It sucks being addicted to anything. You know you have a problem. You feel guilty every time. You tell yourself you are going to change every time. That is the best case scenario. The worst case is that your excessive drinking is hurting your life or your family. Millions of people have gone what you have gone through and those people have found all the wrong ways to fail and all the right ways to succeed.
 
The good news is that you do not have to beat alcoholism alone. You do not have to try failing strategies because others have already discovered what does not work. According to the Clover House treatment center, professional help has the highest success rate. So always begin your recovery with the experts.
 
However, in this article, we are going to give you 5 powerful lifestyle tips to beat alcoholism.
 

1.Distractions, Distractions

Willpower is a depletable resource and should not be counted on.
 
Take your mind off what you are trying to avoid. Get your brain focused on a new hobby, an interesting book, new goals, or find a new show to binge watch. Note that you need replace your destructive habit with a new one.
 
Another idea is to get a pet. Not only do they improve mental health but they also become great buddies for walking with you down your healing path. They depend on you to take care of them, so you need to stay healthy so you can do so.
 
Lastly, fix your environment. Stop going to bars and stop spending time with other alcoholics. The greatest way to exercise your willpower is simply to not have to use it. Avoid putting yourself in environments where you will be tempted.
 
Clean your house out – remove all alcohol and spray the house down with a new smell.
 

2.Write About Your Day

Some people may think this is about journaling, which it could be, but this is simply a written verse of your day. With some people, they need things explained to them visually, so everyday write about how you feel after lunch, after a new activity, how you felt after you skipped your first day at the bar, etc.
 
After the first month, sit down and reread everything to see how you have improved by removing alcohol from your life. Have certain people come back? Has your job improved? Is your mental health better? Sometimes, in order to see the differences, seeing is believing!
 
Journaling will also help you notice patterns. You will start to see your greatest stressors, what times you feel most tempted and what variables are helping/getting in your way.
 

3.Visualize

 
Sometimes praying to a higher power is one of the only things that will help you. While all of you may not believe, all of us have at some point or another PRAYED. Prayer is a cry for help that can be answered in a multitude of ways – be it Godly or not. Faith-based healing is a popular way to get past many addictions and alcoholism. While it may not be your first choice, you always have the option to try it anyway.

Take it a step further and create a vision board. At first, the idea of a vision board sounds silly. However, the most successful entrepreneurs and high performance individuals on the planets have vision boards. Imagine what your future life will look like and set clear goals. Go online and start printing out pictures of your future goals and be wild about it. Want mansions, lamborghinis, and a 6 pack of abs (instead of beer)? Then print out pictures and put them on your board.
 

4.Help Others

Volunteering is a reward in and of itself. It inspires you to do things that you never thought you could do. And, in some cases, it helps to improve not only your mental state, but also your community.
 
Take the time to search for non-profit groups in your area that need help for an upcoming fundraiser or beautification project. You will find that the reward you receive by helping and giving to others is far better than any feeling that a bottle can give you. And no, we do not mean the immediate feeling of helping others – we mean the feeling you get when you see the impact you are making on other lives (and that usually takes a few weeks).
 
If you cannot find an organization, try simply going to a nursing home. Several residents do not have family to visit them, so it helps them to see a friendly face to liven up their lives.
 

5.Grab That Stress Ball

Worst case scenario; replace the alcohol with another item. Not another item like drugs, but some inanimate object like a stress ball. The item needs to be accessible at all times so that whenever you have the impulse to drink you can instead focus on the object. The worst thing you can do is to replace one bad habit with another (such as smoking).
 
While this may also technically be a “distraction” – it is different as in, with some items, you can take them with you. Are you going past your favorite bar and become tempted? Drag out the stress ball and pass it.
 
Countless people have been in your situation. Understand that alcoholism, while serious, is not special. Professional help always has the highest success rate. But if for any reason you cannot get professional help, we hope these tips help!
 
Have you or a loved one beat alcoholism?
What worked? What are your favorite tips?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
 

“PIN & SHARE”