Sober Glow Newsletter

November 21, 2025

NOVEMBER EDITION

Your monthly dose of sober strength, glowing skin, clean beauty, mocktails & motivation.

Hello Sober Glow Getters!

Welcome to the very first edition of my monthly Sober Glow Newsletter , something I’ve wanted to create for such a long time but you know how busy this sober lifestyle gets! Today I am celebrating 9 YEARS SOBER and I thought it’s the perfect time to launch my monthly newsletter!

Every month, you’ll get a blend of:

✨ My top sober tips
✨ Skincare & makeup recommendations
✨ A “mocktail of the month”
✨ A motivating read
✨ A glow-boosting self-care ritual
✨ Info on joining my Glow Sisterhood
✨ Plus a sneak peek at Tropic’s latest offers

I’m so excited to bring us all together in one space to support, inspire, and lift each other through this beautiful sober self-care lifestyle.

🌱 My Top 9 Tips for 9 Years Sober

Today marks 9 years alcohol-free – I can not belive its been 9 years, it feels like I have created a whole new me in that time! 9 years of clarity, peace, strength and creating a life I love 😍

I am always getting messages asking for my top tips so here are the nine tips that have helped me the most on my sober jounrey:

1. Romanticise your sober life.
Make it feel special and make it a priority! Especially in those early days create cosy rituals, make time for you and make YOU and your recovery a priority.

2. Treat self-care as non-negotiable.
Self care is so important and it really is how we take our power back – from an early night with a hot chocolate and a book or Netflix, promising yourself a walk every day, healthy food and new recipes, a long hot bath and pamper night, taking yourself on a date – for a coffee or the cinema. Its all about doing the things that YOU want to do and MAKING yourself a priority.

3. Know your triggers & plan ahead.
Preparation removes pressure. When I quit I was determined to keep all the Christmas dates in my diary, I just thought if I can get through these sober and the whole of Christmas I can get through anything. BUT I had a few tools in my tool box to help, some people were more than happy with me saying I had an early morning start so was driving, whilst others wouldn’t take that as an answer so a couple of times I would say I was on antibiotics. It worked!

I made sure that food was involved! Sitting and enjoying lovely food was a novelty to me as I always ate less to drink more, food was an inconvenience!

Make sure you have your AF drinks in stock too – at the start of my sober journey these helped me a lot.

4. Don’t isolate — connect.
Find supportive people and uplifting spaces. This can be online or in person – for me a lot of my support has been on line. Just find your people, the people who light you up! Who give you the good energy, the good vibes, they don’t have to be sober but they need to lift you up on your journey.

5. Move your body for your mind.
Exercise is therapy. Exercise has been my go to since day one of my journey, even if it meant just getting out for a walk in those early days. Now I workout most days and push myself with weights and cardio and have even signed up to the Manchester Hyrox in January! Mentally it just keeps me on track and if you want more proof just read these stats……..

Exercise releases natural mood boosters (serotonin, dopamine, endorphins).

Just 15 minutes a day can reduce depression risk by 26%.

Movement reduces anxiety by up to 30%.

Improves sleep by 65%, which massively boosts mood.

Regular exercisers have 43% fewer low-mood days.

6. Replace the glass with a ritual.
Mocktails, tea, AF fizz, whatever you fancy but one thing I have realised is the GLASS is more important than the drink! I still LOVE a gorgeous big glass even if its full of something simple like a sparkling water or diet coke – its all about the glass!

7. Celebrate every milestone.
Small or huge, acknowledge it all. At the start of my journey my goal was a sober Christmas and then 100 days, then 6 months, a year and every year after that! Celebrate your sober milestones with a little treat to YOU (or a big treat) I’m planning on a mini break next year for my ten years! This year I have finally got myself a coffee machine that I have wanted for ages – in the early days I would just have a day off work and go for lunch! Big or small celebrate it all! And don’t forget if you are looking for selfcare treats, I am your girl!

8. Educate yourself.
Keep learning, growing, and staying empowered. Our sober journeys are an ongoing path of self development and self discovery – podcasts, books, inspiring Instagram accounts, new challenges and pushing yourself out of that comfort zone is really what its all about.

9. Remember: you’re not losing anything, you’re gaining everything.
My sober journey really has been the gift that keeps on giving, I literally put down the glass and picked up a new life!! And you can do the same!

🍸 Mocktail of the Month: Glow & Berries Spritz

Ingredients:

  • Sparkling water or alcohol-free fizz
  • A splash of raspberry cordial or AF mulled wine cordial
  • Frozen berries
  • Fresh mint
  • Ice

How to make it:
Fill your glass with ice, pour your fizz, add cordial, berries, and mint.
Refreshing, simple, and perfect for a cosy night in-all the festive vibes without the hangover!

✨ 5-Minute Gua Sha Facelift Ritual

I shared this demo on my socials earlier this month and had great feed back! From the drinking me who would very rarely wash her face at the end of the night (normally too drunk, tired or both!) I absolutely love having a good skincare routine and this is an essential part of mine!

Why I love it:
A Gua Sha routine helps reduce puffiness, softens tension, boosts circulation and gives you that natural “calm glow”. It’s a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself at the end of the day and even repeat a couple of positive affirmations as you do it.

👉 5 Minute Gua Sha Routine

📚 Motivating Read of the Month:

The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley

When I started my sober journey, Clare’s words were like a lifeline – honest, funny, emotional and so real. She helped me feel seen, supported and understood in a way I didn’t even know I needed.

Clare has been one of my biggest inspirations, and I’m so honoured to be mentioned in the acknowledgements. It’s something I’ll always treasure.

If you’re sober or sober-curious, this book is uplifting, relatable and full of hope.
A beautiful reminder that life on the other side of alcohol is brighter, calmer and so much more you.

Get your copy here!

🌿 Glow With Tropic — Join My Team and share your sober glow!

If you love clean beauty, self-care and empowering other women, joining Tropic could be a life-changing next step – which came naturally to me after I got sober. At a time I was looking for toxin free beauty and skincare and really thinking about what I was putting on my skin and in my body, the business side of things was never planned! It all happened organically – which is what I love about it, zero pressure!

What you get when you join:
✨ The Tropic Starter Kit filled with bestselling skincare & our founding product, the gorgeous Body Smooth!
✨ 25% off all your own products
✨ Flexible – work online, in person or both. Zero targets or pressure, you have full control and can do as little or as much as you want to do!
✨ A supportive community of Glow Sisters – I have around 100 ladies on the team now and its all grown organically from customers who LOVE the products, and we have quite a few sober glow ladies on there now too!
✨ Personal guidance from me as your mentor – I will be with you every step of the way!!

If you’d love more info, just reach out, I’d love to support you on your Tropic Sober Glow Journey!

🎁 Tropic’s Give Back Friday Offer!

This months offer is truly special one of our most generous yet with something for you and our Charities! click the link below to find out more

👉 www.tropicskincare.com/angiefairclough

See You Next Month for lots of festive top tips for a sober Christmas to remember!

Thank you for being here and walking this journey with me.
Every month I’ll be dropping into your inbox with sober tips, self-care, skincare, mocktails and all the glow you need.

If you enjoyed this November edition, please share with your sober sisters and your socials. Don’t forget to leave a comment or send me a message to let me know what you think – I love hearing from you.

Please check out my linktree https://linktr.ee/soberglowgetter and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter/ for other ways to connect. I am here for you at every step of your sober glow journey.

Keep glowing 🌟

Love Angie xx

Something New Is Coming……

October 22, 2025

Exciting News-The SoberGlow Getter Monthly Newsletter is Launching In November!

I’m so excited to share that I’ll now be posting on my blog once a month, and all my lovely followers will receive each post straight to their inbox as part of my brand-new Sober Glow Getter Monthly Newsletter! 💌

Each month, I’ll be bringing you a fresh dose of sober sparkle designed to keep you inspired, motivated, and glowing from the inside out. Every edition will include:

🌿 Top Sober Tips for the Season – practical advice to help you stay strong, aligned, sober and stress free no matter the time of year.
🍸 Mocktail of the Month – a delicious alcohol-free drink recipe to enjoy at home or when you feel like a little alcohol free treat!
📚 Motivational or Sober Book Recommendation – something uplifting to feed your mind and soul.
💆‍♀️ Sober Self-Care Tips – ideas to help you get back to you, selfcare comes in so many ways and we will be looking at them all.
💄 Clean Beauty, Skincare, or Makeup Tutorial – featuring my favourite Tropic products, night time and morning routines, makup tips and glowing skin secrets.

This monthly blog and newsletter will be your go-to dose of support, inspiration, and self-care to help you live your best sober glow life.

If you’re not already subscribed, make sure you sign up so you don’t miss out! Your monthly reminder that sobriety is the ultimate glow-up ✨

Let’s keep glowing, growing, and thriving together, one day, one month at a time!

Big Love,
Angie x
@Soberglowgetter

“Top 5 Tips for a Sober Holiday!”

June 11, 2025

Welcome back!

Last month I celebrated 8 and a half years of sobriety, and marked the occasion by starting up my own YouTube channel! Its the perfect place for me to chat all things Sobriety, Selfcare, Skincare, Health and wellness – how to THRIVE in sobriety and not just survive.

Something I get asked a LOT, is how do I holiday sober? One of my latest posts is all about this and you can listen to it here Subscribe here

With over 8 years of sobriety under my belt, I know first hand that holidays can bring unique challenges when you’re alcohol-free. BUT they can also be the most beautiful, clear, recharging and refreshing times when you’re present and prepared.

Here are my Top 5 Sober Holiday Tips to help you build your sober toolbox and enjoy a holiday you’ll actually remember — hangover free!

1. Remember Your Why

  • Reconnect with the reason you chose a sober life — your health, your peace, your relationships, your freedom.
  • Write it down, keep a reminder on your phone, or say it out loud before big events.
  • When temptation arises, your “why” becomes your anchor.

2. Do Things Differently

  • Break old patterns. If holidays used to revolve around alcohol, try a fresh approach.
  • Choose new destinations, activities, or people that align with your sober lifestyle.
  • Shift the focus from drinking to experience, connection, and self-care.

3. Stay Connected to the New You

  • Keep routines that support your sobriety: journaling, walks, skincare, meditation — whatever keeps you grounded.
  • Don’t leave your sober self at home when you pack your suitcase!
  • Be proud of the version of you that’s showing up fully present.

4. Enjoy It ALL!

  • You’re not missing out. You’re gaining so much more: energy, memory, real joy.
  • Savour the mornings, the conversations, the food, the laughter — all without the fog.
  • Celebrate the freedom of living authentically and Feeling amazing and hangover free.

5. Play It Forward

  • If you feel tempted, fast-forward in your mind to how you’ll feel after a drink; the regret, the hangover, the lost progress.
  • Then play forward your sober choice; the pride, the clarity, the peace.
  • Use visualization as a powerful mindset tool to stay on track.

Holidays are for making memories, not losing them. They are all about coming home feeling refreshed, recharged and relaxed – not coming home needing another holiday!

With these tips in your sober toolkit, you can travel, celebrate, and live your best life with clarity and confidence.

Other things I have been loving this month……………..

New Tropic Makeup! Visit my shop link or message me to find out more www.tropicskincare.com/angiefairclough

PLUS this is very exciting…….My VIP Sober glow summer bundle offer, perfect for that sober getaway! This is only available direct through me so just message me to order!

Ten Month Transformation 10 month update on my fitness journey and I am finally starting to see the result!! Head over to my Sober Glow insta post for all the info.

And also I have finally set the date for our Sober Glow Summer social in Manchester, I would love to see you there! We have approx 5 spaces left – its the perfect opportunity to connect and share the sober inspo in person.

PLUS if you would like a Sober Glow self care pack posting out just let me know and I will get one to you. (Free if you are in the UK)

If you have any top tips for a sober holiday then please let me know in comments or share them on my you tube channel – I would love to hear from you.

As always your support means the world to me, and I promise to keep my blog more upto date for you! I now have lots of ways we can connect…….

Instagram

You Tube

Shop link 💚

Email – Weightsnotwine@gmail.com

Looking forward to sharing the Soberglow support with you!

Big Love

Angie xxx

“Top Ten Tips For A SoberGlow Summer”

May 20, 2024

Staying sober during the summer can be challenging, especially with the numerous social events, parties, and gatherings that often involve alcohol. However, a sober summer can be incredibly rewarding, providing you with clarity, health benefits, and the opportunity to create meaningful memories. Here are ten tips to help you enjoy a sober summer:

1.Plan Ahead

Identify Triggers: Recognize situations or events that might trigger the desire to drink. Whether it’s certain people, places, or emotions, being aware of your triggers can help you prepare for them.
Set Goals: Establish clear, achievable goals for your summer. Whether it’s staying sober for a month, attending a specific number of events sober, or achieving personal milestones, having goals can keep you motivated.
Develop Strategies: Plan how to handle situations where you might feel pressured to drink. This could include having a definite answer in place when asked why not drinking, bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages, or having a friend you can call for support. And don’t forget I’m here – sometimes a simple “you can do this” reply is all you need!

2.Find Sober Activities
Explore New Hobbies: Summer is a great time to try new activities that don’t involve alcohol, everyone is at the gym or trying to get healthier in the summer so that’s a fab place to start. So look for new classes, maybe wild water swimming or walking groups, yoga, the list goes on!
Join Clubs or Groups: Look for local groups or clubs that focus on sober activities. Whether it’s a book club, a sports team, or a volunteer organization, being part of a community can provide support and keep you engaged.
Attend Sober Events: These are definitely getting more and more popular – many communities offer alcohol-free events such as outdoor movies, concerts, and festivals. Check local listings for sober-friendly events.

3. Stay Active
Warmer and brighter days encourage us to move more and do more so have an exercise plan in place and stick to it – make that your focus. Physical activity can reduce stress and improve your mood, making it easier to stay sober. Find an exercise routine you enjoy – that’s key to sticking to it. I always feel like I want to do more in the house too when its summer, have a declutter or a deep clean if you feel the wine witch calling, especially in the evenings.

4. Build a Support Network
Reach Out to Friends and Family: IF (big IF) your family are supportive let them know about your commitment to staying sober. Their support and encouragement can be invaluable. When I initially quit I didn’t tell anyone apart from my husband as I didn’t want the added pressure and negative comments from people who didn’t think I could do it. So don’t feel like you have to tell the everyone, maybe just a chosen few. Instagram and social media is amazing for this, as you find your people – people who are getting sober who are sober just like you – like all my sober glow gals, all encouraging one another.
Join Support Groups: Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offer meetings and resources for those looking to stay sober. Connecting with others who understand your journey can provide strength and inspiration. See what is available in your are, you might just be pleasantly surprised!
Find a Sober Buddy: Partner with a friend who is also committed to staying sober. You can support each other, attend events together, and hold each other accountable.

5. Create a Sober Sanctuary
Design a Sober Space: Dedicate a space in your home to relaxation and sobriety. Fill it with items that bring you peace and joy, such as books, candles, or plants. This could be the bathroom for a long lovely bath, a quiet place in the garden or just in your bedroom. Somewhere you can escape and be away from any temptation to drink.
Remove Temptations: If possible, remove alcohol from your home or create a plan to avoid areas where you keep it. This reduces the likelihood of impulsive drinking. As I quit in November this wasn’t really an option for me as we had all the seasonal booze in the house, I remember moving it out of the kitchen and into the garage for a few weeks. But I found taking myself upstairs and not sat on the settee downstairs helped me a lot, as you know I spent a lot of my drinking time sat on the settee.
Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness practices such as meditation or journaling. These activities can help you stay grounded and focused on your sobriety.

6. Stay Hydrated
Drink Plenty of Water: Staying hydrated is crucial, especially during the summer. Don’t let yourself get confused it’s an alcohol craving when really its just being thirsty. Plus you want that glowing sober skin so water and staying hydrated is a must.
Explore Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Experiment with different non-alcoholic drinks like sparkling water, herbal teas, or mocktails. Personally I love a V&T (ACV and tonic water) in the warmer months, refreshing and looks just like a G&T, plus super healthy too! Having a tasty alternative in your hand feels like a comfort blanket, and it can make it easier to refuse alcohol.
Attend to Nutrition: Don’t let yourself get HANGRY – I found this a huge trigger for me. Eating a balanced diet can help stabilize your mood and energy levels, reducing the temptation to drink.

7. Develop New Traditions
Host Sober Gatherings: I know, I get it Summer is hard – bbq’s, daytime drinking and just being more sociable! But why not plan and organise your own social events that don’t involve alcohol. This could be a lovely walk and stopping off for tea, an outdoor movie night, a pamper and selfcare evening with the girls ( I can help with this!) Sobriety opens up a whole new world!
Celebrate Milestones: Mark important milestones in your sobriety with special, alcohol-free celebrations. Recognizing your achievements can boost your confidence and motivation. I always took time out to celebrate even just the small days when I first got sober, do it, treat yourself – you are worth it!! Plus look how much you are saving now sober!.

8. Focus on Personal Growth
Set Personal Goals: Use the summer to work on personal development. Whether it’s taking a course, reading more, or improving a skill, focusing on growth can keep your mind occupied and away from thoughts of drinking.
Reflect on Your Journey: Take time to reflect on your sobriety journey. Journaling about your experiences, challenges, and successes can provide insight and motivation. This could become your new evening routine if you feel like it’s the evening time that you struggle, and there is nothing better than seeing how far you’ve come.
Seek Professional Help: If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to seek help from a therapist or counsellor. There is so much help out there these days and professional guidance can provide you with tools and strategies to maintain your sobriety.

9. Prepare for Social Situations
Have an Exit Strategy: If you find yourself in a situation where you’re tempted to drink, have a plan to leave. Being able to drive home when you want plays a huge part in this! And don’t feel like you have to say bye, people will persuade you to stay – but in all honesty they are probably too drunk to notice you have gone. So if its easier just do a back door boogie!!
Practice Saying No: And remember that NO is an answer. It’s okay to decline a drink or leave an event early. Practice saying no politely but firmly, and remember that your sobriety is more important than social pressures.
Bring a Friend: Attending social events with a sober friend can provide support and reduce the temptation to drink, or even just let whoever you are with know your plans and that you might be leaving if its all too much and you need to escape.

10. Celebrate Your Sober Summer & Play It Forward
Whenever you are struggling or start doubting yourself, remember to play it forward. Its September, the kids are back to school, you are feeling A-MAZ-ING, you are glowing after a summer of looking after YOU, you aren’t bloated from all the wine, you have been exercising and practicing self care and just feel amazing! You feel confident in your sobriety and ready for a sober Autumn and Christmas and next thing you know it’s a whole sober year done! Bring on the next!

Reflect on Your Success: At the end of the summer, take time to reflect on your accomplishments. Celebrate the progress you’ve made and set new goals for the future.
Share Your Story: Consider sharing your sober summer experience with others. Whether through social media, a blog, or in a support group, your story can inspire and encourage others.

A sober summer can be a transformative experience, offering you the chance to explore new activities, develop personal growth, and build lasting memories without alcohol. By planning ahead, finding supportive communities, staying active, and focusing on personal growth, you can enjoy a fulfilling and enjoyable sober summer. Remember, each day sober is an achievement worth celebrating.

I have also done other blog posts that focus on summer vacations and holidays which you might find helpful, so make sure you check those out too.

Plus there are some fab summer reads that I highly recommend, check them out on my Amazon link https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/soberglowgetter/list/2BG5CCMRN0E7O?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfsoberglowgetter_APDECG8WRCFG2YS1QJA0

If you are looking to add more selfcare and skincare into your life then I can send out a sober selfcare pamper pack for you (free if in the UK) just send me a message or comment below. Or click on the link to and browse my shop http://www.tropicskincare.com/angiefairclough

As always I will be sharing daily sober inspo over on my Instagram page so remember to connect with me there too http://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter/

Lots more Bali photos to come too, I’m just back from a week there with work and it was amazing! Keep a look out for more!

Big Love

Angie xxx

“7 Sober Lessons From 7 Years Sober!”

November 21, 2023

Today marks my 7 years sober milestone!!!!! I keep going from thinking how is it 7 years?, to feeling like I have been sober forever. The old drinking me is someone I just do not know, I have no connection to her anymore – thankfully she’s a total stranger BUT she taught me some lessons!

It feels like a huge milestone and something I want to celebrate with you guys and also give back. For those who are in the early days and seven days seems impossible never mind 7 years, ( I was that girl) I want to share the top seven things I have learned so far :

Lesson ONE – The sober me is the real me!

The sober you is the real, authentic you. Its who you were made to be! You discover such a sense of self awareness when you lose the booze and you will find that a new you emerges. You will be truer to yourself, you will say YES to what you love, you will create stronger friendships and relationships as you are the true version of you.

I used to be a constant people pleaser, changing who I was to please others – it was so draining. Alcohol helped me put on whatever persona I needed for the situation. I didn’t know myself I was so busy being whatever I needed to be for other people. Now my focus is being the real me and doing what I love! And once you are in that mindset you attract everything that is meant for the authentic you!

Lesson TWO – There is sooooooo much more to life!

When I was drinking, alcohol would be the CENTRE of everything! What time are we drinking? will there be booze? Who else is drinking? What time does the bar open? I would use any excuse I could find to involve alcohol. I didn’t give myself a chance to even TRY and have fun without it!

Now my life is full of so many amazing things, I have said yes to opportunities that the drinking me would have just sat and dreamed about. Girls like me didn’t do things like that! Well the sober me changed that and you can too! You can dance, get on a stage, change your career, ugly belly laugh, see the world and live a full and exciting life sober – use you new found sober confidence to go out and grab that new sober life, its out there waiting!

Lesson THREE – Sober Sleep Is Another Level

In the early days of my sober journey I would head off to bed super early with a hot choc and a book, to take me out of the way of temptation and get myself our of the habit of drinking on the settee AND because sober sleep is a luxury. There is no better feeling than your head hitting the pillow and you know you will be getting an uninterrupted 8 hours, and even better you have done your skincare, brushed your teeth and made it into your pj’s – I like being a little extra and spraying my pillow mist too!

Compare that to passing our on the settee or flopping into bed after drinking, makeup on, teeth not brushed and already massively dehydrated! Just to wake up three hours later sweating, feeling sick, total anxiety and the worst wine breath. We all know that feeling and its no wonder we wake up feeling drained and tired and once again waiting for wine time to feel better!

Lesson FOUR – Life’s not perfect, and that’s ok!

I used to always want to be in control of a situation, which is so crazy as drinking saw me lose all self control. Now I can handle change, disappointment and the days that just aren’t that great, so much better than before. I would always make it all about me – how I was affected, how I had been let down, poor little old me – who would need wine to help her feel better.

If I told you the past seven years have seen me skipping through pink fields with unicorns everyday, I would be lying! Of course I still have rubbish days, still feel let down, still have to change my plans or my direction – but now I’m much better equipped to take a deep breath, learn from it and move on. I guess I’ve got a sober tool kit and my new way of dealing with things – which I have had to learn for myself along the way. Exercise, walks, retail therapy, decluttering, working, spending time with those I love – are all ways for me to deal with those feelings that used to have me reaching for a couple of bottles of wine. It takes time to find out what works for you but its good to know that when things fall apart you have things to turn to to get through.

Lesson FIVE – I’m a better Mum, Daughter, Wife and Friend

They say you love the ones you hurt the most and the I think the drinking you is the most selfish version of you. When I was drinking I would get to the point that all that mattered was having that next drink, I would say things I couldn’t remember, let people down, embarrass myself and those I loved – all for alcohol.

Its good to know that now I’m giving the people I love the best of me, ALL of the time! My girls will forever be my reason why, they were 7 & 10 when I quit and just starting to notice I was different when the wine was around. And although I regret not stopping sooner I’m so glad I stopped when I did so they have fewer memories of how I was then. I just know I’m a better person, I am more tuned in, I can pick up on peoples feelings, I look out for those I love and I want to nurture the relationships I have with my family and friends now.

Lesson SIX – Wine is not selfcare!

What a revelation! Who knew!! Alcohol is NOT selfcare!! “Treat myself to a bottle of wine” was one of my favourite sayings. Treating myself to cheer myself up or reward myself for something good – or just to celebrate getting half way trough the week! Wine would be there as my treat!

Now I’m all about REAL self care and for me this looks like; saying no to something or someone, setting boundaries, turning off my phone, pamper nights, retail therapy, early PJ night (or afternoon!), good food, a fab gym session with time for a sauna, a good coffee, catching up with friends, snuggles on the settee, early nights, sleepy mornings and cake! Self care comes in so many ways, it’s what makes you feel like you, what brings you back home to yourself.

Lesson SEVEN – NEVER be ashamed of your story

When I first stopped drinking in 2016 I had been trying to quit for about 18 months. During that time I was obsessed with secretly snooping around sober blogs and online sober groups, but would never sign up or comment, I felt to ashamed. How had I ended up being someone who cant drink normally like everyone else? I wasn’t that bad was I? Then every Monday morning would confirm I DID have a problem, the guilt and anxiety was screaming at me to change.

It took me 12 months of sobriety before I set up this blog and my Instagram account. It was then that I started connecting with others and hearing how I was helping them, helped me keep sharing my story and its now something I am so proud of. Second to having my beautfiul girls its the best decision I have ever made.

We suffer in so much silence and shame, sneaking drinks, trying to cover up slurring words, defending ourselves the next morning saying we do remember, trying to walk straight and pull ourselves together. Sneaking into the kitchen for an extra top up, hiding drinks in a cup in the day on as Sunday to survive the hangover, hiding bottles, saying ooh lets have a drink when you know you’ve had three already, pretending you have to get something from the shop so you can get more wine and saying you have a cold so you can have a “large hot toddy” on a night you promised you wouldn’t drink.

These are ALL part of my journey, all part of me and who I am today. Don’t be ashamed of anything the drinking you has done because hating yourself will not help you heal! Accept it, embrace it, forgive yourself and then focus all your energy on building the new you – She’s out there waiting!

I feel like I have learnt so many other things along the way , but right now at this stage in my journey these feel the most significant to me and will hopefully help you too!

Let me know what you think, can you relate to these lessons? Or are you struggling? My inbox is always open and don’t forget to find me on Instagram for daily inspo. https://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter/

My plan is to start blogging more regularly too so please stay connected and lets smash this sober journey together!

Love

Angie xx

10 Top Tips For A Sober Christmas

December 22, 2022

Christmas can be a challenging time for us soberistas, whether its your first Sober Christmas or you have got a few under your belt – it can be a testing time. It’s a time when expectations of ourselves and others are high, we have a lot of dates in our diary, lots on our to do list – and alcohol is EVERYWHERE and its all about being merry and bright – right??!!

This will be my 7th sober Christmas and I think it’s a perfect time to share my tips and tricks to help you celebrate this festive season sober.

Six years ago when I decided to stop drinking, surviving Christmas was definitely at the forefront of my mind.  But as you know I love a challenge and part of me thought – look if I can get through Christmas not drinking then I can get through anything!  This will be my 7th sober Christmas and I can honestly say they are the best!  You feel like you get so much more out of it, there is so much more to do and so many more memories to make (and actually remember!).

Christmas for me used to be a all about the booze, a total free for all with zero control and the wheels would well and truly fall off. It was just the perfect time to drink with no restrictions and there are so many opportunities to celebrate – its just one month long party! I am someone who could polish off three bottles of wine plus more over Christmas day, and still cook Christmas dinner for all my family, so believe me I get it!  I wasn’t the ‘ooh I will just have a glass of Bailey’s’ sort of Christmas drinker, no it was a free for all for me from the start to the finish!

The reality for me was that the hangovers were next level, effecting me the next day and not feeling better until I had that next drink which got earlier and earlier each day. The Christmas before I quit was pretty bad, I had started to get the morning shakes and it scared me t- a lot! The only thing that made it go away was another drink, and although I carried on drinking for almost another year – I knew it was my body telling me to quit.

So here are my hints and tips for a sober Christmas and New Year that you get to truly enjoy AND most importantly get to REMEMBER every single second!

1 DECIDE YOU WANT TO BE SOBER – Sounds crazy but you have to go ALL IN! Make that promise to yourself and your family that you are going to be sober this Christmas. You can not have ANY doubt in your mind or any wobbles, because in the weak moments when people are pestering you to drink, you need to feel strong in yourself that you will say NO. It has to be your non-negotiable that no matter what it takes you aren’t going to drink this Christmas and feel excited about it – you are about to see Christmas through sober eyes and it’s seriously a whole new world! I wasn’t a one glass of baileys kinda drinker, the Christmas before I quit I drank three bottles of wine and managed to make Christmas Dinner for ten people – then still carried on drinking into the night. But my determination that first Christmas was HUGE and that’s where you need to be – you are in control and you can do this!

2. DRIVE – Drive everywhere!!! Everyone will love you for it, you can make spontaneous trips out, you can drive with zero worries of getting stopped and breathalysed (this is still on my sober bucket list!) Most importantly you can leave when you want to leave – its perfect and you have full control when you are driving. So assign yourself as the designated driver and you’ve got your perfect response to why you aren’t drinking and also an easy get away!

3. MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY – Make sure “time for yourself” is on your Christmas to do list! Ok so you’re not drinking, why not use that spare money to book a massage, get your nails done, treat yourself to something new to wear or new trainers or a sober book to keep you focused! One thing that won’t cost you anything is time, give yourself time to spend on YOU everyday over the holidays – take a walk on your own, have a bath, watch your favourite DVD, go to bed with a book and a hot chocolate, find your sober support group on Instagram or a blog you follow and reach out for help or just a chat. And something that’s going on my bucket list next year – go to the cinema on your own! These are all things that just let you take a little time out of the chaos. Giving you time to relax, recharge and refocus on staying sober and how amazing it is that you are doing this for yourself. YOU DESERVE IT! And if you are looking for some fabulous pamper products – I’m your Tropic Gal!

4. NO IS AN ANSWER – “No thankyou I don’t drink”, “No sorry I can’t make it” are perfectly acceptable responses for something you don’t want to do. Don’t feel like you have to explain yourself any further.   I know there are some events and get togethers that you just have to go to and people who you just have to see!  Keep these meetings and events short and sweet, stay for as long as you have to then politely leave.  To be honest once people have had a few drinks they won’t really notice people coming and going anyway!  Just remember that nobody can make you reach for that drink no matter how stressful it gets! Your sobriety means more to you right now than how they make you feel.  Be selective with which events you go to, you don’t have to say yes to all of your invites, people accept it’s a busy time.  Even if that means your busy staying in for a DVD night with the kids, that is  important to YOU and that  is where you want to be.  REMEMBER YOU CANT BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY!

5. PLAN AHEAD FOR PARTIES –  Always make sure you’ve got your own alcohol free drinks just in case there aren’t any available, and always make sure you keep a glass in your hand!  This is the number one trick as it stops people asking if you want a drink and you can avoid the (sometimes awkward)  ‘not drinking’ conversation. There are always people who fancy a brew at a party no matter where you go – and I’ve found this through my own experience!!  After a couple of hours drinking, there is always someone (normally a few people) who will say “oooh yes please” when you ask if anyone wants a tea or coffee!  Who knew that these people existed ha ha!!  Try it next time and you will be surprised.  And if all else fails and you need to get out of there ASAP, then YOU CAN – you are driving, it’s a win win situation !

6. PLAY FAST FORWARD – Accept that alcohol is going to be everywhere and don’t get caught up in all of the advertisements that glamorise alcohol.  Yes you may fancy a Baileys on ice, sat by a roaring fire – but just stop there and press fast forward.  The reality is your working your way through the bottle, torturing yourself with ideas of moderation and ‘just one more’, next thing your moving onto the wine and its a full on session, leading to a hangover from hell tomorrow with most of the day wasted, feeling like death!!  One of my first and strongest cravings was after I put the Christmas tree up that first year in 2016, normally I would be opening the mulled wine the second we switched the fairy lights on!  But nope that wasn’t  happening that year and boom the craving hit me so hard, I was angry, annoyed, why couldn’t I just have a drink??  So instead I walked down to our local cafe in the village and had a coffee and a big fat piece of cake with my girls and my Mum. We walked home, in the dark all snuggled up looking at all the Christmas lights in people’s houses. By the time we got home the craving had well and truly gone, I had forgotten about that mulled wine and I was feeling pretty pleased with myself!  I had done it! I hadn’t given in! So be prepared and ready to do something to take your mind away from the craving – IT WILL PASS and next time it happens you will be stronger for any others that rear their ugly heads in the future! – read more at Don’t Let Triggers Kill Your Progress!

7. KEEP ACTIVE & GET OUTSIDE – no one expects you to start training for a marathon over the holidays but try to plan to do SOMETHING outside every day!!   This can be anything from a 30 minute walk or run or if your lucky enough to have snow, an energetic snowball fight with the kids!  If you have got children make the most of getting outside with them, especially if they’ve got new bikes or outdoor toys to play with!  Be the fun relative that actually gets OFF the settee instead of sitting in a carb coma with a bottle of wine by your side!  My first sober Christmas was spent at my sister’s house because we take turns each year.  Normally I would do exactly that and veg on the settee, carrying on drinking (Christmas day drinking started 11 ish until bedtime, no question, EVERY year!) So instead I got us all wrapped up and took myself, my hubbie and all the kids on a walk to the park, including the dogs.  You can imagine we had the whole park to ourselves and the kids loved it!  It was different, it was FUN!

8. BEING PRESENT IS THE BEST PRESENT -Christmas is such a magical time for kids, get in on that excitement! If you hear the wine witch calling at night then mix it up, do something different. Get a hot chocolate and drive or walk to find the best Christmas lights. If they are a bit older like my two girls maybe go late night shopping, the cinema or a Christmas movie marathon. Its all about changing the usual pattern – and always think about how amazing and hangover free you will feel in the morning.

9. MAKE THE MOST OF IT AND START THINK ABOUT 2023– If you have got a few days off work around Christmas – just make the most of it! This is a time when drinking used to be the our main activity, once you take that away the options are endless. Wake up early, see the sunrise whilst everyone sleeps in, go for a walk, drive out somewhere new. Buy yourslef a lovely new notebook or journal and focus on the New Year, starting 2023 feeling fresh and recharged!! Fill it with new goals and plans to continue on your journey of being the best you can be, alcohol free!

10. BE PROUD Be so proud pf yourself along this Sober Christmas journey – and take time to give yourself a pat on the back and reflect on how different this year is. No wasted mornings with hangovers, no embarrasing moments or arguments you can’t remember, no mixing up of presents or forgetting things, no money wasted on alcohol, more calories for pudding and chocolate, more energy and love for life!!! And most importantly having a Christmas you remember – for all the right reasons!

Give yourself the gift of a sober Christmas this year!

I hope these tips help someone in some way, if anyone has any other ideas or advice for a successful sober Christmas, please comment and share your top tips for a sober christmas!

find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter/ to see what I am getting up to this Christmas – we are off to New York on Boxing Day – and I can not wait – there will be a lot of insta pics so keep a look out!!

Wishing you a Christmas to remember for all of the right reasons!

Love Angie xx

Six Lessons From Six Years Of Sobriety

November 21, 2022

Today I celebrate SIX YEARS SOBER! The old me did not know that this would ever be possible, I couldn’t go six days never mind six years!

I have learnt so many things along the way and I am still learning. My sober life and the sober me is work in progress, and things are always changing. However, some lessons I have learnt will stick with me forever, these lessons have changed my life and who I am as a person, they are now a part of me and what I truly believe in and they have helped me get to where I am today.

ONE – Getting Sober Is a Choice You Make Everyday

Remind yourself that YOU are choosing sobriety every day and feel grateful for that. Unfortunately, we don’t come with a sobriety switch that we flick on and that means we never think about drinking again. Alcohol is all around us, we are a minority and yes at times that’s super tough – but remember it’s your choice to be sober, to be the best version of you and to not have alcohol in your life. Be proud that every day you make that choice. At six years sober I have to be honest and say I don’t feel triggered to drink very often but there are still times and situations that I do and finding that strength to stay true to your sobriety no matter what is so empowering, and something you should feel very proud of!

TWO – Spend More Time Loving The New You Than Hating The Old

If you are reading this you probably have a lot of drinking regrets, I know I do. I’ve got so many memories that make me cringe inside, STILL! But don’t focus on that, work on the new you and have peace knowing that person is no longer who you are. What you will also find is that people love reminding you of the “old you” and the things you did in a drunken state, we;ve all got those friends that remembered everything you did drunk and couldn’t wait to tell you all about it the morning after. You will probably find those so-called friends won’t be your sober cheerleaders and you will get more distant with them as time moves on (more on this later!)

Just remember that drinking regrets are normal, but the more you focus on making that change and building a new you then the less you will think about them. Some people feel like they want to make official apologies, which is fine if that works for you – but I believe in actions speaking louder than words and you can build any bridges if the friendship is something you care about, just by changing your behaviour and showing that person you care. So, choose to redeem yourself, choose to make those changes and choose to create a new you with strong meaningful relationships that the drinking you will not ruin!

THREE – Embrace Your Addictive Personality

Taking away the alcohol doesn’t change the fact that we have an addictive personality! Now if this is harnessed the right way it can become life changing! We are all or nothing personalities, we don’t sit on the fence or go into something half-hearted. So go ALL IN on this sober life, this new you – chase that dream life at 100mph! That will look different for all of you but just make sure that each day you are working towards those dreams – “I didn’t get sober to sit on the couch” is one of my all-time favourite sayings and my life is proof of that- Sobriety has been life changing for me because I decided to go all in!

( I’m also addicted to coffee, shopping, exercise and chocolate too!!!!!)

FOUR -Learn How To Sit With Your Feelings

Just because you are sober doesn’t mean you are jumping on pink clouds every day! Life throws tough times and challenges at us regularly and now we don’t have alcohol to get us through those feelings then we have to sit with them and experience them sober. This can be tough, especially in the early days, that urge to grab a bottle and drown out life can be so loud and it’s learning other coping mechanisms that get us through those times, and that won’t happen overnight.

The main thing to remember is that any feeling will pass, from a feeling of rage to a feeling of total excitement and all of the feelings in-between – it will eventually die down. The feeling of needing alcohol to deal with those feelings is exactly the same and it’s all about finding something else to replace that. For me self-care has been a massive part of my sobriety, and now I will take myself off for a pamper if I’m feeling anxious or stressed and just focus on me, calming myself down and using that time out to put things into perspective and switch my focus. Others may do other things like getting outside, watching a film, calling a friend, making a meal, doing a little online shopping, cleaning up or decluttering, reading a book – so many different coping mechanisms and it’s all about finding the one that works for you. When all else fails just remember that you just need to get through it a minute at a time, an hour at a time and a day at a time. Those FEELINGS WILL pass and your sobriety will have stayed intact – that’s where your sober strength lies.

FIVE – Be Prepared To Find Your True Friends

You are changing who you are as a person so you will probably find that your circle of friends and what you value in a friend will change too. After six years sober I have got a lovely mixture of old friends and new. You will find you become a lot more choosey with who you are friends with and who you give your time too, I found I moved away from drama – I had enough to focus on with myself so I didn’t need any extra drama added to it. What I have also found is that true friends will be your friends no matter what, through thick and thin, through you drinking and being sober. I’ve also created a lot of new friendships, online and in person, through my work and my soberglow page – lots of positive and inspiring women who I really am surrounded with every day. I feel blessed to have old and new friends in my life who love me for me – who love the real me not the fake drinking me, that feels like a true friendship and I am very lucky to have that.

SIX – Sobriety Is A Superpower

Yes, I know this sounds dramatic but its soooooooo TRUE!!! Getting sober was something I never believed I could do – EVER! I thought it was what other people did, that rare breed of people that could live life 100% themselves without the need of alcohol because they loved themselves enough to be sober. Knowing that I am now that person is like having a secret superpower – I can achieve anything I want to achieve – if I can get sober I can do anything and having that fire, excitement and believe in yourself will ultimately change your life in so many ways. It’s life changing!

Be prepared to put down the glass and pick up your dream life because that is what happens. You are saying yes to so much more, you start living your dreams and becoming THAT person – THAT girl – who you always wanted to be. And isn’t life too short for anything else!

If you are on day one, day 100 or day 1000 – I hope these lessons have helped inspire you to continue or are ones that you can relate to. I have learnt so much in the past 6 years these are just the main ones, but each day I am grateful in some way for my sobriety and what it teaches me.

This weekend I have been in London with my little family, and what a perfect time to love my sober life! The old me would have spent it sat in bars from lunch time and planning the whole weekend around hangovers and long boozy meals, but instead I was flying around at 100mph and seeing the sights, soaking up the festive shops and being 100% present for my girls. Being the best Mum I can be has always been my ultimate reason why and always will be – it’s above all of the lessons I have learnt, and it’s the core of me now – to show my girls how full a life without alcohol can really be!

What lessons have you learnt in your sobriety or how has it changed your life or you as a person? Let me know in comments

Don’t forget to find me on insta https://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter for daily inspo and I’m also hoping to be updating this blog more regularly so please make sure you are signed up for notifications!

Big Love

Angie @soberglowgetter

5 Sober Lessons At 5 And A Half Years Sober

May 22, 2022

Yesterday was my five and a half year milestone, that’s 66 months and it feels like a BIG number! Hitting these sober milestones and celebrating them is a really important part of my sober journey and you should make it an important part of yours too. It doesn’t matter how many days, weeks, months, years you are sober, it could even be hours or minutes but just give yourself a mini fist pump moment and see how far you have come and feel proud of yourself. We are choosing a path less travelled, breaking away from the “norm” and its not always easy – so please make sure you celebrate YOU and how far you have come!

PLUS these little milestones feel like a mini birthday, a ‘me day’, a day where normal service can be disrupted because you want to spend it doing something you love. For me it meant spending the day with my girls, which was perfect as they are my reason why. We had a girlie day at the cinema, then a lovely chilled night in with a takeaway. I did zero housework and just made sure I took time out to enjoy the day and think about the old me, my old life and how far I had come! I thought about what I had discovered and what a perfect time to share it with other people like you, who are on their own sober journey or are even just sober curios and thinking – can I do this??

Lesson 1- It Can Change Your Life!

Ok I get it, this sounds dramatic but it is TRUE! I look back at the girl I was over 5 years ago and I don’t actually recognise her, or her life anymore. We are such different people and so much has changed in a relatively short space of time – From my job, my health, my lifestyle, my friendships and mainly my mindset. BUT Its all down to ONE thing – getting sober! By removing alcohol from my life I have said YES to so much more, and that has had a ripple effect and it has actually changed my life.

In those early days I had NO IDEA this would happen, at that time it was just about feeling better physically and stopping the anxiety and hangovers that where such a big part of my life, and for a lot of people that’s how it starts – you just want to feel better. But believe me that’s just the beginning! Don’t look too far in the future as that can cause anxiety, just focus on each day and know that the universe has something big for you further down the line – just keep going and don’t give up!

Lesson 2 – It’s So Much More Than An After Selfie!

Exercise was a huge part of my recovery in those early days, it was a new focus for me and a new obsession. From the very start I made sure I was working out everyday, and even in the detox phase in the first few weeks I made sure I got outside and walked everyday. I then started weight which led to me training as a Body Pump instructor and when was teaching I was in the best shape of my life (or I thought I was, looking back I was probably too slim and burning off any muscle I was building). Then came along lockdown, I stopped teaching and my weight slowly crept up, I was still exercising but not at the intensity that I had been previously – plus eating chocolate become a big part of my coping mechanism in the crazy lockdown world! ( As it did for a lot of people!)

At first I felt lost, like a failure, that I was going backwards way and on some days I really had to dig deep and have a good chat with myself. I was still sober! Healing isn’t linear and as long as I wasn’t drinking I was still moving forward, that took a while for me to accept that.

Sobriety is so much more than what’s on the outside, it’s what’s happening on the inside too, its about growing stronger mentally and being happy and confident in yourself and your choices. One of the biggest transformations I see is in myself and anyone else on their sober journey is in their eyes, skin, smile – its a sober glow that we all have regardless of anything else going on physically. That sober glow is definitely real and it comes from a strength and belief in ourselves, PLUS not flooding our system with alcohol, toxins and empty calories is always a bonus!

Lesson Three – Do What You Need To Do To Protect Your Sobriety.

Whatever it takes to keep you sober do it, and remember that ‘No Thankyou’ is an answer. I have found that being sober has made me very protective of my time and energy, and if I don’t want to do something or be somewhere then I won’t. Its all about doing what’s right for you, especially if you are in those early days and you want to avoid any triggering situations or people. ‘No thankyou’ is an answer, you don’t need to explain any further why you don’t want to go somewhere, or don’t want a glass of wine so remember not to feel like you have to explain yourself. The confidence to do that comes later, it develops over time and you will go to those events or be with people who you don’t feel that comfortable with but know it wont threaten your sobriety – you can handle it all ALL sober!

A good motto to follow is “its either a hell yes or a hell no!” and see what your gut feeling is, I always apply that rule now and its working well so far. Plus remember an added bonus of sobriety is being able to leave early, you are probably driving so make the most of that!!!!!

This also applies to people, if you are changing some of your fiends may change too. I will be doing a full post on this as I think its something people really worry about at the start of their journey but what I have found is that my true friendships are stronger than ever but I also have made so many other amazing friendships along the way and have so many more friends than I ever had before!

Lesson Four – Go All In Sober!

Personally this has been a huge lesson for me and I spent months and months trying to moderate – please believe me its an absolute head mash! I have done a whole post on it here.Moderating Madness……. the odds are if you are reading this blog then you struggle to moderate, I was exactly the same.. The answer is to go ALL IN sober, make that decision and go for it!! It’s at that point that you start to feel excited for the future, excited for the new you and this life you are going to create for yourself – your best sober life! We are all or nothing people, I mean who wants one glass of anything? I even have two night time teabags in the largest cup I can find before bedtime every night, I am 100% ALL IN with whatever I do and once you make that decision to be ALL IN sober – that’s when the magic starts to happen!!

Read more: 5 Sober Lessons At 5 And A Half Years Sober

Lesson Five – You Are Not Alone!

Way before I actually stopped drinking I used to be a sober stalker, searching the internet for sober groups and blogs that I could read through without being a “member”. I was sober curios for a long time, wishing, dreaming and desperate to be a soberista, watching on the sidelines desperately wanting to be part of the sober community.

In the real world I only knew two people my whole life who didn’t drink, one was diabetic and the other had just made the choice to not drink and had chosen a sober life, he amazed me, and I used to think who are these people who choose not to drink?? The reality is therr are sooooo many of us out there, so many women and men choosing the sober life and it feels like a sober revolution.

I have made so many friends through my blog and Instagram page , some of which I now meet up with and even work with as they have joined my Tropic Team. I have also inspired other friends and my Mum to choose the sober life, so slowly my sober circle is getting bigger and bigger and maybe one day I will know more sober people than drinkers, now how amazing would that be!

Whilst for now we are a minority, please remember you aren’t on your own and it’s important to surround yourself with people who are on their sober journey. Social media is amazing for this, some days you just need to connect with that one person or group of people and feel like you belong, feel like someone understands or you just need to hear that one piece of advice that can get you over a hurdle you are facing.

A lot of people start drinking alcohol to fit in, I know that’s how I started in my early teens, so to step away from the drinking crowd can feel daunting especially if you are known as the entertainer and the party girl of the group (also me!). Having that support online or in person is so important in helping you not feel alone, so find your sober tribe and reach out. If you are looking for a support group of like minded ladies then my Sober Glow Whats app group could be perfect for you, we just zoom once a month and support each other when we need it, think of it like a sober catch up when you need it – just contact me for the link and I can add you to the group.

These lessons are really only a few out of a lot of life changing lessons I have picked up along the way! Sober living is a lesson in itself, everyday you are learning and discovering something about yourself that you didn’t know, it really is the gift that keeps on giving…………….

If you are looking to connect please find me in Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter/ for daily inspo and updates on where my sober life is taking me and any tips I share along the way! The most important lesson is to just believe that you have the power to get sober and change your life, you can do this!

Happy Sober Sunday Soberistas! I would love to hear from you so drop me a comment if this has helped or any lessons you have learnt during your sober journey………..

Love Angie xxx

Read more: 5 Sober Lessons At 5 And A Half Years Sober

How To Keep Your Sober Glow This Christmas!

December 22, 2021

Hey soberistas!! How is it the 22nd of December already?!

I have had quite a few messages for hints and tips on how to stay sober over the Christmas period. So with the big day almost upon us I thought it was a good time to get this post out there and it can hopefully help any of you feeling anxious about dealing with the ‘MERRY’ part of Christmas!

Five years ago when I decided to stop drinking, surviving Christmas was definitely at the forefront of my mind.  But as you know I love a challenge and part of me thought – look if I can get through Christmas not drinking then I can get through anything!  This will be my 6th sober Christmas and I can honestly say they are the best!  You feel like you get so much more out of it, there is so much more to do and so many more memories to make (and actually remember!).

Christmas for me used to be a all about the booze, a total free for all with zero control and the wheels would well and truly fall off. It was just the perfect time to drink with no restrictions and there are so many opportunities to celebrate – its just one month long party! I am someone who could polish off three bottles of wine plus more over Christmas day, and still cook Christmas dinner for all my family, so believe me I get it!  I wasn’t the ‘ooh I will just have a glass of Bailey’s’ sort of Christmas drinker, no it was a free for all for me from the start to the finish!

The reality for me was that the hangovers were next level, effecting me the next day and not feeling better until I had that next drink which got earlier and earlier each day. The Christmas before I quit was pretty bad, I had started to get the morning shakes and it scared me to death! The only thing that made it go away was another drink, and although I carried on drinking for almost another year – I knew it was my body telling me to quit.

Lets be honest, Christmas is a stressful time and with alcohol being offered to you at every opportunity,  it’s a dangerous situation to be in if you’re in the early days of sobriety, so it’s important that you plan ahead.  Think how you can make Christmas easier and less stressful on yourself? Cut yourself some slack this year! Most of these points look at how you can do just that.

So here are my hints and tips for a sober Christmas and New Year that you get to truly enjoy AND most importantly get to REMEMBER every single second of!

  • PRIORITISE – Realise that you can’t be everything to everyone.  Prioritise what really is important to you this Christmas.  Just because you have had the neighbours around every year for a booze up doesn’t mean that you have to do it this year?  If certain traditions and events are always focused on drinking you can always suggest something different.  You’re working on a New You, it’s ok to break some traditions and do things differently this year!
  • SELF-CARE ISN’T SELFISH – Make sure “time for yourself” is on your Christmas to do list!  Ok so you’re not drinking, why not use that spare money to book  a massage, get your nails done, treat yourself to something new to wear or new trainers or a sober book to keep you focused!  One thing that won’t cost you anything is time, give yourself time to spend on YOU everyday over the holidays – take a walk on your own, have a bath, watch your favourite DVD, go to bed with a book and a hot chocolate, find your sober support group on Instagram or a blog you follow and reach out for help or just a chat.  And something that’s going on my bucket list next year – go to the cinema on your own!  These are all things that just let you take a little time out of the chaos.  Giving you time to relax, recharge and refocus on staying sober and how amazing it is that you are doing this for yourself. YOU DESERVE IT! And if you are looking for some fabulous pamper products – I’m your Tropic Gal!
  • IF IT REQUIRES FAKE SMILING I’M NOT GOING! – This is one of my favourite quotes and since I have stopped drinking it is sooooooo true!  Now this is easier said than done at Christmas because there are some events and get togethers that you just have to go to and people who you just have to see!  Keep these meetings and events short and sweet, stay for as long as you have to then politely leave.  To be honest once people have had a few drinks they won’t really notice people coming and going anyway!  Just remember that nobody can make you reach for that drink no matter how stressful it gets! Your sobriety means more to you right now than how they make you feel.  Be selective with which events you go to, you don’t have to say yes to all of your invites, people accept it’s a busy time.  Even if that means your busy staying in for a DVD night with the kids, that is  important to YOU and that  is where you want to be.  REMEMBER YOU CANT BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY!
  • PLAN AHEAD FOR PARTIES –  Always make sure you’ve got your own alcohol free drinks just in case there aren’t any available, and always make sure you keep a glass in your hand!  This is the number one trick as it stops people asking if you want a drink and you can avoid the (sometimes awkward)  ‘not drinking’ conversation. There are always people who fancy a brew at a party no matter where you go – and I’ve found this through my own experience!!  After a couple of hours drinking, there is always someone (normally a few people) who will say “oooh yes please” when you ask if anyone wants a tea or coffee!  Who knew that these people existed ha ha!!  Try it next time and you will be surprised.  And if all else fails and you need to get out of there ASAP, then YOU CAN – you are driving, it’s a win win situation !
  • PLAY FAST FORWARD – Accept that alcohol is going to be everywhere and don’t get caught up in all of the advertisements that glamorise alcohol.  Yes you may fancy a Baileys on ice, sat by a roaring fire – but just stop there and press fast forward.  The reality is your working your way through the bottle, torturing yourself with ideas of moderation and ‘just one more’, next thing your moving onto the wine and its a full on session, leading to a hangover from hell tomorrow with most of the day wasted, feeling like death!!  One of my first and strongest cravings was after I put the Christmas tree up that first year in 2016, normally I would be opening the mulled wine the second we switched the fairy lights on!  But nope that wasn’t  happening that year and boom the craving hit me so hard, I was angry, annoyed, why couldn’t I just have a drink??  So instead I walked down to our local cafe in the village and had a coffee and a big fat piece of cake with my girls and my Mum. We walked home, in the dark all snuggled up looking at all the Christmas lights in people’s houses. By the time we got home the craving had well and truly gone, I had forgotten about that mulled wine and I was feeling pretty pleased with myself!  I had done it! I hadn’t given in! So be prepared and ready to do something to take your mind away from the craving – IT WILL PASS and next time it happens you will be stronger for any others that rear their ugly heads in the future! – read more at Don’t Let Triggers Kill Your Progress!
  • BE REALISTIC! – Don’t expect too much and set yourself up for an emotional melt down!  Just because you are in the process of changing doesn’t mean that everyone else is.  People will still get drunk, kids will argue and get over tired.  Accept that things aren’t perfect, perfect is boring, tell yourself you are perfectly imperfect and you can deal with anything this Christmas throws at you because you are  CHOOSING to spend it STRONG AND SOBER!
  • KEEP ACTIVE & GET OUTSIDE – no one expects you to start training for a marathon over the holidays but try to plan to do SOMETHING outside every day!!   This can be anything from a 30 minute walk or run or if your lucky enough to have snow, an energetic snowball fight with the kids!  If you have got children make the most of getting outside with them, especially if they’ve got new bikes or outdoor toys to play with!  Be the fun relative that actually gets OFF the settee instead of sitting in a carb coma with a bottle of wine by your side!  My first sober Christmas was spent at my sister’s house because we take turns each year.  Normally I would do exactly that and veg on the settee, carrying on drinking (Christmas day drinking started 11 ish until bedtime, no question, EVERY year!) So instead I got us all wrapped up and took myself, my hubbie and all the kids on a walk to the park, including the dogs.  You can imagine we had the whole park to ourselves and the kids loved it!  It was different, it was FUN!

  • SEE IT THROUGH A CHILDS EYES -Christmas is such a magical time for kids, get in on that excitement! If you hear the wine witch calling at night then mix it up, do something different. Get a hot chocolate and drive or walk to find the best Christmas lights. If they are a bit older like my two girls maybe go late night shopping, the cinema or a Christmas movie marathon. Its all about changing the usual pattern – and always think about how amazing and hangover free you will feel in the morning.

  • MAKE THE MOST OF IT –  If you have got a few days off work around Christmas – just make the most of it!  This is a time when drinking used to be the our main activity, once you take that away the options are endless.  Wake up early, see the sunrise whilst everyone sleeps in. Focus on the New Year and starting 2022 feeling fresh and recharged, with new goals and plans to continue on your journey of being the best you can be, alcohol free!

  • Most importantly – if you can survive a sober Christmas you can survive a sober anything!!

There are a lot of ideas and suggestions here and I know they won’t all work for everyone, but this is what works for me!.  I’m coming up to my sixth sober Christmas and honestly, alcohol or the absence of it doesn’t really cross my mind now.  I know I can have a fantastic Christmas if not the best Christmas without drinking.  If like me you have children who are growing up soooo fast, just treasure the sober memories that you make with them this year.  And after the year we had last year when we couldn’t see loved ones – make sure this year you make memories to treasure.

Give yourself the gift of a sober Christmas this year!

I hope these tips help someone in some way, if anyone has any other ideas or advice for a successful sober Christmas, please comment and share your ideas.

find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter/ to see what I am getting up to this Christmas!

Wishing you a Christmas to remember for all of the right reasons!

Love Angie xx

5 YEARS SOBER!!!

November 22, 2021

I feel like I owe all of you lovely followers an apology! I have been so busy with lots of different things and my little Blog has been the one thing that has suffered. But I am now back, planning to do weekly updates and start sharing my sober life again on here to help, support and inspire you guys.

Yesterday I celebrated my FIVE YEAR SOBERVERSARY and it still doesn’t feel real. Five years ago yesterday I woke up hungover and hating myself for the very LAST time . I decided I was sick of my own broken promises to control or quit drinking, I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired and I was DESPERATE to stop the ride and get off. I HAD TO CHANGE.

5 years later and I honestly had no idea that just removing alcohol from my life would have changed it this much!! My health, my career, my energy levels, my mindset, my fitness, my confidence and my outlook on life. EVERYTHING has changed, and it’s just getting better and better – I can not wait to see what the next 5 years brings and the next and the next.

And thankyou to YOU guys – I am so grateful your support and friendships 💕

If you are following me and want to start your own sober journey – just do it, just start, don’t wait- saying no to that one drink can be the start of a journey that could change your life. Reach out and let me help, you can do this – I totally believe in you.

Yesterday was perfect – I went to Manchester markets with my husband and girls, then we had tea in the Ivy and home for Adele and I’m a Celeb – it was just the perfect day.

I have had so many messages and comments through my social media – its made me so emotional today. The fact that my story is inspiring people is just unbelievable to me, one lady even wanted to print off my post and put it on her wall, possibly the best compliment ever!

If my story can help one person live a sober life and live a life they love then I really can not ask for more than that.

Going forward I want to share so much more to help people, and although life is 100mph right now I will make sure I find the time. In January I will be setting up a Sober Glow Getters what’s app group – where we can support one another and meet up on a monthly zoom. I think feeling alone is a huge reason why people cant stay on track and just by seeing that there are others our there on this journey can be a huge help.

So please keep a look out for me as I’m hopefully posting much more in the future .

I hope you all have an amazing sober week – heading towards the festive season feeling sober and strong.

Find me in insta at https://www.instagram.com/soberglowgetter/ for my daily updates and posts!

Big love to you all – and thankyou for being a part of this sober journey with me! –

love Angie xx