Send me a message 🤗

What if the reason moderation keeps feeling so hard has nothing to do with willpower, and everything to do with using the right tool for the wrong job?

There are six distinct drivers behind why we drink more than we intend to — and most of us are cycling through all of them without realising it, applying the same blanket strategy regardless of what's actually going on. 

Cravings are not the same as habits. Fatigue is not the same as social pressure. And a moderation technique that works brilliantly when you're navigating a work do might be completely useless when you're pouring yourself something at home at the end of a long week.

This episode breaks down those six causes — cravings, social pressure, habit, reward, fatigue, and mood — with a diagnostic question for each one to help you pause, identify what's really going on, and choose a response that actually fits the moment. It's not about being stricter with yourself. It's about being smarter.

 

By the end of this episode, you'll be able to answer...

• Why do I keep drinking more than I mean to, even when I genuinely want to cut back?
• Am I actually experiencing social pressure, or is that coming from me?
• What's the difference between a craving and a habit — and does it matter?
• Is the drink I reach for after work a reward or a reaction?
• Which moderation technique — zebra striping, pacing, coasting — should I actually be using in different situations?
• How do I stop treating the symptom and start dealing with the cause?
• What question should I ask myself before I pour the next drink?

 

0:00 Why Moderation Feels Hard
3:07 Cravings Explained
5:01 Social Pressure Real Or Projected
8:42 Habit Versus Conscious Choice
10:39 The Reward Trap
12:55 Alcohol, Fatigue And The Sleep Myth
15:52 Drinking Through Bad Moods & Good
18:16 Six Questions To Match The Cause
27:24 Make Alcohol Your Choice
27:50 Get More In The Vault

 

Related Episodes:

173. Alcohol Cravings Don't Last As Long As You Think (And 4 Steps To Take When One Hits) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2229527/episodes/19053289

111: Drinking on Autopilot: How Daily Stress Fuels Your Evening Habits - https://www.mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/2229527/episodes/17853665

 

Join the membership and get the resources you need to make the change you want - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault

===
You can email me at [email protected]

===
🗝️ Join the membership and unlock full access to The Vault - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.