In this episode, I’m joined by the lovely Sally German, a coach who shares her inspiring journey of quitting alcohol and how journaling became a powerful part of her recovery and personal growth.

Sally’s story is incredibly relatable—like so many women, her drinking was woven into her social life, career, and stress management. But after years of questioning her relationship with alcohol, trying to moderate, and experiencing the emotional toll it took, she made the brave decision to quit for good.

We also dive deep into one of my favourite tools for sobriety and self-discovery: journaling. If you’ve ever felt a bit weird writing things down or didn’t know where to start, this conversation will give you the nudge you need.

✨ What We Talked About:

Sally’s Journey

• First drink at 10 or 11—can you believe it?

• Drinking quickly became the norm in her late teens and twenties

• She tried all the moderation tricks (dry months, training for a marathon) before finally saying goodbye to alcohol

• It took around 10 years from her first “maybe I should stop” moment to full sobriety

The Challenges of Quitting

• Societal conditioning and the fear of missing out are real

• Friends often didn’t understand her choice, which made things even tougher

• Sally shares how hard it was to imagine social life or travel without alcohol—but also how freeing it’s been since quitting

Journaling for Sobriety & Growth

• Journaling started as something awkward for Sally… and me too, to be honest!

• Now it’s a daily essential for both of us

• It’s not just about writing—it’s a space for emotional release, pattern spotting, and serious self-awareness

Tips for Starting a Journaling Practice

• Keep it simple: start with “Right now I feel…” or “Today I’m feeling…”

• 5 minutes is plenty to begin with

• Try it in the morning with your coffee or at night to wind down

• Push through the initial discomfort—it gets easier, and the insights are so worth it

💬 Ready to Give Journaling a Go? Start small, stay curious, and be kind to yourself. It doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be honest.

You can connect with Sally German Coaching over on Instagram for more journaling inspo and support.

And who knows? I might have Sally back soon to dive even deeper into this gorgeous practice!

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or come hang out with me on Instagram @the_sarah_leather. I’d love to hear your thoughts.