What is the Sober Curious Movement—and Why Is It So Popular?

Many folks suppose that, in relation to alcohol use, it’s all-or-nothing; you both pursue full sobriety otherwise you drink no matter and everytime you need. But it doesn’t need to be all-or-nothing. There’s a motion geared toward serving to folks need to higher perceive their relationship to alcohol and make more healthy decisions for themselves with out essentially giving up alcohol fully. It’s known as the sober curious motion.

Let’s check out all issues sober curious: what it’s, the way it differs from full sobriety or abstinence, and the way (in the event you’re interested in it!) you possibly can embrace the motion in your personal life.

What is “sober curious”, and why is it having such a second?

“The Sober Curious movement was launched by Ruby Warrington and her book, Sober Curious, in [late 2018],” says Elisa Peimer, LCSW, a therapist who has labored with a Sober Curious help group. “Sober Curious is a method of being mindful about drinking. People following it learn how to notice what triggers their drinking, what the act of drinking means to them, what needs it’s fulfilling, and how it’s adversely affecting their lives.”

The motion gained momentum rapidly, partially as a result of it permits folks to discover dwelling a extra sober way of life with out making the dedication to surrender consuming completely. “The movement encourages a sober (or more sober) lifestyle, but embraces and welcomes individuals who are not ready to quit alcohol entirely,” says Ian Andersen, co-founder of aware consuming and moderation app Sunnyside.

The rise of the sober curious motion is also seen as an extension of well being, wellness, and mindfulness usually turning into extra mainstream. “As mindfulness in general has become more and more popular, being sober-curious feels like a natural extension of healthier lifestyle options like plant-based diets, yoga, and meditation,” says Molly Watts, creator and host of The Alcohol Minimalist podcast.

Finally, the sober curious motion has gained fairly the next on social media. And as extra folks and influencers have embraced the motion—and been prepared to talk out about their decisions round consuming much less, or under no circumstances—the motion has unfold to extra folks. For instance, “hashtags like #mindfuldrinking and #sobercurious are driving millions of views on social media,” says Andersen.

How is being sober curious totally different from being absolutely sober?

Being sober curious differs from conventional sobriety in a couple of methods—most notably that it doesn’t require abstinence from alcohol. Instead, it encourages folks to, because the identify suggests, get interested in their consuming—and goal to make higher, extra aware decisions round their alcohol use.

This permits folks “to explore living a life without alcohol without having to fully commit to not drinking,” says Dr. Brooke Scheller, a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition who focuses on diet to help a sober or sober-curious journey. 

“The focus is not on just abstinence, but on the choices we make when the stressors in our lives drive us to relieve them with alcohol rather than in more healthy ways,” says Peimer.

It additionally appeals to a wider viewers. While full abstinence is usually really useful for folks with an alcohol use dysfunction, the sober curious motion is a match for anybody who desires to have a greater relationship to alcohol—or who need to in the reduction of their consuming for causes outdoors of habit or alcohol use dysfunction, like enhancing their well being.

“Before this, sobriety was mostly reserved for those who identified as having a problem with alcohol,” says Scheller. “Over the last two years, people are now exploring a sober-curious lifestyle by cutting back or even fully eliminating alcohol for reasons that include physical and mental health reasons, to improve their careers, relationships, or even just because they’re sick of the hangover habit.”

“Sober curious offers a flexibility to acknowledge your use of alcohol might not be healthy without the rigidity of an all-or-nothing approach,” says Peimer.

Feeling curious? Tips on embrace the motion

Practice mindfulness whenever you attain for a drink. Mindfulness is the inspiration of the sober curious motion.

“Sober curiosity is about mindfulness—looking at your actions in the moment and being honest with yourself,” says Peimer. “Notice what’s going on for you when you decide to drink.” 

Before you’re taking a drink, pause for a second. Ask your self “why am I taking this drink?”—after which, primarily based on the reply, resolve whether or not you need to transfer ahead and have the drink. For instance, whenever you cease to consider why you’re reaching for a drink, you could understand that it’s since you attempting to handle difficult feelings, like boredom or nervousness—during which case you may choose to skip it in favor of a more healthy coping mechanism, like calling a good friend or going for a run. 

Practicing mindfulness within the moments that you really want or attain for a drink might help you higher perceive the motivations behind your consuming—and whether or not these motivations are according to the sort of relationship you need to have with alcohol.

Get curious and ask your self some deeper questions. In addition to bringing mindfulness to moments whenever you need to drink, being sober curious means…properly, getting curious. Ask your self some deeper questions on your relationship to alcohol. “Be thoughtful about what drinking means to you,” says Peimer. “Is it helping you create a narrative that’s appealing? Is it a reminder of happy times? Is it an indication that the weekend is starting?”

Understanding the explanations behind your consuming might help you make higher, more healthy decisions round if and when to drink. 

If you need to take issues a step additional, you may additionally need to ask your self some questions on what it might be like to surrender alcohol fully or devour much less of it. “Ask yourself how your life would look without alcohol,” says Peimer. 

If you need to see how consuming could impression your Sleep Score, test it after an evening out with associates. You can even strive evaluating your Sleep Score on an evening you haven’t imbibed with that of an evening when you may have. (Learn extra about faucet into Fitbit’s sleep instruments, together with your Sleep Score, right here.) 

Plan forward. As talked about, a part of being sober curious is about being aware whenever you attain for a drink. But whereas it’s vital to be aware within the second, some are more durable than others. And if there are moments you suppose it may be exhausting to say “no” to a drink—even if you wish to? Plan forward for them. “Try making a plan ahead of time for not drinking at an event that you normally would,” says Watts.

For instance, do your Sunday catch-up brunches with your pals at all times finish with you having one too many cocktails? Make a plan for what you’re going to drink as an alternative (for instance, a glowing mocktail)—and for what you’re going to say.

As the outdated saying goes, “failing to plan is planning to fail”. Make positive to plan forward for doubtlessly difficult conditions.

Try some non-alcoholic options. If you need to change your relationship to alcohol—but in addition actually benefit from the style of beer, wine, or different alcoholic drinks? There’s excellent news.

“We’re…seeing a huge boom in the non-alcoholic beverage industry,” says Scheller. “While stores used to sell only one or two NA beers, we’re seeing a huge range of NA drinks in liquor stores, grocery stores, and even small markets—making it much easier to access alternatives to alcoholic beverages.”

There’s additionally been some critical enhancements within the high quality of non-alcoholic drinks—so that you don’t need to sacrifice style together with the excitement. “Many people are really surprised by how delicious some of the NA beverages are and you can have the mouth feel of your favorite drink without the negative aspects of alcohol,” says Watts.

Instead of getting a drink each time you usually would (for instance, with dinner or within the night whilst you watch TV), “try to alternate your regular alcoholic drinks with an NA alternative,” says Watts. 

And have enjoyable with it! As talked about, there are tons of NA choices in the marketplace—so select drinks that appear attention-grabbing, tasty, and that you simply’ll be genuinely excited to strive. “Having options that you can get excited about that are not alcohol is a great way to modify your habits,” says Andersen.