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It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to be a mother. As soon as you get up in the morning, you begin the never-ending effort that continues until you’re deep asleep, and your child wakes up in the middle of the night due to a nightmare that they have had. Being a mother is undoubtedly one of the most challenging jobs in the world, and it should come as no surprise to anyone. As a parent, you devote your life to ensuring that your family is happy, successful, and safe. While it can be fulfilling, we know how stressful it can be at times. As a result, what do most mothers do to cope with the stress of motherhood? Drinking.
There are a lot of ways to remedy stress. However, if you keep reading this article, the guidance we provide will be able to put you on the right track.
Here, you’d be able to pinpoint if you’re indeed a “wine mom” and be able to get some much-needed tips on how to inch away from that lifestyle – a little advice right from the get-go: Generally, alcohol and parenting don’t mix well.
Are you a “Wine Mom”?
Motherhood is said to be one of the most challenging jobs in the world.
The moment a woman gives birth, the newborn requires your full attention.
After a few years, you will have to ensure that you give your toddler the basic skills they need while also making sure that they are safe. After all, we all know how curious toddlers can be.
You’re probably trying not to pull out all of your hair by the time they are youngsters roaming about. In a few years, a crop of rebellious teenagers will sneak out in the middle of the night to go to a cool house party a few blocks away.
Even when your kids are in their senior year and off to college in a year, a mother’s job is never done.
You are equipped to defend your kids if they experience any kind of cyberbullying.
You are there to take prom pictures.
You are there to cook them their favorite meal right after a bad breakup.
You are there to give them advice about navigating life. You lead them to a beautiful path toward their dreams.
If this applies to you, we think you should take a step back and reflect. Without that glass of wine, of course.
Here’s a little checklist to see if you’re a bit dependent on the “Mommy Juice”:
- A bottle of wine is the only thing that can make you feel better after a long, difficult day.
- You carry a container or cup for your wine, or sometimes, you drink straight out of the bottle.
- Most memes that you post or tag your friends in are related to wine.
- The only solution you can think of to any problem is a glass of wine.
- Your job is to bring wine to people’s houses.
- Last but not least, wine is your drink of choice.
If you ticked most of these boxes, honey, you’re all about the “wine mom” lifestyle. The occasional glass of wine is a great antioxidant and can lower blood cholesterol. In fact, there are many benefits to drinking wine. However, you can maximize these if you do so in moderation.
5 Tips to Help You Cut Back On Drinking
If you are struggling to find effective ways to manage your alcohol consumption, try the following tips:
Look for alternatives
You may want to consider substituting some other activity during the times when you would normally drink if alcohol has become a significant part of your life. Spend more time with your family, take a new pastime, start a fitness regimen, meet new people, or participate in sports. To fill the time you normally spend drinking, find something you enjoy doing that you can do instead.
You might want to try different alternatives to wine if you cannot break your drinking habit. To replace alcohol with something more non-alcoholic, you can buy alcohol-free wines or spirits made from distilled plant extracts infused with spices such as cardamom and lemon peel, or you can afford distilled non-alcoholic spirits.
Use the HALT method
We can take a page from the AA playbook and see what we can learn from it. HALT stands for “Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired.” Use this strategy before opening a bottle of wine to determine whether you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. The key is to determine the problem and address it directly after identifying it, rather than seeking the help of what you think can cure everything: wine.
Stressors and triggers should be avoided
For a lot of people, alcohol dampens the effects of stress. If you can trace it down, one of the reasons for alcohol dependency is mental health problems. Many factors can trigger the desire to consume alcohol, such as people, places, objects, and specific activities. When you can avoid these triggers, you will be able to avoid drinking when you would not otherwise do so. To cut back or completely stop drinking, it would be smart to stay away from situations in which you are used to drinking.
Try to keep your wine supply to one
Make a conscious effort to buy only one bottle of wine during your grocery run. Otherwise, your brain is bound to think that since you have an abundance of wine to spare, downing one bottle wouldn’t hurt. If you keep your wine supply to only one bottle, you’ll be forced to ration it. This way, you can cut back on drinking.
You should keep your goals realistic
Write down the maximum number of drinks you want to drink per day and the maximum number of days a week you want to drink. Writing down specific goals helps you set limits with measurable guideposts. People who drink within the recommended guidelines have a much lower risk of developing problems.
You can also track your progress with Sunnyside‘s mindful drinking app. Using the app, you will be able to track your progress daily, weekly, and monthly, allowing you to see how much money you have saved, how many calories you have cut off, and how much sleep and energy you have gained.
Final Word
The “wine mom” lifestyle is easy to cling to, especially if you’re under so much stress. A bottle of wine fuels it. When you decide to let it go, it won’t be easy. It’s something that wouldn’t disappear in a snap, especially if you’ve been treating it as the cure for all your problems. However, with enough dedication and determination for that lifestyle change, you’ll be able to get there.
