposing those who don’t spend any time with you if you’re not drinking. (Think, are they really my friends? Hmmm.) True friends will still enjoy your company, even if you’re not drinking. They’ll be with you through thick and thin. Evidence-based studies show that people will get into fewer accidents, like traffic collisions, trauma injuries, burns, drownings, and yes, even homicide numbers go down when people stop drinking. Drinking is involved heavily in suicides, so no drinking will affect these statistics, too. And think about the number of sick days you have usually compared to the month of October if you are participating.
Celebrities On Board
Celebrities (and other people) may simply want to improve their mental health by abstaining from alcoholic drinks, and get to a better work-life balance. Some celebrities like Anne Hathaway just knew drinking was not in her best interest. The well-known Australian model, Elle MacPherson, is enjoying decades of sobriety. Demi Lovato has been living a healthy sober lifestyle years after being hospitalized for a drug overdose. Another famous actress, Valerie Bertinelli, shared that being sober helps her feel good each morning – she’s not groggy or tired. Being alcohol-free helps her in dealing with emotions and her overall mental health journey. And there are more – many more.
Ways to Share Your #SoberOctober
Of course you should feel free to share your journey on social media! Share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Share events you may be attending or even ones you’re hosting. Share your commitment and challenge others to commit. You might consider giving short presentations in schools (middle school and high school students are great targets) about what you’re doing and why. Some companies would also like to host you for a session of sharing. How about doing a fundraising event, perhaps in honor of someone who lost their battle with alcohol? Fundraising can also be for support services and education.
How about sharing delicious recipes, both food and non-alcoholic drinks, for luncheons, dinner
parties, or other celebratory events?
