If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Military Crisis Line at 988 and press 1, or Text 838255. You can also call 911.
Do your wild Saturday nights out turn into sad, sluggish Sundays? Do you find yourself thinking ‘am I drinking too much or too often,’ but not saying it out loud to your buddies? If your nights out are negatively affecting your next day and you want more control over your decisions, it might be time to consider some small, simple changes. And before you run away because we said ‘change’ – surely some SMALL, SIMPLE changes still leave room for some fun too.
New drinking routines could add a whole lot of ‘wow’ to your life. Reshape your drinking routine by trying one or more of the tips below. If one isn’t for you, come back and try another!
Set limits before you go out and stick to them
Keep alcohol out of your home
Learn how to say no to another drink
Drink slowly and on a full stomach
When you drink, have no more than one standard drink per hour
Make every other drink a nonalcoholic one
Find other fun things to do that don’t involve alcohol
Get support from family & friends – talking can help
Cope with stress in creative ways without alcohol
Stay active, eat healthy and avoid tobacco
Set alcohol free days
Once you cut back on alcohol and are at or below the recommended limit, check in with yourself regularly. It’s easy to slip back into old ways without knowing, so make sure you maintain these new changes. Get excited about doing something positive for current and future you – cut back and drink responsibly.
