Why I Love Sober Holidays

When I pause and take a moment to reflect on this because, I can now as I'm not consumed by alcohol. With the internal chatter of ‘How many drinks will I have today?’ or ‘What time is acceptable to start?’ And I'm not nursing a hangover or drinking, for that matter.

It is actually a big thing for me and something I am very proud of; growing up as a child, alcohol played a huge role in holidays 🏖️😎 My Mum and Dad used to love an all-inclusive holiday, I would watch them having so much fun, laughing and getting up on the stage taking part in all of the kids and family competitions. You know the ‘Mum, do your best Turkey impression.’ And my Mum answered, really confused, ‘What does sound does a turkey do?’ From a very young age, I learnt alcohol equalled fun. And those holidays were for drinking lots of alcohol, as I watched my parents cure their hangovers with more drinks from the all-inclusive bar when it opened up the following day. 

And so when my parents divorced, and it was just me, my Dad and my brothers on the all-inclusive holidays, I knew I could play on the ‘I’m from a broken home, you need to be seen as the fun parent and let me drink with the older kids’. At 13 years old, I created my neuropathways and alcohol-associated that when I’m on holiday, I drink to have fun! For over 15 years, holidays just meant a big piss-up for me, an excuse to drink every day and sometimes all day every day! I then strengthened this belief with experiences with the girls on holidays to Zante, Malia, a season in Ibiza, Las Vegas and then a bag-packing trip around Australia. 

How did alcohol play a role in your life growing up? Was it pretty similar to mine?

So, of course, my first sober holiday felt so different; it felt like I was doing it all wrong. I was doing it completely differently from what I had been so used to! This sober holiday, I am over a year into my sobriety, I couldn't be more excited. I wouldn't want to be doing my holiday any differently! Here are five things I love about sober holidays:

1️⃣ I now enjoy being in the present and savour the special moments ☺️ and enjoy doing the tourist things 🌊 instead of my mind being consumed with where am I next getting my drink from 👀 and wasting days because I am so hungover 🤮

2️⃣ I get to create beautiful holiday memories 🎬 and spend quality time with my loved one whilst still feeling fully involved drinking my mocktails or alcohol-free wine 👩‍❤️‍👨 instead of drunkenly blacking out ⬛

3️⃣ I get to enjoy my mornings on holiday and keep consistent with my meditations 🧘‍♀️journaling 📝 and workouts 🏃‍♀️instead of being in a restless and far from restorative sleep 💤

4️⃣ I wake up every day fresh, energised, grateful, content and excited 🥹 instead of full of anxiety, shame, hatred and regret 😥

5️⃣ I get to read the books I bring 📚instead of them just sitting in my bag staring at me whilst I have a banging headache, not even able to read a sentence 🥴