Are mindfulness practices part of your sober toolbox? If not, they should be. Mindfulness in sobriety can help you manage cravings, reduce stress and anxiety, regulate your emotions, increase self awareness, support your overall well-being, mental health and prevent relapse.  I know those are big promises, so let’s break down what mindfulness is, how you practice it and apply it to your sobriety.  So if you’re ready to dive into all things mindfulness in sobriety I asked my friend Deb...

If you’ve spent a bunch of years opening a bottle of wine to deal with stress and overwhelm, to celebrate or reward yourself for making it to the end of the week, it may feel awkward or hypocritical to talk with your kids about the risks of addiction to alcohol.  But in a culture obsessed with booze, being able to help your kids understand the impact that alcohol and drugs can have on their lives and how to identify risks and behaviors that can lead to substance abuse and dependence is...

Have you ever stopped drinking but then struggled to stay sober after a bit? You’re not alone.  The best way to stay sober is to focus on building a life you love without alcohol. It’s about not only putting down the wine glass, but also shifting the way you’ve been living your life so that you no longer want to numb yourself at the end of the day.  If you’ve been worried about your drinking for a while, have tried to moderate and made (and broken) all the rules about when and how much to...

Have you ever used alcohol as a coping mechanism to escape a dysfunctional relationship or unhealthy environment?  You might be a victim of gaslighting if you’ve been told that you’re imagining things, too sensitive, dramatic, overreacting, forgetful, paranoid, confused, insecure or misinterpreting things.  And if you’re drinking it’s easy for someone to say “you’re drunk, you don’t know what you’re talking about” or “you were drinking, you don’t remember what happened.” Without clear...

Have you thought about taking a break from drinking but then decided that you’re “just not ready yet” to do it? Even if we know that alcohol is dragging us down, the idea of stopping drinking can be so daunting and scary)that we can stay in the drinking cycle for months or years longer than we need to.  If you’re waiting for your life to get better so that you’ll be able to stop drinking, you might not realize that your life WILL get better WHEN you stop drinking.  Beyond FOMO and using...

If you love drinking like I did, I know it’s almost impossible to imagine that you could be happier sober.  Before I stopped drinking I imagined that my life without alcohol would be lonely, boring and depressing.  I thought that I would always want to drink, feel constantly deprived, that date nights with my husband would be less fun, parenting my kids would be more stressful and dinners out with colleagues would be awkward.  I’m glad to tell you that I was dead wrong.  I am happier...

Raising a child with ADHD, Autism or neurodivergence can be mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting and alcohol can seem like an easy way to relax and turn off your brain at the end of the day.  Neurodiversity encompasses a variety of conditions such as autism, ADHD, anxiety disorders, dyslexia, and more. Each condition presents its own unique set of challenges and strengths, impacting the experiences of both the kids and their parents.  Dr. Emily King notes,...

If you’re just starting out on the alcohol-free path it’s possible you are holding on to a negative image of what “sober life” looks like.  Before I stopped drinking I thought sobriety would be boring, sad and lonely and those beliefs kept me stuck in the drinking cycle for a long time.  I want to help you to replace those limiting beliefs and embrace sobriety as a power move. Sobriety can be the tool you use to live your best life as the most vibrant, capable and confident version of...

Have you ever felt like you’re drinking for “medicinal purposes” to get through your monthly menstrual cycle and perimenopause symptoms?  I’m 48 and the first time I had a hot flash I texted my girlfriends to ask “Oh my god, is this what a hot flash feels like? It sucks!” Perimenopause is sometimes described as a "reverse puberty" which is about as fun as it sounds, except unlike puberty, it can last up to 10 years!  Between mood swings, cramps, hot flashes, headaches, brain fog, feeling...

Quitting drinking can be the lead domino to uplevel your life and explore a midlife makeover!  I can say that now, but I know when you’re first considering sobriety it doesn’t feel like an opportunity.  When I stopped drinking it was a last resort after years of trying to moderate and control my drinking.  I started my 100 day no alcohol challenge because I felt physically and emotionally awful and I knew alcohol was a big part of the problem. And despite knowing that drinking made me...

Have you ever found yourself reaching for a drink to shake off a feeling of overwhelm, stress, insecurity or imposter syndrome?  I used to drink to feel less nervous the night before a big presentation, an interview or a performance review. I worried that I didn’t know enough, wasn’t well prepared enough or wouldn’t present confidently enough, so I thought a few glasses of wine would help me calm down and make those feelings disappear, even just for a little while. Impostor syndrome is...

If you’ve reached 90 or 100 days of sobriety you might be wondering what to expect between 100 days alcohol-free and 6 months sober.  Does sobriety get easier between the 3 month and 6 month mark? What are the challenges and triggers I should watch out for that might make me dive back into the drinking cycle? What are the good parts of sobriety I have to look forward to?  As a sober coach I’ve worked privately with hundreds of women and helped them reach 6 months, one year, 2 years, 5 years...

Are you tired of the endless cycle of attempting to moderate your drinking or take breaks from alcohol, only to have your resolve crumble by Friday night (or 6pm) and wake up the next morning asking yourself why you can’t drink like a “normal person”? You’re not alone. I tried to moderate my drinking for years. I made ALL the rules about when I would (or wouldn’t drink) to get a handle on it. And maybe it would work for a while, but never for very long.  And I was miserable when I was doing...

High-achieving women who struggle with alcohol are often smart, hard working and struggle with trusting in their own worth, instincts and decisions.  If this is you, you’re probably extremely capable but live with insecurity, a healthy fear of failure and a loud inner-critic.  You might look to your boss, partner, parents or friends for approval and validation of your work.  You might have a hard time drawing boundaries or feel like you can never relax because you could be doing more. And...

When I was in my 20s I bought into the idea that drinking in moderation was “good” for me.  And why wouldn’t I? Red wine was being marketed as a “health” food. Articles and research being circulated claimed that drinking red wine would give me health benefits ranging from lowering bad cholesterol, regulating blood sugar, reducing my risk of cancer, keeping my brain sharp, my heart healthy, my body slim and that red wine could even treat the common cold!  Don’t believe me? If you search “Is...

This podcast episode is a deeply personal one because the work of my guest, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, both influenced my identity as a ‘fun mom’ who loved to drink and was an inspirational guide on my journey to sobriety. When I became a mom I fell in love with my son, and was also quickly overwhelmed by the physical and emotional work of taking care of a baby. I couldn’t believe how quickly my life changed and my independence and autonomy disappeared. I wondered if I would ever be able to...

Are you a blackout drinker? Because I was.  I’ve probably forgotten more of the “big nights” of my 20s and 30s than I remember.  Actually, it’s not that I forgot them, it’s that I drank enough alcohol that my brain didn’t record any memories of large chunks of those nights.  I’ve blacked out on business trips, at weddings and on holidays and have spent more time than I’d like to admit trying to piece together the events of the night before and having people tell me things I did and...

Dry January is in the news as more adults are signing up to take part in the annual challenge to go 31 days with no alcohol.  What began in 2013 as a public health campaign from Alcohol Change UK with the goal of encouraging people to take a break from alcohol so they could ditch hangovers, reduce their waistlines and save some serious money has become a global movement.  In fact, 15-20% of American adults participated in Dry January in recent years, led by Generation Z and...

What’s the best New Year’s Resolution for your health? Take a break from drinking! Taking a break from drinking, whether for Dry January, a 100-day no-alcohol challenge or giving up alcohol completely, is one of the best New Year's Resolutions you can make to improve your overall health and wellbeing.  And taking a break from drinking is one of the most popular health and wellness New Year’s Resolutions.  3 Ways I Can Support You In Drinking Less + Living More Join The Sobriety Starter...

If you’ve ever tried to stop drinking or take a longer break from alcohol you know how hard it can be to put together 2 weeks or 30 days or 4 months of sobriety.  Sober momentum is precious and often difficult to get. So when you have a foothold in alcohol-free life, how do you keep your sober motivation going strong?  The fear of losing steam, falling off the wagon or becoming unmotivated to stay on the sober path is real. So let’s talk about the very best strategies to keep your sober...

When I was drinking I was the furthest thing from mentally strong and resilient. I went through most days feeling like I could barely cope with life.  Between the 3 AM wakeups, hangovers, promising myself that I would not drink and then buying a bottle of wine during the witching hour, I felt defeated, tired, defensive and overwhelmed on a daily basis.  The work of shifting away from that negative mindset to become mentally strong in sobriety is key to helping you create a life you love...

If you’re in your first year of sobriety you might not know how to ask your family and friends to support you during the holiday season.  But whether or not you realize it, getting help and support from the people around you to navigate the holidays alcohol-free can be incredibly useful and will help you navigate drinking events with more ease and less stress.  If you’re on the alcohol-free path, staying sober during the holidays can be a delicate dance between embracing the festive spirit...

Feeling anxious and uncertain about how to stay sober during the holidays? You’re not alone, especially if it's your first holiday season alcohol-free.  It's completely normal to feel out of place and crave a drink during those holiday parties and family gatherings.  You’re probably used to toasting the New Year with a glass of champagne or sipping red wine around the Christmas fire.  For a long time I knew that I should stop drinking but couldn’t imagine office holiday parties, family...

The "Happiest Season Of All" can be a big challenge to navigate alcohol-free, especially in early sobriety. But with the right strategies you can cope with holiday season anxiety and family stress without drinking over it. Let's be real, facing the holidays with your family without a drink in hand can be awkward. Maybe you're used to drinking to celebrate or to cope with loneliness.  You might use alcohol to push through a packed social schedule or navigate family gatherings.  Anyway you look...