Saying, “Yes” to a More Fulfilling Life is Saying, “No” to Alcohol.

It’s frustrating and discouraging to feel like you can’t break bad habits or alter undesirable behaviors.

It is common to put the blame on yourself and conclude that you are at fault.

Keep in mind, however, that it takes time and effort to alter these habits, most of which have been formed over the course of your lifetime.

Adopting new routines, like getting enough water and sleep each day, has a profound effect on your mental health.

These seemingly insignificant actions have a significant impact on your life and propel you forward in many ways.

Unlike alcohol, these affects are recognized over time and the instant gratification is very low.

It’s also crucial to treat yourself kindly, as forming new routines and witnessing the fruits of your labor both require time and effort.

A good night’s sleep is critical to your physical and mental health, but it can be difficult to achieve when we’re working to change negative routines or routinely stressful situations.

Remember, saying yes to something that’s good for you is saying no to something bad for you simultaneously.

Improving your sleep habits and developing a healthy routine that works for you is possible through the application of good sleep hygiene and the adoption of health-promoting behaviors.

That could mean establishing a regular bedtime, developing a soothing pre-sleep ritual, and avoiding screens and other stimulating activities in the hours leading up to sleep.

It’s important to keep in mind that getting enough rest is a skill that needs to be honed over time.

The true healing of your mind of body activates at the periods of your deepest sleep cycle.

It’s helpful to keep in mind that while anxiety and other emotions can be challenging to control, they are not objective realities.

All fear and anxiety is in the mind and 99% of what you worry about will never happen.

It can be helpful to learn to accept the feelings of anxiety as they are, rather than trying to suppress or ignore them.

In this respect, the practices of meditation and self-awareness can be useful because they enable you to get in touch with your feelings and thoughts and strengthen the bond between your head and your heart, your mind, and your body.

Learning to pay attention to and accept your feelings and thoughts dramatically help with the management of anxiety and other challenging emotions.

Allowing yourself to feel and work through unpleasant emotions is healthy and necessary because they are what make you human.

To ignore these or rationalize them away is to disconnect from the ‘human experience’.

It’s vital to keep in mind that you don’t need to resort to destructive coping mechanisms like alcohol or drug use to live happy and productive lives.

Yes, they give the illusion of being happy, but they are actively destroying your mental health at the same time.

The best way to deal with this is not to resort to toxic substances, but rather to create a routine that helps you truly enjoy the life you’re living.

Believing in your own capacity to deal with and work through challenging emotions is also a skill that develops with practice.

Bear in mind that you are not alone in your journey for a more balanced and satisfying way of life.

Help is available, and taking things slowly is recommended.

Even the smallest of victories help you move closer to a happier, healthier future.

Struggle forward and keep plugging away at whatever is in your way because it’s within your most stressful moments that you uncover the permanent secret to your perseverance.

-Kohdi | Beyond Sober