Take a Break from Drinking

When you're bored it's easy to be tempted by a drink. After all, a little buzz can help pass the time. But have you ever considered what your brain learns when you do this?    You might be surprised to discover that the faster you reach for a drink when you're bored by what you're doing, the more intolerable boredom becomes. This is what happens when The Hourglass—one of the eight Drink Archetypes...

Humans have a long history of using alcohol as "liquid courage." But did you know this can actually make your insecurities and anxiety worse?   The Mask is one of eight Drink Archetypes, and it teaches your brain to associate a buzz with feeling confident around others. But when it feels like a drink is necessary to have fun, saying no will interfere with your desire to feel confident and enjoy yo...

There are no shortages of pop-culture examples in which someone is seen drinking to numb their pain—likely because people have been using alcohol to drown their sorrow for centuries. But the fact is, doing so can prevents you from coping effectively.   The Escape is one of eight Drink Archetypes and it teaches your brain that whatever negative situation or series of events happening in your life i...

The concept of drinking to relax is nothing new. It goes hand-in-hand with the belief that you deserve a drink—whether it's after a hard day's work or because it's your "me time" routine. In reality, using alcohol as a treat can backfire.   The Reward is one of the eight Drink Archetypes, and it can wrongly teach your brain that alcohol is the only way to unwind as well as convince you that drinki...

Humans have long used alcohol's ability to facilitate bonding by lowering people's defenses. But you may be surprised to discover that when alcohol becomes your go-to way to open up, it can actually block your ability to connect with others (even with those you feel close to).   The Connector is one of the eight Drink Archetypes, and not only does it teach the brain that alcohol helps you lower yo...

If you're someone who often reaches for a drink because "it would make things more special," then you may recognize The Upgrade drink archetype—one of eight unconscious patterns that influence why you drink.   Identifying this pattern is the first step in changing your relationship with alcohol. The next is understanding how The Upgrade impacts what your brain is learning.   For instance, the desi...

Believe it or not, overindulgence is a part of the human experience. So why is it that you consider this natural impulse to be negative?   Whether it's drinking, eating, spending or something else, it's easy to associate overindulgence with your character and make it mean something negative about you. Throw in the societal and moral baggage, and this belief really hinders your attempts to change....

If you routinely drink too much, should you just stop drinking? What if you keep drinking, even though, deep down, you don't believe you can moderate? These are fraught questions that often bring up a lot of fear and shame.  Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is to approach the question from a different angle. In order to do this, you must explore the contradiction underlying the habit....

Listen to Rachel's conversation with Kara Loewentheil, a Master-Certified Life Coach and author of Take Back Your Brain: How a Sexist Society Gets in Your Head and How to Get It Out. Together, they discuss some of the hidden reasons why you might reach for a drink when you're feeling anxious at a party, overworked, afraid of making mistakes, or wanting to avoid disappointing someone. Discover why...

You want to change your relationship with drinking, but other than listening to the podcast, you're not doing anything about it.  This paralysis, while frustrating, is actually very normal.  Explore the three reasons this happens and how they relate to your cravings, your beliefs about failure, and your vision of the future.  Discover why your unwillingness to act isn't illogical but actually an i...

Who cares? How many times have you poured yourself a drink after silently uttering these words to yourself? If you're like most people, the answer is a lot. Hidden behind "Who cares?" is a powerful tension that, if revealed, will help you say no to your cravings. Tune in and discover why this particular excuse is so good at sabotaging your commitment and what's actually required in order to succes...

You know the scenario. You promised not to drink tonight… but by 5 o'clock, you're ready for a drink. Or you told yourself you would only have one drink at happy hour, but then your friend suggests another round. "I'll be good tomorrow" is an excuse you've probably told yourself many times before. Why is it so easy to fall into this trap, even when you have plenty of evidence that tomorrow you'll...

In this episode, we cover a scenario that may be familiar. You start drinking and then convince yourself to continue because "Why stop now?" This mindset isn't just about alcohol; it can also happen with food and spending. Many of us develop a habit of letting things like an empty glass or a finished package override our feelings of fullness. Listen to understand why we make this excuse and how to...

In this episode, we tackle a familiar scenario: you've made progress in reducing your drinking, but then a special celebration comes up. So, how do you stay on track with your commitment?  The answer isn't what you may expect. Discover how your Drink Archetypes, especially The Upgrade, can act like blinders in these moments and the exact question to ask yourself to change your perspective. Remembe...

We all face moments where life doesn't match our expectations. We often feel this most acutely when trying to change our relationship with alcohol. In this episode, you'll hear about the universality of the thought, "This is not what my life is supposed to look like." Explore the connection between this thought and various Drink Archetypes. You'll come to understand that its presence goes beyond a...

If you're like most people, you've probably told yourself if you had more willpower, it would be easier to drink less.  This episode delves into the limitations of willpower and why it often falls short. Discover the skill set most people overlook when trying to drink less. You'll also learn about the eight Drink Archetypes, and how they fit into your struggle with self-discipline. Walk away with...

Have you ever thought that if you could just figure out how to stay motivated, then it would be easier to say no to a drink? You're not alone. Motivation is a concept that many grapple with. This episode sheds light on where motivation comes from and how to find more of it. Learn the real reason your progress is slower than you want it to be. Uncover how to change more effectively with some simple...

Pouring a drink at the end of the day can be a treat. But it can easily sabotage your goal of changing your relationship with alcohol. Especially if you have a love-hate relationship with your desire for rewards.  This episode will help you stop framing the reward you want as good or bad. Instead, you'll learn why it's important to view the desire for a drink as neutral, and how that can help you...

Using alcohol as a remedy for a hangover is so common that it has its own term: "the hair of the dog." Discover why some people swear by this and what's really happening when you drink to feel better.  This episode explains the real reason hangovers feel bad (it's not what you think). We explore why so many people promise "never again" after a hangover, only to go back on their word. And we examin...

Revisit (or listen for the first time) to the celebration of our 100 th  episode of the  Take a Break podcast. In this episode I'm comb through the archives of the past 99 episodes and pull out some of the most important concepts and lessons from each episode. This is an excellent review for you to look at what your next layer of work is and if you're a new listener, you're getting the best overvi...

If you've ever thought, "Once I start, I can't stop"—you're not alone. Lots of people find it easier not to drink at all than to moderate. But if don't want to stop drinking forever, then you must be willing to challenge this belief. Yes, alcohol is an intoxicant and if you consume enough it will impair your judgment. But you might discover that you're checking out long before this happens. There'...

Society tends to talk about people being in "denial" about their drinking. But this belief often causes more harm than how much someone drinks. In this episode, learn the truth about why you might not be taking action even though you know your relationship with alcohol is unhealthy. Discover what's really behind the idea of "being in denial" and how it can get in the way of change. You are not a p...

Shame and regret about your drinking can feel so isolating, but it's way more common than you think. The real problem is the unconscious ways you might find yourself trying to make up for being "bad."  It's easy to spin on questions like, "Why was I so stupid?" or "When am I going to learn my lesson?" Or to wish you could build a time machine and change the past. But this line of thinking is a tra...

If you have chronic pain, an autoimmune disease, or insomnia, you might use alcohol to cope. This makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, alcohol can act as a band-aid that's blocking you from the cure. How do you deal with the pain in your body without alcohol? This question is at the heart of The Hourglass, one of the eight Drink Archetypes. Discover why it can be challenging to keep your commitment...

Drinking to feel more free and to be ourselves is common. You'll often hear friends talking about having a drink to "let loose" or "let their hair down." In this Drink Archetype episode, you'll understand The Release's origin. Listen to hear how to create more freedom for yourself—even while choosing to drink less or not at all. You can learn to live a less restrained life. Even if you feel trappe...