Take a Break from Drinking

453: Afraid You'll Lose Friends If You Stop Drinking? Listen to This. [Listener Q&A]

If you've ever worried that not drinking will make you boring, wondered whether your friendships can survive without alcohol, or if part of you thinks maybe you should just have one drink to keep things normal, this episode is for you. In this week's listener Q&A, you'll hear a question from Sean, who fears losing his friendships if he stops joining in with drinking. Tune in to learn why you believe you need alcohol to be your "best self," what's really happening when you drink to feel comfortable socially, and how to access the ease and connection you want without needing a chemical mute button. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ [https://rachelhart.com/guide/] Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ [https://rachelhart.com/tab/] Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/453 [https://rachelhart.com/453]

452: Why Fear-Based Motivation and Replacing Alcohol with Food Doesn't Bring Relief [Listener Q&A]

What if the pressure you're putting on yourself to change your drinking is actually the very thing keeping you stuck? In this episode, I answer a question from a listener named Deb who feels like she's on her last chance to get her drinking under control. She's caught in a familiar loop of replacing alcohol with snacking, and the frustration is palpable. But the real problem isn't the drink or the snack. So what is? Tune in this week to learn why fear-based motivation bypasses the emotional skill-building you actually need to create change, how to break the cycle of replacing alcohol with food (and why it happens), and the counterintuitive truth about discomfort that changes everything. Break the cycle of temporary challenges and learn how to make alcohol feel truly optional during my three-day Reset Your Drinking workshop starting January 21st, 2026. Click here to secure your ticket and discover how to find your "off switch" for lasting change: https://rachelhart.com/january/ [https://rachelhart.com/january/] Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ [https://rachelhart.com/guide/] Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ [https://rachelhart.com/tab/] Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/452 [https://rachelhart.com/452]

451: The Identity Shift That Comes Before Drinking Less [Listener Q&A]

Do you have a strong desire to change your drinking and yet, you're not where you want to be? In this episode, I'm answering a question from a listener named Chris who's frustrated that he's still drinking more than he wants to, despite trying to make healthier choices. He's switched from hard liquor to premixed cans and is concerned about what his daily drinking is doing to his health. Tune in this week to hear how Chris's question speaks to so many things people are thinking about in the new year: the identity shift that comes with trying to drink less, the anxiety about how drinking may be impacting your health, and the frustration that despite so much effort, you're not where you want to be. Break the cycle of temporary challenges and learn how to make alcohol feel truly optional during my three-day Reset Your Drinking workshop starting January 21st, 2026. Click here to secure your ticket and discover how to find your "off switch" for lasting change: https://rachelhart.com/january/ [https://rachelhart.com/january/] Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ [https://rachelhart.com/guide/] Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ [https://rachelhart.com/tab/] Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/451 [https://rachelhart.com/451]

450: When Dry January Has Already Fallen to the Wayside

So many of you start the new year with the best intentions to cut back on drinking, only to find yourself slipping up within the first few days or weeks. Maybe you promised yourself you'd cut back on drinking this year, but then life happened. A stressful day at work. An awkward social situation. A craving that felt impossible to ignore. And now your brain is telling you that you've failed, that nothing matters, that you might as well give up. Tune in this week to learn why that first slip-up isn't actually the problem, and what is. You'll discover high-quality questions to ask yourself after a setback that will help you build awareness instead of shame, and how to redefine success beyond perfect streaks. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ [https://rachelhart.com/guide/] Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ [https://rachelhart.com/tab/] Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/450 [https://rachelhart.com/450]

449: If You Doubt Your Plan for Drinking Less in the New Year Will Stick

If you're feeling more tired and doubtful than inspired about the New Year, especially when it comes to changing your drinking habits, you're not alone. We're sold this fantasy that the New Year is a magical time to create change, but massive change is always built through tiny steps. Instead of trying to figure out how to completely overhaul your drinking habits, I'm proposing something different: focusing on just a 10% shift. Listen in this week to hear three questions that will help you identify what a small but meaningful change would look like in your drinking habits, especially if you doubt your plan for drinking less will stick. Find a personalized approach that helps you change your habit in my new book, The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less, here: https://rachelhart.com/guide/ [https://rachelhart.com/guide/] Discover alternative approaches to drinking less inside our membership program, Take a Break: https://rachelhart.com/tab/ [https://rachelhart.com/tab/] Get the full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/449 [https://rachelhart.com/449]