Take a Break from Drinking
Episodes
364: Dry January Mistakes
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even if you’re not planning on Dry January, make sure you listen to this episode. These two mistakes will sabotage your attempts at change, no matte...
363: How to Have a Successful Dry January
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Taking a month off from drinking can be an incredibly powerful New Year's resolution. But if you don’t prepare for the most common stumbling blocks,...
362: The Escape Archetype
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s not unusual to crave a drink in times of stress. But when life won’t let up, how are you supposed to cut back? In this episode, you’ll l...
361: The Reward Archetype
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s incredibly common to reward yourself with a drink after making it through a long day or a long week. But no longer having a treat to look forwa...
Start Here: Welcome to Take a Break from Drinking with Rachel Hart
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Take a Break from Drinking podcast with your host, Rachel Hart. If you’re looking for a radically different approach to help you cut ...
360: The Connector Archetype
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s normal for drinking to be a shared activity with friends, family, and romantic partners. So how do you change your drinking without feeling dis...
359: The Upgrade Archetype
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Drink Archetypes are eight unconscious patterns that influence why you drink. On this episode, we’ll do a deep dive into The Upgrade archetype a...
358: The Drink Archetypes: The Key to Drinking Less
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Even when you have lots of good reasons to cut back or stop drinking, most people eventually go back to their old ways. Why? Because people drink for ...
357: I Almost Got Drunk Last Friday
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve been there. A no good, very bad day occurs and, seemingly out of nowhere, a voice in your head urges you to pour a drink. Yet you don’t abi...
356: Drinking and Lack
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You might believe that the end of the year is a difficult time to change your drinking habit. In reality, this period of temptation can actually super...
355: Revisiting: Be Where You Are
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you reach for a drink when you get home from work, there’s a good chance you were experiencing some type of negative emotion during the day. Howe...
354: I Don’t Want to Miss Out
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When everyone around you is drinking, the fear of missing out can make social situations especially hard to navigate. Luckily, this episode explore...
353: Revisiting: It Doesn’t Matter
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you had a drink after deciding you were taking a break, you might have the thought that “it doesn’t matter.” This is an extremely common thou...
352: When the Drinks Are Free
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Free drinks are everywhere. Whether you’re at an open-bar event, there are bottomless mimosas at brunch, or they’re offering a glass of bubbly in ...
351: Mastering Your Urges
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Even when you aren’t experiencing the urge to drink, you can still have a lot of fear around urges. You might think that the urge to drink is so pow...
350: The Goal of Enjoying a Drink
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you feel compelled to drink, the act of drinking isn’t very enjoyable. It can feel like you’re “giving in” or are out of control. However...
349: Why It’s a Good Thing Water Is Boring
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When all you want is a glass of wine, a cold beer, or a cocktail, water can feel boring. No matter how you dress it up, it can leave you feeling rese...
348: Drinking to Elevate the Situation
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries feel more special with a drink in hand? Do you think that cooking dinner or watching a sunset can be ...
347: Revisiting: Why Alcohol and Food Aren’t Your Friends
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you get in the habit of relying on a drink or overeating to make you feel better, your brain can get confused and start to see alcohol and food a...
346: Drinking When You're Meeting New People
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It can feel impossible to be in social situations without a drink, but spending years, if not decades, relying on a drink to get you through these sit...
345: When You’re Not Sure You Can Change
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you worry that you will never be able to change your relationship with alcohol? Do you question how you’re going to drink less and figure it all ...
344: The Problem With Focusing on the Health Risks of Drinking
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you find yourself continuing to give in to the urge to drink, even though you know it’s not great for you, you’re not alone. Focusing solely on...
343: When It's Easier To Drink
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us, pouring a glass of wine or opening a beer at the end of a long or stressful day is the easiest way to unwind. This week, learn why ...
342: Subtle Comments
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When trying to change your relationship with alcohol, subtle comments like “Oh, you’re having another?” or “You sure like your wine!” can fe...
341: Excuse Categories
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Making excuses doesn’t mean it’s impossible for you to change. When you learn how to leverage these excuses, you are able to discover what is happ...
340: Thought Sabotage
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When an event in your external environment doesn't make sense, the brain invents a reason to explain it. It leads you to place yourself into a binary ...
339: How to Hack Your Brain With Your Glass
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A champagne flute on a special occasion, a delicate martini with friends, or a classic wine glass that you enjoy, the shapes of glassware can be fun a...
338: Are You Sure You Don’t Just Want One Drink?
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Saying no to drinking can seem impossible when your friends gather at the winery, and your family events involve beer in the backyard. But creating a ...
337: Unfulfilled Desire
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Desire cannot be tamed by shame or logical reasoning. No matter how much you shame yourself into change, it will only work temporarily. This week, ...
336: How To Say "No" Tonight
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Preparing for failure is an essential aspect of creating change in your drinking. You will not want to simply say “no” every night. This is natura...
335: Compelling Reason 3.0
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Drinking is linked to our day-to-day life in so many different ways, from daily routines and productivity to physical and emotional health and relatio...
334: Why You’re Going Back for More
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are certain thoughts and beliefs you hold that may be perpetuating your drinking. Noticing these thoughts and beliefs will enable you to break t...
333: Take Forever Off the Table
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Huge commitments, such as a lifetime without another drink, can feel limiting to the point of inaction, avoidance, and pure terror. But small steps ca...
332: Revisiting: Drinking When I Feel Good
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us use drinking to numb negative emotions. Over time this creates a habit of needing a drink to manage your negative emotion. The same thing o...
331: The Problem With Rules
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all have the ability to think differently, change our emotional state, and create new habits. Opportunity to change begins with identifying feeling...
330: What Triggers a Backslide
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, learn how to use failure as a tool for growth, to understand your habit, and to make honest assessments and adjustments that suit you and y...
329: I Should Be Able to Figure This Out on My Own
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Knowing how to confront your urges to drink takes practice. It takes both knowledge and know-how. This week we learn why there is nothing wrong w...
328: Revisiting: Urge Work
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding how and why urges exist enables you to address them with clarity and create ease and levity in your relationship with alcohol. This w...
327: Revisiting: Three Reasons You Drink Too Much
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The reasons you keep drinking are simple. The work that is required to address your drinking takes time and attention, but it is far from out of reach...
326: Deciding On Your End Goal
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The process of deciding on your end goal can be a challenge when changing your relationship to drinking. It is okay to not exactly know what you want,...
325: The Right Way to Set Rules
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The rules you have established for when you’re out on the town may be slipping because you have not accounted for your brain’s emotions and expect...
324: Preventing the Backslide
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why backsliding doesn’t have to mean giving up on your goal to drink less, why you actually need backsliding to make real habit change, and...
323: Why You Struggle With Commitment Part 2
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why no matter how many times you break your commitment to drinking less, you can always intervene and get back on track. Learn how to bring a...
322: Why You Struggle With Commitment Part 1
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The moment you decided to give in, to order another one, to take a sip, you made a decision. This week, learn how to reevaluate the nitty-gritty mom...
321: Why Your Commitment Falls Apart
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No one’s perfect, and even if you don’t intend to drink during your break, it’s likely that you will. Learn why your commitment to drinking les...
320: Revisiting: When Drinking is Just a Habit
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your drinking habit was created after years of messaging you absorbed. It’s not a disease or a reflex or a character defect. Learn how to think abo...
319: One Question to Ask Before Starting This Journey
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you want to drink less during the week, take a break for 30 days, or stop drinking altogether, there is one question you need to ask yourself....
318: How to Say No When You’re Having a Bad Day
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Discover a solution to your negative emotions that doesn’t include drinking, and find out why this solution will help you change your relationship w...
317: What to Do if You Keep Slipping Up
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why slip-ups on your break from drinking are not a problem, and the skills you need to master to finally feel in control of your drinking. ...
316: When You've Lost Your Motivation
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, learn how to change your drinking habit without relying on motivation, and the trick to generating motivation with your thoughts. ...
315: How Do I Know if I Can Change?
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Despite what you might be thinking, the number of times you’ve tried to cut back in the past and then failed doesn’t matter. Your ability to chang...
314: Should I Get Rid of Alcohol in My House When I’m Trying Not to Drink?
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re trying to stop drinking or drink less, it might seem like a great idea to get rid of all the alcohol in your house. However, as you’ll l...
313: Why You Aren’t Having Fun During Dry January
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pausing your drinking for Dry January (or at any time of year) can feel like you’ve pressed pause on fun and pleasure. But it doesn’t have to be t...
312: How to Drink Less This Year
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Around this time of year, many people set resolutions to change their drinking. They follow the same process they always have, slip up, and wonder why...
311: The Mindset Shift Necessary for Success
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The new year is a great time to reevaluate your relationship with drinking. Whatever the goal for your drinking habit is, it will require a shift in ...
310: The Most Important Step to Change Your Drinking
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The new year is around the corner, and you are so ready for this to be the year you change your drinking habit permanently. In this episode, find out ...
309: Narrating Your Desire
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Narrating your desire to drink is a tool you can use to bring awareness and curiosity to your thoughts. In this episode, learn how to use this simple ...
308: Believing in Your Ability to Change
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You are 100 percent capable of changing your drinking habit, but first, you have to believe it’s possible. This week, learn how to start developing ...
307: Personality as a Predictor of Overdrinking
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Believing that your personality causes your drinking habit is a trap that far too many people get stuck in. This week, learn how to get out of this tr...
306: How to Drink Less During the Holidays (Part 2)
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn four practical ways to drink less during the holidays or any other time of year. Find out why these simple hacks are so effective, and how to ma...
305: How to Drink Less During the Holidays (Part 1)
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The holidays are often seen as a period of overindulgence in all areas, not in the least drinking. But they don’t have to be this way. Discover how ...
304: Drinking and Your Inner Taskmaster
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your to-do list and the voice inside that urges you to do more have a significant impact on your desire to drink. In this episode, learn how to tame y...
303: Preparing for Drinking Too Much
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There will come a time when you have a drink after saying you wouldn’t. What you make that moment mean changes everything. This week, find out why...
302: Commitment Self-Sabotage
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn why breaking your drinking commitment does not mean you have failed, and how to use this moment as an opportunity to learn instead of self-sabot...
301: Is Moderation Possible?
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, discover why your current understanding of drinking in moderation isn’t going to help you change the habit and the importance of tuning i...
300: Why Conventional Wisdom About Drinking is Wrong
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve been wanting to change your relationship with drinking, you have likely heard some of the conventional wisdom people share about doing thi...
299: Overeating and Overdrinking with Katrina Ubell
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Dr. Katrina Ubell, Master Certified life coach, doctor, and author of How to Lose Weight for the Last Time, where she addresses chan...
298: Resenting Not Drinking
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Resenting other people for drinking and yourself for not isn’t going to help you on this break or in changing your habit. The key is getting curious...
297: The Advice You Should Ignore for Sober October
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every year around Sober October, there is lots of advice shared about how to take a break from drinking. In this episode, learn the truth about commo...
296: Why Do I Keep Giving In?
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve done the work to not avoid or resist the urge anymore. But, you still find yourself drinking when you don’t want to. What's going on? In th...
295: Drowning Your Sorrows with Krista St-Germain
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Krista St-Germain shares what grief is, why it’s important to process through, and how to cope with the feelings that come with it. Find out how gri...
294: What to Do When You Want to Escape
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing why drinking isn’t your best option for escaping a meltdown and how to instead, find out what you emotionally need in...
293: How to Make Deprivation Work for You
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, discover why deprivation can be a good thing, and the purpose it serves on your journey to change your drinking. Then, learn how to use dep...
292: How to Have a Normal Relationship with Alcohol
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to have a normal relationship with alcohol, there is one thing you have to start paying attention to. In this episode, find out what it re...
291: How to Decompress Without a Drink
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The need to decompress after a stressful day is normal. But drinking isn’t your only option. This week, learn how to decompress without drinking and...
290: What Resistance to Not Drinking is Trying to Teach You
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If not drinking for 30 days sounds like a good idea, but right now is just not a good time to do so, you are likely experiencing resistance. Tune in t...
289: When it’s Hard to Say No to the Urge
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, learn what to do when your urges are barely noticeable but you’re still drinking when you don’t want to be. Find out how to respo...
288: How to Stop Finishing What’s in Your Glass
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The way you consume drinks can tell you a lot about your habit. You might struggle to leave any wine in the glass or the bottle, or you might find you...
287: Drinking to Relax
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you only let yourself relax by pouring a glass of wine or a beer or by making a cocktail, there could be a deeper issue. In this episode, find out ...
286: Why You’re Stuck in a Rut with Drinking
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re stuck in a rut, it can feel like you’re repeating the same habit over and over again. Drinking every night or every weekend, unable to...
285: When Changing Your Drinking is Overwhelming
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in this week to learn how to deal with the overwhelm of changing your habit of drinking. Once you learn and implement this solution, you will be ...
284: How to Avoid Derailing Your Progress
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It is possible to avoid getting off track with your progress, and it’s not by having more willpower. This week, discover how to create lasting chang...
283: Once I Start, I Can’t Stop
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in to learn why your urges do not control you or your decision to drink. Find out how to start shifting your mindset so you can take back control...
282: Why Changing Your Drinking isn’t a Numbers Game
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Discover why your drinking habit has very little to do with the number of drinks you consume or what your goal is for drinking less. Find out what act...
281: How to Know if You Can Change Your Drinking
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, find out why it is totally possible for you to change your drinking no matter how many times you’ve tried in the past. You’ll lea...
280: How to Create a New Mindset About Drinking
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to practice new thoughts about drinking to ultimately change your mindset, allowing you to take it or leave it with drinking. Get full...
279: Why Your Compelling Reason Isn’t Working
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn why compelling reasons aren’t the be-all-end-all solution to your drinking, and how to use them to effectively make changes to your habit. ...
278: What’s Getting in the Way of Changing Your Drinking
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why the reasons you aren’t working on your habit change aren’t what you think they are, and how to get to the real reason you haven’t c...
277: I Know What I Should be Doing, I’m Just Not Doing it
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Discover why you might know how to change your drinking habit but still not do it, why this isn’t serving you, and how to get real about your habit ...
276: When Drinking Helps Your Anxiety
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A glass of wine might feel like it’s helping with your anxiety, but it can’t provide real relief. Discover what’s really going on when you rea...
275: The Phases of Changing Your Relationship with Alcohol
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the phases of changing your relationship with alcohol, what you’ll experience in each one, and how to get started on this journey of changing ...
274: Is Drinking Less Possible?
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why you can drink less no matter how hard it’s been to say no before, and how to embrace the discomfort that comes with changing your habit...
273: Drink Manipulation
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn why drink manipulation happens and what to do when you notice it happening to you. These instances can be great opportunities to learn more abou...
272: What Your Brain Learns When You Reach for a Drink
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, learn how to hop off the see-saw once and for all, and how to teach your brain new skills to change your relationship with drinking for goo...
271: Ensuring the Progress You’ve Made Will Last
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, find out where to put your focus and energy to create real, lasting change in your relationship with drinking. You can cultivate succ...
270: Worrying What People Will Think
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re scared of being judged for not drinking, listen in this week. I’m sharing why other people’s responses can feel so scary and how to ex...
269: How to Stop Backsliding
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Backsliding can feel incredibly frustrating. In this episode, I’m sharing how to stop backsliding and the three skills you need to learn to prevent...
268: When People Doubt You Can Change Your Drinking
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve tried to change your drinking habit many times before, the people in your life may be a little skeptical of your ability to create lasting...
267: Questions That Keep You Drinking
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After a night of drinking, it’s common to ask yourself questions like What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just say no? Why can’t I drink like eve...
266: Frustration at Failed Attempts to Change Your Drinking
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, discover the 3 steps for effectively dismantling your habit from the inside out, and how to successfully and permanently change your ...