Ahhhh, the leaves are changing, Starbucks is selling pumpkin lattes, and the smell of autumn is in the air. And so we come once again to that magical time of the year known by the sober curious as Sober October!
I first learned about Sober October back in 2020 during the drudgery of covid lockdowns. Ironically, I was picking up a curbside order from BevMo (and quite a robust one at that!). I asked the clerk a question about his favorite fall beer and he curtly responded, “I don’t have one. It’s Sober October.”
“Sober October?” I reflected. I had never heard the term, but somehow I felt myself drawn to it. By this point in the pandemic I was drinking like a fish nearly every night and a break from alcohol seemed alluring. But it would be another 2+ years before I attempted a sober month when I successfully tackled Dry January. After that personal accomplishment, I finally appreciated the benefits of taking a month long break from alcohol.
“Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most.”
— Abraham Lincoln
While it’s been 441 days since I used cannabis of any kind, I’ve only managed to string together one completely alcohol free month since I began this journey. That was a Dry January which ended eight months ago. Therefore, I feel ready to tackle another dry month. Especially since as I mindfully examine the frequency of my drinking, I’ve noticed an uptick. Don’t misunderstand, it’s nothing in the realm of my covid fueled binge drinking, but even the slightest increase gives me pause.
Sober October is a good time for a reset!
Why Do Sober October?
Sober October, like any dry month, provides a number of benefits for those who feel they could use a break from drinking. Even if you’re not a frequent or binge drinker, taking a month off is beneficial for a number of reasons. These include:
- Health and Well-Being: Sober October can provide a break from alcohol consumption, allowing your body to recover and rejuvenate. This can lead to physical and mental health benefits, such as improved sleep, better liver function, and increased mental clarity.
- Self-Reflection: Sober October offers an opportunity to reflect on your relationship with alcohol. It’s a chance to evaluate your drinking habits and consider whether they align with your long-term wellbeing.
- Financial Savings: Cutting out alcohol for a month can save you money. Sometimes a lot of money! This can be particularly impactful if you are trying to budget or save money.
- Social Connections: Participating in Sober October can encourage you to seek out alternative activities and socialize with friends and family in different ways. It can help you build stronger connections without relying on alcohol.
- Personal Challenge: Sober October provides a personal challenge that can boost your self-discipline and willpower. Completing a sober month challenge can provide you with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
- Community & Support: Many people take part in Sober October as part of a group or with friends, providing a sense of community and support. Sharing the experience with others can make it more enjoyable and easier to stick with your goals.
- Improved Sleep: Alcohol is known to disrupt sleep patterns. A month of sobriety can lead to better and more restful sleep, which can have a positive impact on your overall well-being and productivity.
- Mental Clarity: Abstaining from alcohol may result in increased mental clarity and focus and better decision making.
- Weight Loss: If you’ve been consuming alcohol regularly, eliminating those empty calories for a month can contribute significantly to weight loss.
- Clearer Skin: Improved liver function may result in clearer healthier skin.
- Inspiration for Change: Sober October can serve as a stepping stone for making longer-term changes in your alcohol consumption habits. It may inspire you to continue moderating your drinking or even consider quitting altogether if you find it beneficial.
- It Rhymes: Enough said.
Beware Of Candy!
One of the dangers anyone taking a break from alcohol needs to consider is that of addiction swapping. I’m not suggesting that you’re addicted to anything (if you think you may be, I have a resource page that may be helpful). But even if you aren’t addicted to alcohol, your brain may miss the dopamine rush of consuming it. And it will actively seek out alternatives!
As a result, you may find yourself fighting off cravings, particularly for sweets. And let’s face it, it wouldn’t be October if we didn’t have abundant and ubiquitous candy. As you may have guessed, Halloween is the largest holiday in terms of candy sales (Easter is second), so candy is quite literally everywhere!
While many sober months have the potential for weight loss, Sober October has the added challenge of being awash in candy, especially if you have trick-or-treating aged kids. And before you may realize what hit you, you’re unwrapping your 11th Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and washing it down with a handful of Kit Kats. If you’re not paying attention, addiction swapping can sneak right up on you and present another (albeit related) set of challenges to overcome.
Sober October is a time to be extremely mindful of the sweet sugary temptations that increasingly conspire against you as the month goes on. But, hey, if you successfully make it to Halloween, feel free to indulge a little from your kiddos bulging candy sacks. Afterall, you earned it!
The Sober October Challenge
While most folks associate Sober October with taking a break from alcohol, there is no reason to stop there. What about pot? What about gambling? Sugar? Caffeine? Shopping?
I’m not suggesting that you take on all of these vices at once. But what if you took a 30 day sugar break? (I admit any other month would be preferable to October). Or a 30 day caffeine break?
As for me, I’ve been marijuana and cannabis sober since July 2022, so I’m going to focus on making my Sober October purely about taking time off from alcohol. That’s what I need to focus on. To hell with Octoberfest!
But seriously, taking stock of where you can cleanse and heal your mind and body for a month can do nothing but benefit you over the long haul. Staying sober (from just about anything) for a month can help break addictive cycles and can also force you to sit with whatever emotions come up in the process, rather than masking them with substances, food, or destructive habits.
And I think this can be the scariest part of any sober month – sitting with your emotions. Afterall, the thought of confronting a pile of suppressed emotions frightens the heck out of most people. And rightfully so. Without masking, emotions are laid bare. And that can be A LOT to deal with.
But while Halloween is designed to be scary, Sober October doesn’t have to be! Don’t be afraid to seek out professional counselling if you need help unpacking your emotional baggage.
Is Sober October For You?
It’s important to remember that Sober October is not a one-size-fits-all challenge. The experience will vary from person to person. For some, abstinence comes quite naturally while for others, stringing together even a single day of alcohol freedom will prove painfully challenging.
Whether you decide to participate or not, it’s essential you make informed choices about your alcohol use. If you have concerns about alcohol dependence or withdrawal, consider consulting with a healthcare professional before attempting a sober month. There’s no need to take any unnecessary risks with your health.
For me, Sober October is a time to reset. It’s a chance to bring discipline to bear on, what at times, can be a challenging relationship. And you know what, I just might discover something about myself in the process. If Sober October proves very difficult for me, I’ll need to take a harder look at my relationship with alcohol – and what I believe I’ve accomplish in my beliefs about alcohol’s impact on my life.
Happy Halloween and I wish you a safe and fun Sober October!
