Your Guide To Dry January

Happy New Year, sweet friends!

Normally, my first post of the year would be a sales round up and some best sellers, but this year I feel compelled to change it up a bit….

As I’ve shared before, I’ve been sober since January 19, 2020. I stopped drinking and haven’t looked back. I’ve created The Sober Mom Life instagram, which led to The Sober Mom life podcast, a Facebook group (that’s growing every day!) and now a Patreon for bonus episodes and content.

Phew.

I had no idea the impact my decision almost 3 years ago would have on my life and those around me.

I had no idea how many moms needed to hear someone say: “It’s OK. You can stop. You don’t have to declare yourself powerless. You don’t have to label it.”

If you’re trying Dry January for the first time, or this is your first time experiencing life without alcohol, I’m SO proud of you.

This is just the beginning…

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CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE SOBER MOM MUG

I spent the first 30 days of my sobriety learning all I could about what alcohol is, what it does to our bodies and minds and what it had stolen from me. How did I accomplish this from the comfort of my own home? A steady stream of podcasts and audiobooks. I made it my mission to get to the bottom of why alcohol felt like such a trick. (Spoiler alert: it is.)

This is why it was so important for me to create The Sober Mom Life podcast. I felt a need to share everything I’d learned on my journey, and give a platform to those people who knew more about alcohol and its effects than I do.

We’re on our 42nd episode (HOW?!) and I’ve been honored to speak to some incredible women in sobriety who are challenging the norms and how we’ve historically thought about alcohol and “alcoholism.” (Whatever that is.)

In this week’s episode, I share tips for Dry January and how you can change your perspective going into the month…

The Real Sober Moms with Jess – The Sober Mom Life

Jess grew up in the alcohol-soaked culture of Wisconsin. It was everywhere – in her home, on the TV, and at every social event. She didn’t even know for a long time that it was an option to quit drinking.  When motherhood entered the picture in Jess’s mid-20s, drinking became her daily way to cope. She knew deep down that she had an issue, but she wasn’t ready to face it. Instead, she focused on balancing her life in every way… other than quitting alcohol.  The pandemic, which followed shortly after the birth of her third child, kicked things up a notch until Jess knew that she needed to make a change. Quitting was HARD for her. She experienced many stops and starts. But once she stopped shaming herself for the addiction that alcohol had created, she began to find her way forward.  Jess is now 10 months sober! She is so proud of the work she has done to get here. She wants you to know that sometimes this road is hard, and that’s okay! Just keep walking.  Jess recommends Alan Carr’s Stop Drinking Now: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=alan+carr+easy+way+to+quit Connect with Jess on Instagram: https://instagram.com/balanced_entrepreneur?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Announcing the Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $15/month, join other sober moms inside the cafe for weekly meetings, bonus episodes, a Discord chat, a monthly book club, the option to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and so much more! Learn all about it here: https://mykindofsweet.com/sober-mom-life-cafe/ If you’re looking for a community of wonderful sober moms to support you while you build your own sober life, join us inside The Sober Mom Life Facebook group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542852942745657 We have merch!!!! Check it out here! Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Love this show? Let me know by rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1. The Real Sober Moms with Jess 38:09
2. The Sober October Roundtable! With Gill Tietz, Casey Davidson & Amanda E. White 01:18:40
3. The Real Sober Moms with Amanda 52:39
4. When (and How) to Take Your Sobriety Public 52:59
5. The Real Sober Moms with Heather 37:37

Click here to shop my SOBER IS COOL sweatshirt

Dry January Guide

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

THIS NAKED MIND | ANNIE GRACE

Talk to anyone who chose a different path in sobriety (meaning not the traditional AA route), and This Naked Mind will be at the top of their list. If you’ve never challenged your relationship and idea of alcohol, I can’t recommend this book enough. It shatters everything we thought we knew about alcohol. I even consider it an “un-brainwashing,” since everywhere we look we’re taught that alcohol is the solution to our problems. This book destroys that notion and will teach you SO much about the truth about alcohol. I suggest you listen to it, rather than read it, because it’s quite lengthy and repetitive. I loved listening to it in one AirPod while I went about my day.

NOT DRINKING TONIGHT | AMANDA E. WHITE, LPC

This book picks up where This Naked Mind left off. If your relationship with alcohol stems from a knowledge problem, Annie Grace’s book might just be enough. However, if there is more underneath your drinking, which there usually is, Not Drinking Tonight will help you explore and uncover that.

Also – stay tuned Amanda is on my podcast soon!!

QUIT LIKE A WOMAN | HOLLY WHITAKER

Yep, the book that helped Miranda quit drinking in And Just Like That. (Although, can we all agree that storyline needed much more? Like, she just ordered this book and that was it? Really?) In this book, Holly Whitaker presents an impressive takedown of Alcoholics Anonymous, complete with a whole lot of research and radical thinking. I love it.

OTHER SOBER PODCASTS I LOVE

THE HELLO SOMEDAY PODCAST

Casey Davidson brings such a fresh and honest perspective to sobriety. I love her take on it and she really goes deep with her guests. I had her on my podcast a few months ago – listen to that episode here!

SOBER POWERED

Gill Tietz has a background in Biochemistry, and she brings that scientific knowledge to alcohol and how it affects our brains and bodies. She was on my podcast (listen to that episode here), and I love listening to hers.

A SOBER GIRLS GUIDE PODCAST

Another favorite! I had the pleasure of being on Jessica’s podcast last year, way before I had my own podcast. I can’t wait to have her on mine. 🙂 You can listen to my episode on her podcast here!