Drinkaware Drink Free Days Campaign
#AD Drinkaware want to encourage people to have more Drink Free Days. I was quite excited to get behind this campaign. As a child I didn’t directly experience but saw through the eyes of others the damage alcohol did. Now I am forty I think it’s time to adopt a healthier lifestyle. So I started with taking the DrinkCompare Calculator to see how I fared with the rest of the UK.
I was pleasantly surprised to be in the lower risk category. But I was shocked that 35% of females drank less frequently than me!
Knowing that a third of a survey of 6000 people drink less made me realise I had room for improvement. Spurned on I was ready to tackle my challenge of adding more Drink Free Days to my calendar!
I think it’s an easy habit we get into opening a bottle of wine to take the edge off our day! It can give you a bit of a release from the tension that has been building up. You might find it helps you temporarily relax and unwind. I have been feeling a bit stressed about things going on at home (I don’t want to say too much on here). Normally I would pour myself a large glass of rosé wine! However, because of this campaign I have tried a different approach.
It’s worth bearing in mind there are lots of other things you can do instead. Many are even more effective at reducing stress. I was quite happy to continue to add Drink Free Days to my weekly routine to make sure I stay within the low risk guidelines. Drinking at this level keeps your risk of cancer and heart disease low.
Although if you do like to have a drink Drinkaware say its best to do so slowly and with food. However, if you can follow my lead and join in with the Drink Free Days campaign you will be in good company I promise! When you have more Drink Free Days you find you tend to drink less alcohol and you soon find other pursuits to follow. I have taken up swimming with a friend and I have even dusted off my bike.
Getting Outside
I have made an effort to go on longer walks with our dog. My dog is so affectionate and loving that she always makes me feel happier. Owning a dog has been proven to reduce stress levels. Fortunately, without the same side effects you can experience with too much alcohol! You see alcohol is a depressant; it changes your brain chemistry. Sometimes a drink seems to give you a bit of a confidence boost. But too many and you soon notice more negative effects. Some people can get quite anxious and angry.
I am glad that changing my drinking habits and adopting more Drink Free Days has improved my mood. I feel generally more upbeat and positive even with the stuff I have going on behind the scenes. It’s important that my children see that I don’t need alcohol to be happy or cope with what life throws at us. I am a role model for them so I want to show them how exercise, time outdoors and the company of good friends can work wonders over wine! Plus too much alcohol impacts your sleep quality.
Meeting Up With The Girls
Usually a wine night would be on the agenda, but I swapped it for catching up in the afternoon for tea and cake instead. I realized that it’s the socializing itself I enjoy rather than the wine I would be drinking. When we next get together, I might be as bold to suggest a tea night and see if I can get the girls to embrace the Drink Free Days ethos as well!!!
How often do you have an alcoholic drink?
This is such a great campaign.
I used to drink during the week, an odd glass of wine here and there but now I only drink on a Friday or Saturday night.
This is a really great campaign! I drastically reduced my alcohol intake at the start of the year. Instead of reaching for a gin and tonic after a rough day I switched to just the tonic water. I went through all the prep of cutting fruit and herbs to go in, but just forego the gin. I still get the same satisfaction from it, just without the alcohol.
C x
This is such a great campaign. As alcohol is so readily available and legal for over 18s I think people don’t notice when they are drinking too much. I decided to quit alcohol for awhile for my health and ended up not missing it.. that was ten years ago and still don’t miss it.
I don’t drink at home. Only when I am out but you can see how people easily do get addicted This is a great campaign to support too.
This is a fantastic campaign. I don’t drink very often – on the odd meal out or the odd cider at home. I often choose to go for tea and cake with my friends instead!
What an incredible campaign, definitely something I can get under and participate in the drink-free days.
Love this im trying to stay off the alcohol due to being stressed and low and I have tried to walk more feeling better already I think you can get stuck in a rut come home after a stressful day and pour a glass of wine well done Karen.
This is such a great campaign to promote and a real eye-opener! I know many people who would benefit from these stats!
My mummy isn’t a massive drinker either and believes everything in moderation is good for the soul. It’s just when things get out of control and it becomes an addiction or coping mechanism. A great campaign to support and we have a family member that died from alcoholism so sadly know the devastating effects it has on family first hand.