This is true for people from all walks of life, not just those in manual labour or working-class professions. Stress is often a contributing factor, and alcohol can seem like a quick and easy way to relieve tension. However, there are healthier ways to manage stress, such as regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and participating in hobbies and leisure activities. Excessive alcohol consumption can have negative effects on both physical and mental health.
Renewal Center for Ongoing Recovery
- The reality is that alcohol can make feelings of stress and anxiety harder to deal with, and it can change who we are with the people we love.
- More than that there are certain things you can do to make sure you are taking the necessary precautions when drinking after work.
- Positive support persons are those who recognize your goals and stand by you as you work to accomplish them.
- However, it’s vital to understand the social dynamics at play.
- Anyone can be sober-curious and make positive changes to their drinking habits, whether that means you stop drinking entirely or just cut back a little.
- Moderation also fills a treatment gap that can support people looking to reduce their alcohol intake for whatever reason – health, money, relationships – without asking for total abstinence.
To begin recovery, the first step is detoxification, to rid your body of any drugs and alcohol. We provide safe and highly effective medically supervised detox for all substances of abuse. Online communities like Daybreak are a great way to have support at your fingertips. If you want to reduce your drinking, instead of creating an uncomfortable empty space in your day, look for a replacement habit. The new routine needs to pay off in ways that are similar to the original—eliciting sleep, relaxation or indulgence as needed.
Support for Me and My Family
At the end of the day, one of the most important tools you have at your disposal is self-compassion. Instead of criticizing yourself for having a hard time or slipping up and having a drink, remember that no one’s perfect. What matters most is your ability to maintain an open, curious outlook as you learn what does and doesn’t work for you. If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach. Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol. It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone.
When Drinking After Work Becomes a Problem
If this sounds a bit like you, try replacing the association with something else, like 15 minutes Sober living house of meditation, a short walk or a good cup of tea. My actual days have been fine for the most part, but if I don’t have a plan for right after work I crave drinking immediately after. I get irritated by my partner, I feel hungry, restless and nothing seems appealing.
Tips for Cutting Back on Alcohol Consumption
However, alcoholism and substance abuse are not limited to any particular profession. Even those in the professional class, such as office workers, lawyers, doctors, and managers, can struggle with controlling their drinking habits. The easy accessibility of alcohol in the workplace, such as regular beer on tap in coworking spaces or designated happy hours, can contribute to this issue. Beer contains essential vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins, which help regulate mood and stress levels.
Suggest Sober Activities
Additionally, it can negatively impact productivity, with drinking sessions lasting about two hours, extending the workday and contributing to exhaustion and brain fog. Moreover, drinking can lead to inappropriate behavior, impaired decision-making, and offensive comments or actions, creating a potential risk of harassment accusations for the company. The connection between alcohol and work is not a new concept. In Ancient Mesopotamia, beer was given to workers as rations, establishing a cultural link between beer drinking and manual labor. Today, this link persists, with many workers across various industries engaging in drinking after work. For example, heavy drinking is prevalent among miners, construction workers, and those in the hospitality and food service industries.
In this case, the drink would fill the need of wanting to switch off from ‘work/mum mode’ and relax into the evening. When we recognise and understand why we are drinking, it can help us realise that there are alternative, healthier ways to relax. These are just a few of the quality programs that we offer at North Jersey Recovery Center (NJRC). Drug and alcohol addictions can wreak havoc on a person’s life if left untreated.
- What’s most important is to look at your drinking habits and find a way to cut back that works for you.
- Maybe you’re worried that people will judge you for struggling with drinking.
- It’s also a good idea to document and count alcohol drinks like you do calories, Valentine suggests.
- Research shows that most people believe that drinking can make them feel better.
Maybe it’s a family member or a friend who knows you well enough to ask how it’s going. You might even find that once you tell a friend that you’re going to stick to mocktails or limit yourself to two drinks tonight, they decide to join you. If you want to go to a bar, it’s never been easier to find a tasty nonalcoholic (NA) beverage. From NA beer to fancy mocktails, many places have nonalcoholic options these days — some bars even specialize in it. If you drink a few times a week, maybe you try to limit yourself to just Friday and Saturday or only when you’re with other people. If you’ve started drinking every day, just taking one day off from drinking a week can make a big difference.
Take a rest day (or two or three)
Your trusted resource for health and wellness information and the latest medical advances to help you and your family live better. ’, learn more about our private alcohol rehab centre, the Providence Projects. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. Feeling at your best physically can boost resilience and emotional strength, equipping you to weather challenges that trigger the desire to drink.
While your co-workers may want to drink with you, it is okay to say ‘no’. Maintaining your control over the situation and taking the safer route can save you trouble in the long run. While having a drink initially may be fine, if it begins to escalate into alcohol abuse, saying ‘no’ is the best route to take before it’s too late. Moderate drinking is typically defined as one drink per day or less for women, and two drinks or fewer for men. In the United States, one “standard” drink contains about 14 beer after work grams of pure alcohol, which is usually the amount in a 12-ounce can of regular beer.