Are you searching for ways on how to drink less?
Our intentional night-out checklist and drink plan is a streamlined, easy, and approachable way to take control of your night before it even starts.
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When I started my journey to drink less I was so lost. I had no idea what that meant or what to do, I just knew it was my time to reset and find a new type of balance.
That is why I created this night-out checklist and drink plan! To start that journey of finding a new balance, a new routine, and eventually, a new relationship to alcohol.
This post is all about how to drink less!
How to Drink Less
Let's be real, we don't have hours before going out. But, this night-out checklist and drink plan is simple and straightforward!
I started doing this checklist and drink plan in my head before going out. Almost like a pep-talk to encourage myself to stay on track.
Let me tell you, it works!!
Intentional Night Out Checklist
Seems easy enough, right?
Eating a high protein meal, drinking lots of water, that is self explanatory because we all know this. Unless, you are going out to dinner. But, honestly, even then having a snack before leaving is a good idea.
You never know how long cocktail hour lasts, how long the food will take, and by then the drinks could be flowing! Just take it safe, have a protein bar.
The times I drink electrolytes and eat a good meal are the BEST nights for me. I stay en route with my intentions, I have a great time, and most importantly, I drink less!
Set the Intentions:
Next up in our intentional night-out checklist, we have the section of intention setting.
This part is SO helpful for me because I can actually see what I am even doing, why, and the how.
How many times have you been doing something and all the sudden snapped into reality and wondered, "what am I even doing right now?!"
Well, this intention setting will help avoid that. Bringing awareness to any situation will give you greater clarity, control, and overall happiness because you will be doing what is best for you.
My Drink Plan Explained
Have you ever talked with your friends like, "What's the plan tonight? What are we drinking? What's the vibe?"
That is essentially the start of a drink plan. Where you go depends on the vibe, which depends on what you drink, which.... Changes everything!
Let's break down the drink plan printable so you can see how this can help you:
First off is, where are you going? This question is pretty simple and sets up the rest of the drink plan.
If you don't know where you are going, then simply check the 'other' box.
Totally an important question, what kind of drinks are going to be there?! You can choose multiple options here if you need. But, the type of drinks will help you understand the next questions.
If you are going somewhere with cheap drinks, then keep that in mind. When we are asking ourselves how to drink less alcohol, a lot of the time avoiding cheap drinks is a key part.
Cheap drinks come in abundance, high quality drinks usually don't.
Now, we start to see where our desires mix with what we are given (where we are going and with what drinks).
You might not be in the mood to drink at all. Which happens to me very often. In that case, it can be important to put that down because the last thing you want to do is drink when you don't want to.
Though, societal pressures can be challenging. This is why a drink plan comes in handy, so you can navigate the crazy world with the foundation of your already established drink plan.
Also, note if you are in the mood to drink a ton. It is equally important to know if you are craving heavy drinking.
Onto the next question:
From the intentions setting part of the night-out checklist, it asked what your goals are. Here is where you can put that goal to a number.
For example, sometimes my goal is to be able to wake up early and get some work done. Therefore, my drink limit (for myself) would be 3 drinks total. That way I know I can still wake up and get work done.
However, your number can all depend on what you're drinking, where you're going, and you're overall goals. So, make sure to take that all into account when thinking about your drink limit.
It's all about strategy.
Now, the strategy comes into play even deeper. How are you going to start your evening?
Some people never think of this concept before going out. Then, they start with the heaviest drink and it all goes downhill from there. So, being crystal clear on how you want to start the evening will go a long way.
A lot of the time, I start with sparkling water. These botanical sodas are also a great alternative to drinking!
Don't sleep on this question, so many times I realize I want to start drinking sparkling waters and I add a stop on my drive to pick some up.
The last question before developing out drink plan statement is understanding which pacing plan you will follow.
Check out our ultimate guide on how to pace your drinking to see the different strategies available!
Overall, you might not follow it to the T. But, it is SO SO SO important to have various ideas and strategies in place before you set out to go drinking.
A drink plan is the ultimate way to get in control of your drinking, your nights out, your mood, your hormone health, and so much more.
Download our night-out checklist and drink plan to walk through the checklists and end with a "My Drink Plan Statement".
A simple fill in the blank sentence wrapping all of it together so you can leave your house confident, controlled, and ready for what the world has in store.