Alcohol use is widespread across the United States. Given how pervasive it is in society, it is no wonder that many people struggle to maintain a healthy relationship with alcohol. Drinking in moderation is key to living a healthy, productive life. Learning how to drink in moderation may look different for each individual.
However, the amount involved in drinking in moderation follows clear guidance from the medical community. Organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and other government agencies recommend that women have up to one drink per day and men have up to two drinks per day. Anything more than that is considered an unsafe, unhealthy amount of alcohol. No matter your past relationship with alcohol, you can learn how to drink in moderation using a few helpful tips.
Access Insight Recovery Centers’ alcohol addiction treatment program in Virginia by reaching out to 703.592.6946.
A Guide to Drinking in Moderation
The alternative to drinking in moderation is sobriety. That may or may not fit a person’s lifestyle. In addition, it is valid to alternate between periods of sobriety and drinking in moderation. For people seeking out tips to drink in moderation, here are five effective ones to get you started.
1. Identify Negative Patterns
One of the first steps in figuring out how to drink in moderation is to inventory your current drinking behavior. You need to understand what your situation is before you attempt to change it. Ask yourself a few questions to gauge what negative patterns might be at play:
- Does my drinking line up with certain feelings, such as sadness or loneliness?
- Does how much I drink align with being stressed or overwhelmed?
- Do I drink more during social occasions or when out with friends?
- Has drinking negatively impacted my life in any way?
Another way to help identify these negative patterns is to keep a record of each time you drink, how much you drink, and what the scenario was. Over time, you may begin to notice excessive drinking at certain times or in response to certain triggers.
2. Set a Goal for Reduced Consumption
Once you’ve been tracking your alcohol intake for a while, you can set a goal for reducing your consumption. Immediately cutting all the way back to recommended amounts may feel unrealistic. But goals are important for giving you targets to reach for. It can also be helpful to share your goals with someone you trust so they can hold you accountable for meeting them.
3. Practice Saying No
Reducing consumption depends on saying no. Maybe that’s to yourself when you are tempted to drink more than you should, or it could look like saying no to the host of a party. In saying no, it is always helpful to give yourself an alternative. For instance, if you say no to going out to a bar with friends, why not suggest an alternative social outing that can easily remain sober?
4. Find Things That Bring You Joy
Implementing tips to drink in moderation relies on replacing the drinking behavior with more productive things. When you eliminate negative drinking behavior, your life suddenly has more room for other things. So fill it with healthy things that bring you joy. This could be a hobby or a sport, or any number of other things.
5. Pursue Professional Help
Drinking in moderation need not be something you pursue in isolation. There is no shame in admitting you need professional help to accomplish your goals.
Learn to Drink in Moderation at Insight Recovery Centers
Do you need more tips for drinking in moderation, or are you seeking professional support in getting your drinking behavior under control? Either way, call 703.592.6946 to contact the medical professionals at Insight Recovery Centers. We can help.
