Sobriety Diary Over 55 Years Old

Observing the good and bad of sobriety

Over 55 Sobriety Journey 

I’ve tried to tread this path before. Not entirely seriously or with deliberate endeavour. However, I know it is the best thing for me. I just haven’t had the single-minded objectiveness till now. To help me complete the journey, and to look back at where I’ve come from, I thought I would journal my trip that has no final destination in my lifetime. With the exception of death, I can’t say I have completed the sobriety journey, but where else on my journey to alcohol-free death will my sobriety journey take me for the rest of my life?

FIRST 2 WEEKS OF SOBRIETY

I’ve been here before. The longest to date without drinking is around five months. That, so far, is a echoed in my first two weeks of my sobriety journey. Essentially for the first two weeks or so I just have to get through it any way I can. If that means eating more sweets than is healthy – I’ll do it. If it means i have to just slob out – I’ll do it. If it means I have to withdraw from doing things I normally enjoy – I’ll do it. There is no right or wrong except making an excuse to have just one drink thinking it’s a small cheat. That is cheating myself big time. Living an unhealthy lifestyle for a couple of weeks is not ideal but I don’t try to be perfect. My longer game benefits from stopping drinking will make up for a couple of weeks of downtime. The first moment I wake up feeling amazing instead of dull lacklustre or empty is the best feeling in the world bar none – and I mean none! The free high you experience that morning, I must try to remember and be grateful for. Gratitude is the key to happiness. 

Switch from beige life to a life full of all colours turned full on to the max!

Sobriety Diary

The first couple of weeks is always a de-pickling of the brain for me! I have had lots of periods which I have refrained from drinking alcohol. The first couple of weeks has always involved a physical change in the brain and a short period of mental numbness. Physical change claim, I am not a doctor, may or may not be true. There certainly seems to be what I call brain shrinkage. My brain seems to physically gurgle as it unsticks itself from my skull! This is why my medically untrained mind guesses that it is my brain shrinking due to the lack of alcohol? FYI, I do not intend to explore the physics or science behind my sobriety journey. It is my experience of the journey that I am journaling, not the medical facts of my sobriety journey.

I am only still sober one hour at a time. Maintaining sobriety is sometimes about not having a drink in the next 5 minutes never mind the next hour, day or month.

Sobriety Diary

I wouldn’t say I have failed before. I have never promised myself I would never have another drink before. I have had an aspiration before to not drink ever again. However having an aspiration is different from an objective. This sobriety journey is now a key goal in my life. Previously, the periods of not drinking have always come to an end before I died. This time, my goal is to die before I have another drink!

Sobriety is not my only goal. It will be a key part of totally changing my life. I need the clarity of thought that comes with sobriety to be of sharp mind when making dynamic lifestyle decisions. From my previous episodes of giving up drinking, I know that not drinking sharpens the mind. That benefit as always in the past been surrendered when I returned to drinking again. Even although previously sobriety was not the objective, I knew in my own mind that drinking again was a mistake if I wanted to live the best life I can live. So the return to drinking was always with immediate joy and delight from the alcohol high hit, shortly followed by different levels of regret, disappointment in myself and even sometimes shame. I’ve always known in the past what my best life involved and that doesn’t include drinking alcohol. In the past I have made different excuses to drink again, but this time I will have no excuses. This sobriety journey is a definite life goal. This time if I drink I will have failed.

This sobriety journey will encompass a total change of life. If there is such a thing as a wrong decision, then my clarity of thought that definitely comes with every period of alcohol abstinence, will be crucial to my new radical lifestyle changes. My first 2 weeks of being alcohol-free has come to an end with the usual glorious couple of mornings when I wake up incredibly happy. An overwhelming feeling of happiness burns inside my belly. It is not a smug joy. It is not a self-satisfied or selfish joy. It’s simply my mind discovering that my body has completed its first stage of repairing my brain. My brain is signalling it has recovered from the toxic abuse I have put it through most of my life. My brain is saying thank you. At last it can work again unhindered by the chemicals from alcohol inhibiting my minds ability to think properly. 

When I awake in the morning I am immediately aware of how happy I am. It is important for me not to get up. This moment is to be savoured. It will be the best moment of my day. I must spend a few minutes being even more aware mindful and grateful for this feeling of joy and delight to be alive today. I breathe more deeply slowly and deliberately through my nose only whilst observing all my senses more acutely to heighten the high I am now experiencing. I am now aware my nose is unblocked even though I did not know my nose was blocked over the last weeks months and perhaps years. More air is rushing to my lungs and my brain is lapping up the new boost of oxygen. Gradually sometimes immediately I am aware of new ideas of what to do today tomorrow and the rest of my life. Ideas I may  not know I was even thinking about before or ideas of how to solve problems I was struggling with yesterday. I know I need to dictate these ideas or writing them down type them into my phone so I do not forget these gems that have come into my life today. Without trying without asking without even needing, the universe has found the next steps to a better life specific to my life. I think the absence of alcohol over the last couple of weeks has deepened my sleep pattern. My brain has had a chance to rejuvenate, repair itself and understand what happened yesterday the day before or last year. My brain better understands what I want in life, and has mapped out what I need to do today tomorrow and the rest of my life but has only given me a few of the next steps I need to take. I am not greedy so I do not try to force these next baby steps into a full lifestyle plan and take them for what they are without trying to complete a jigsaw of my life. I need to be grateful for the little steps given during the night. Tomorrow I may be fortunate enough to receive more insight into how to change my life for the better, but for the moment I am just ecstatic that I have been placed with acute happiness. Not only have I woken up happier, I know what to do today to have a great day.

Sobriety Diary

Reaching this stage should be enough for me to never drink alcohol again. The payoff of not drinking is huge mentally and physically, but I know the demons within me are just resting. They are waiting for the right time to obscure the benefits of not drinking. If I am to complete my sobriety journey I will have to be more alert to the moments that will trip me up and end my sobriety journey. In the past I have not always failed to navigate the demons that dragged me back into a mediocre life. On at least one occasion I set out on the not drinking path without a a clear destination. Along the way, I picked a clear destination in terms of months ahead where I would drink – a planned holiday. I didn’t want to go on holiday and not drink. This helped to keep me on the path of not drinking but ultimately was a self defeating goal to set for myself. Mission completed with me drinking again! This time it’s different. My mission will only be completed if I never drink again. Why don’t you come along for the ride.

THIRD WEEK

Every day of not drinking in the third week has been better than any day of drinking.

The third week this time around is different from the third week on previous sobriety projects. On previous projects to remain sober, the third week was a lot harder. On reflection it is easier this time because my sobriety journey this time is to never drink again, as opposed to not drink for as long as possible, or not drink for a defined period.

If you are remaining sober for as long as possible, you are not sure when it is okay to have a drink or not. In the past I have given myself a pass or time-out. If you are aiming to never drink again, then obviously there is no day upon which it is okay to have a drink. Strangely, this time around it is easier to not drink in the third week now I have set the goal of never drinking again. Giving myself the clear unambiguous goal of forever stopping drinking has made it crystal clear what is and what is not acceptable. Knowing what failure looks like this time is obvious so as totally eliminated the option of having a cheeky drink and restarting the clock on my next sobriety timer project. The “I’ll do better next time” mentality.

What is consistent in the third week is the amount of extra energy I have. Boundless extra energy is one of the major gifts of sobriety. I can and do do so much more than any week I have had even a single drink. My focus on my life without a drink in it enables me to be hyper productive. Being more productive does not make me more successful this week but hopefully I will be more successful in life in future as well as sober. What success in life looks like is for me to determine – no one else. Success this far at not drinking is both a blessing and a potential trap. It can, if you allow it, present an opportunity to have a drink to celebrate! I’ve earned it! However, this time I have combined my sobriety journey with other major life change projects. These other projects soak up the extra time and energy I have from not drinking and make giving up drinking even more rewarding for me. The extra energy will not be wasted this time.

I think it is a good idea to have a clear plan of what I am going to do with the rest of my life. I can then invest the extra energy derived from not drinking to achieve more in my life than just sobriety. Even if my plan is a little more vague and uncertain than many would have, I at least have a vague idea of what a better life looks like for me. My life, like most perhaps, does not enable me to just do what I want. I have to have alternative routes loosely imagined or envisioned so that if life does not give me the opportunity I think is best for me or anticipated by me I can at least use plan B,C or D to find my way to my end destination or at least a new destination that is as equally satisfying and rewarding.

If I was just being sober for a set period, then it is best for me to have a full day. By this I mean I need distractions. Activities – distractions – help me to avoid creating opportunities for drinking and could include walking, cycling or doing a hobby. Whatever takes my mind and free time off drinking. However, as my plan is to be sober for the rest of my life, I feel I really need to capitalise on the gift of extra energy to really embroider upon the obvious health benefits of being sober. In my case, I am investing the extra energy into a more serious approach to my business ideas including the creation of more income.

This week I have made the mistake of not going to bed earlier. By earlier I mean 9 to 10pm in the evening. It has resulted in me still waking early in the morning absolutely refreshed, but flagging in mid to late afternoon. In my semi-retirement, I am lucky that I have the option of having a nap. but this for me can be lethal in terms of disrupting my enjoyment of life. I find it better to push through and not nap if I can, but sometimes a nap is the best option as it can give a little boost.

This does depend on whether you are a night person or a morning person. Going to bed between 9 and 10pm is the optimal time for me but I do recommend going to bed at same time every single night and your body should adjust to wake you up at same time every morning without an alarm clock. The benefit of this is that your body is more balanced if you have consistent lifestyle pattern, in my experience.

A peculiar thing I have found from my bouts of not drinking is that the odd days can be harder than the evens! 1,3,5 etc have been harder than 2,4, 6 etc days. I have absolutely no explanation for this. It is however worth noting that some days are harder than others for absolutely no reason whatsoever. I think it wise simply to accept this rather than search for reasons or lessons.

Aiming for sobriety

In addition, life can get in the way of best laid plans. A birthday, works event or some other social occasion create opportunities to make excuses to have a drink. Navigating past these pitfalls is perhaps the hardest part of a change to sobriety. I need to have a plan for such threats of failure. Soft drinks or alcohol-free drinks work for some but not giving a damn what others think of you is the best plan. This involves me not drinking anything at all. After the first couple of drinks rounds have passed I realise I can not only cope but enjoy alcohol-free socialising. After the adrenaline on arrival subsides I love the dawning of the fact that I really don’t need to drink alcohol to enjoy myself. There does come a time after half a dozen drinks that you become detached from from your drunk companions. They are on a different mission from me. I can’t go with them. I have to pick a time to leave early. The feeling of leaving early becomes a relief or even elation not sadness. I don’t have FOMO any more. Remembering how good I am going to feel tomorrow is reward for leaving early.

FOURTH WEEK

My fourth week was a strange week. An unasked review of my life. Happy to live in present, I found my mind wandering off on its own to the past.

I had not set out on my sobriety journey to discover were things had gone wrong in my life. Where I was four weeks ago in my life was quietly happy with the exception of my drinking habit. I knew back then drinking did not provide a nett benefit to my enjoyment of my life. Strange therefore that my mind repeatedly wandered off into the past to look at my life differently via new unglazed goggles.

Turns out my successes in the past may not have been successes and my failures have been my successes. Furthermore, I think now that drinking has never made my highs better and always played some role in my lows. I used alcohol to try to feel part of the perceived in-crowd or part of the team or even just part of the perceived best things in the world. I think I wanted to merge-in instead of trying to be extraordinary.

Alcohol didn’t help me merge-in. It made me zone-out. The numbness to life under the effects of alcohol wasn’t a good thing. At times I needed to feel numb, not to feel more alive. I know now that living life alcohol-free makes me feel so much more alive. In the bad old days, most of my life, I mistakenly thought alcohol was good for me when in fact it was never good for me at any time. Happy and sad times were always negatively impacted or made worse with alcohol.

Now both my happy and and sad times are so much better experienced sober. Being sober does not make my life less troublesome. It does enable me to manage the good and bad better. Being sober does not make my life better. Being sober makes your appreciation of living better and gratitude for what I do have in my life more real. Being sober makes me happier, even if my life could be perceived as less attractive or unsuccessful.

The success of my life is measured better by me doing the analysis of me rather than concerning myself with other people’s assessment of my life. Having a clearer sober mind facilitates better more honest quicker trustworthy calculations by me. Being sober may not make me more successful in my lifetime, but it will enable me to love what does transpire in my life more.

Sobriety does not make me less ambitious. Sobriety makes me more confident and focused on my ability to make the right choices for the right reasons and that will make my assessment of my life better.

Another curious physical change I find during sobriety is what I call the physical drying-up sensation and unblocking of my nose and sinuses. I can breathe through my nose and sinuses. I can breathe through my nose more freely. Not sure what the medical reasoning may be for this, but each and every time I have stopped drinking for a period, this physical experience occurs!

FIRST TWO MONTHS SOBRIETY

The biggest gains physically and mentally come in the first month to 6 weeks. That’s when the biggest differences can be felt. Definitely, the decision to give up drinking forever makes it easier to give up drinking. A clear unequivocal commitment with no get-out clause helps me to set my mind on what is right and wrong.

The second month is easier than the first month. There is more at stake, more to waste, if I give up in the second month, by my desire to drink in the second month us is less.

There is a feeling of further clarity of thinking unencumbered by drink in the second month, it’s just not as obvious an improvement witnessed in the first month.

All-in-all this should monthly stoppers some encouragement. Those flirting with giving up for good. If you can do one month you can easily do two, etc. Furthermore, returning to drinking after a month off with a view of having another month off sometime in future is harder than giving up for good. The first month off seems to be the hardest.

Drink-free is more rewarding. More satisfying. My mind is more capable to appreciating my life. More grateful for what I have in my life. It can make the bad more raw, but it makes the good better. Not drinking gives me a more genuine experience of life. Sure alcohol can anesthetise the bad but it also anesthetise the good experiences.

Living a more real life without alcohol is my life now. Maybe it could be yours too. It’s not as hard to give up drinking if your mind is clear why you want to give up drinking.

Quit Alcohol: 10 Tips

Breaking Free from Alcohol: Expert Tips and Tricks

If you’re looking to give up alcohol, you’re not alone. Many people in the UK struggle with alcohol addiction and are looking for ways to quit. Here are the top 10 tips to help you give up alcohol:

  1. Set realistic goals: Set a target for how much you want to reduce your alcohol consumption and stick to it. Gradual reduction is often more achievable than quitting cold turkey.
  2. Find alternative activities: Find alternative ways to relax and socialise that don’t involve alcohol, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with friends and family.
  3. Avoid triggers: Identify situations that trigger your alcohol cravings and try to avoid them, such as certain bars or social events.
  4. Keep yourself busy: Stay busy with work, hobbies, and social activities to help distract you from alcohol cravings.
  5. Seek support: Find friends, family, or a support group who understand your struggle and can provide you with emotional support and encouragement.
  6. Keep track of your progress: Keep a diary of your alcohol consumption and take note of how you feel after you quit. This can help you stay motivated and see your progress.
  7. Try medication: Consider taking medication such as naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram, which can help reduce alcohol cravings.
  8. Get professional help: Consult with a doctor or therapist who specialises in alcohol addiction. They can provide you with personalized support and treatment.
  9. Consider a rehabilitation program: If your alcohol addiction is severe, consider enrolling in a rehabilitation program where you can receive professional help and support.
  10. Remember why you want to quit: Keep in mind the reasons why you want to quit alcohol, such as improving your health, finances, or relationships. Use these reasons as motivation to stay sober.

Remember, quitting alcohol is a journey and it’s important to take it one day at a time. With patience, determination, and support, you can overcome alcohol addiction and lead a healthier, happier life.

More articles on giving up booze:

  1. The Ultimate Guide to Quitting Alcohol in the UK
  2. 10 Proven Strategies for Overcoming Alcohol Addiction
  3. From Dependence to Sobriety: A Step-by-Step Guide
  4. Breaking Free from Alcohol: Expert Tips and Tricks
  5. The Top 10 Tips for a Successful Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
  6. Say Goodbye to Booze: How to Quit Drinking for Good
  7. Achieving Sobriety in the UK: What Really Works
  8. The Do’s and Don’ts of Quitting Alcohol”
  9. The Path to Recovery: How to Give Up Alcohol for Good
  10. From Addiction to Abstinence: A Comprehensive Guide to Quitting Alcohol

From Addiction to Abstinence

Quitting alcohol can be a challenging but life-changing decision. Whether you’re struggling with addiction or simply looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you on your journey from addiction to abstinence.

Recognise the Problem: The first step in quitting alcohol is acknowledging that you have a problem. Be honest with yourself and evaluate the impact of alcohol on your life, including your health, relationships, work, and overall well-being. Accepting that you have a problem is an important starting point for change.

Set Clear Goals: Once you’ve recognised the problem, set clear and achievable goals for quitting alcohol. It’s important to define your reasons for quitting and what you hope to achieve by abstaining from alcohol. Whether it’s improved health, better relationships, or a more fulfilling life, having clear goals can provide you with motivation and direction.

Seek Support: Quitting alcohol can be challenging, and it’s important to have a support system in place. Reach out to friends, family, or a therapist who can provide emotional support and help you stay accountable. Consider joining a support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which provides a community of individuals who are also on the journey to sobriety.

Develop Coping Strategies: Alcohol often serves as a coping mechanism for dealing with stress, anxiety, or other emotions. When quitting alcohol, it’s important to develop healthy coping strategies to replace alcohol as a means of dealing with difficult emotions. This can include practicing relaxation techniques, engaging in physical exercise, journaling, or seeking professional help if needed.

Remove Triggers: Identify and remove triggers that tempt you to drink. This can include avoiding places, people, or situations that trigger cravings for alcohol. Make changes in your routine or lifestyle to minimise exposure to triggers, and create a supportive environment that promotes abstinence.

Create a Plan: Develop a plan for how to handle cravings or temptations. Have a list of alternative activities or distractions that you can turn to when cravings arise. Identify healthy outlets for stress or negative emotions, such as going for a walk, talking to a friend, or practicing mindfulness.

Take Care of Your Physical Health: Quitting alcohol can have physical effects on your body. Take care of your physical health by eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and getting regular exercise. Seek medical attention if you experience withdrawal symptoms, and be mindful of any underlying health conditions that may have been exacerbated by alcohol use.

Practice Self-Care: Sobriety is a journey of self-care. Take time to prioritise your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Engage in activities that bring you joy, practice self-compassion, and prioritise self-care as an essential part of your recovery journey.

Stay Accountable: Hold yourself accountable for your decision to quit alcohol. Keep track of your progress, celebrate your achievements, and learn from any setbacks. Surround yourself with supportive people who can help you stay accountable to your goals.

Create a New Life: Quitting alcohol is not just about giving up a habit, but also about creating a new, fulfilling life without alcohol. Explore new hobbies, discover healthy ways to have fun, and focus on building a meaningful and fulfilling life that aligns with your values.
Remember, quitting alcohol is a personal journey, and it’s important to be patient with yourself. Recovery is not always easy, and setbacks may happen along the way. But with determination, support, and a comprehensive plan, it is possible to overcome addiction and achieve a healthy, fulfilling life of abstinence. Seek professional help if needed, and remember that you are not alone. Recovery is possible, and you deserve a happy, healthy, and sober life.

Practice Relapse Prevention: Relapse is a common part of the recovery process, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey to abstinence. Learn to recognise triggers and warning signs of relapse, and have a plan in place for how to handle them. This can include reaching out to your support system, engaging in healthy coping strategies, and reminding yourself of your reasons for quitting alcohol.

Address Underlying Issues: Many individuals turn to alcohol as a way to cope with underlying emotional or mental health issues. As part of your journey to abstinence, it’s important to address these underlying issues through therapy, counseling, or other appropriate interventions. Understanding and addressing the root causes of your alcohol use can greatly enhance your chances of long-term abstinence.

Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help you stay present in the moment and manage cravings or triggers. Incorporate mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness exercises, into your daily routine to help you stay grounded and focused on your recovery journey.

Build a Supportive Social Network: Surround yourself with supportive individuals who understand and respect your decision to quit alcohol. Build a social network that encourages and supports your sobriety. This can include attending support group meetings, connecting with sober friends, or engaging in activities that do not revolve around alcohol.

Take it One Day at a Time: Recovery is a process that requires patience and persistence. Focus on taking it one day at a time, and celebrate each day of sobriety as a significant accomplishment. Avoid overwhelming yourself with thoughts of the future, and instead, stay focused on the present moment and the progress you are making.

Practice Self-Reflection: Take time to reflect on your journey, your emotions, and your progress. Journaling, therapy, or self-reflection exercises can help you gain insight into your triggers, emotions, and patterns of behaviour. Understanding yourself better can empower you to make positive changes and stay committed to your goal of abstinence.

Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate your milestones along the way. Whether it’s a week, a month, a year, or more of sobriety, acknowledge and celebrate your achievements. Treat yourself to something special, share your success with your support system, and take pride in your progress.

Stay Committed to Self-Care: Self-care is crucial in recovery. Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health by getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Prioritise self-care as a non-negotiable part of your daily routine to support your overall well-being and resilience in your recovery journey.

Stay Positive and Patient: Recovery from alcohol addiction is a challenging process that requires time and effort. It’s important to stay positive and patient with yourself as you navigate the ups and downs of the journey. Be kind to yourself, practice self-compassion, and remember that change takes time.

Stay Committed to Your Goals: Finally, stay committed to your goals of abstinence from alcohol. Remind yourself of your reasons for quitting, and stay focused on the positive changes that sobriety can bring to your life. Surround yourself with reminders of your commitment, such as affirmations, notes, or symbols, and stay determined in your pursuit of a healthy, alcohol-free life.
Quitting alcohol and maintaining abstinence is a challenging but rewarding journey. It requires dedication, self-reflection, and support from others. Remember to be kind to yourself, seek help when needed, and stay committed to your goals. With determination, support, and a comprehensive plan in place, you can successfully overcome alcohol addiction and achieve a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life of abstinence

Seek Professional Help: If you find yourself struggling with quitting alcohol or maintaining abstinence despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Addiction counsellors, therapists, or medical professionals can provide additional support, guidance, and resources to aid you in your recovery journey. They can also help you address any underlying mental health issues that may be contributing to your alcohol use.

Create a Relapse Prevention Plan: A relapse prevention plan is a crucial tool in maintaining abstinence. Work with your counselor or therapist to create a personalised plan that includes strategies to identify and manage triggers, coping skills to deal with cravings, and a plan of action if a relapse occurs. Having a plan in place can help you stay proactive in preventing relapse and staying on track with your recovery goals.

Build a Healthy Lifestyle: Engage in healthy lifestyle choices that support your recovery. This can include regular exercise, a nutritious diet, and adequate sleep. Taking care of your physical health can help you feel better overall and reduce the risk of relapse.

Develop Healthy Coping Skills: Alcohol may have been your previous coping mechanism, but it’s important to develop healthy coping skills that can help you manage stress, emotions, and triggers in a positive way. This can include mindfulness, deep breathing, exercise, hobbies, or talking to a trusted friend or family member.

Learn from Relapses: Relapses can happen in the recovery process, but it’s essential to view them as learning opportunities rather than failures. If you do experience a relapse, take the time to reflect on the triggers and circumstances that led to it, and use it as an opportunity to reassess and strengthen your recovery plan.

Practice Assertiveness: Learning to say no and set boundaries is crucial in maintaining abstinence. Practice assertiveness skills to communicate your needs, assert your boundaries, and avoid situations that may trigger your alcohol use. Surround yourself with individuals who respect and support your decision to abstain from alcohol.

Find Healthy Ways to Have Fun: Alcohol may have been associated with socialising and having fun in the past, but it’s important to find healthy ways to enjoy yourself without alcohol. Discover new hobbies, engage in activities that bring you joy, and build a fulfilling and enjoyable life without the need for alcohol.

Stay Mindful of High-Risk Situations: Be aware of high-risk situations that may trigger your alcohol use, such as parties, social events, or stressful situations. Have a plan in place to manage these situations, such as bringing a sober friend with you, having an exit strategy, or using healthy coping skills to manage cravings.

Practice Self-Compassion: Recovery is a challenging process, and it’s important to be kind to yourself along the way. Practice self-compassion, forgive yourself for past mistakes, and be patient with yourself as you navigate the ups and downs of recovery. Treat yourself with the same love and care you would offer to a friend in a similar situation.

Stay Committed to Your Sobriety: Finally, stay committed to your sobriety and make it a priority in your life. Surround yourself with a supportive network, continue to engage in healthy coping strategies, and seek help when needed. Remember that recovery is a lifelong journey, and staying committed to your sobriety is essential for maintaining abstinence from alcohol.
Quitting alcohol and maintaining abstinence is a courageous and transformative journey. It may come with challenges, but with perseverance, self-care, support, and a comprehensive plan in place, it is possible to achieve and maintain a fulfilling life of sobriety. Remember to be patient, kind to yourself, and seek professional help when needed. You are capable of overcoming alcohol addiction and living a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled life without alcohol. Celebrate your progress and achievements along the way, and remember that every step towards sobriety is a step towards a brighter future.

In conclusion, quitting alcohol and maintaining abstinence requires commitment, effort, and support. It’s important to have a plan in place, seek professional help when needed, and prioritize self-care and healthy coping skills. With determination, resilience, and a supportive network, you can overcome alcohol addiction and lead a fulfilling life in recovery. You deserve a life free from the negative impacts of alcohol, and you are capable of achieving and maintaining abstinence. Take it one day at a time, stay focused on your goals, and never give up on your journey towards lasting sobriety.

Remember, if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are many resources available, including addiction counselors, therapists, support groups, and treatment centers that can provide the necessary support and guidance. You are not alone, and recovery is possible. Take the first step towards a healthier, happier life by seeking help and taking action towards quitting alcohol and maintaining abstinence. You deserve a brighter future, and it’s never too late to start your journey towards recovery.

More lifestyle improvement articles and videos

Sobriety Diary Over 55 Years Old

What do I need to know about retirement?

Planning a better retirement in the UK with Retirement Magazine and Retirement TV

How do you live your best retirement life

Don’t wait until you retire to start enjoying life! Focus your time and energy maximising your enjoyment of life now, not maximising your wealth in retirement. That said, you do need some money to live the retirement life you want. Accumulate the amount of wealth you need to live a life in retirement you want and not a penny more. Anything more means you have wasted part of your life building wealth you will not need to before you die.

  1. Work out home much money you may need each year you live your ideal retirement life;
  2. Assess your retirement fund creation options and how likely you are to create the size of retirement savings you will need;
  3. Make a retirement plan, at least in your head, but preferrably written down so you don’t miss important details when you review your retirement plan at least annually. No retirement plan is 100 percent effective, so you need to know once a year at least what is working and what isn’t, so you can make adjustments and corrections.

Adjustments and corrections are likely after a few years and particularly as you approach your retirement age. Adjustments and corrections could be major in nature. If your retirement fund is not big enough to match your desired retirement lifestyle, you may need to change the lifestyle you live in retirement. Major changes to retirement lifestyle plans should not be necessary every year, even if your retirement plan investments have not performed as you expected over 12 months as bad years can normally be recovered over the longer term. However, if you are close to retirement age you want for yourself, you may not have enough time for your retirement savings to recover in time. 5 years before your planned retirement age you should alter your retirement savings strategy to prepare you for a smooth transition from working to retirement.

What should you not do in retirement

You should not make hasty rapid retirement fund decisions. You may feel a need to act due to something which happens to you or something which happens in the world at large. Acting in haste will give you plenty of time to repent at your leisure!

If you are in retirement or close to your retirement age, always seek professional financial advice or at least do your own thorough research and due diligence checks before making changes to your retirement fund. Sometimes the change can cause you to lose financially. For example, tax implications or financial penalties for making change can cut what you will have to spend in your retirement, whether what you moved your money to is a good investment or not. Whether an investment is a good one or not depends more on your personal circumstances than the investment vehicle itself.

Planning and preparing for retirement

Do you know what benefits you will get when you retire? There are benefits calculators and pension calculators galore. Make sure, before you retire, what the state effectively forecasts you will get in retirement benefits.

  • You want to make sure you do not draw more on your retirement fund you have created for yourself than you have to to finance your retirement lifestyle. What monies the state will give you need to be built in to your retirement planning.
  • There can be ways to boost your retirement benefits if you have underpaid. However, in addition, sometimes there is no point in filling in missing years, for example, if it will not actually increase the retirement benefit you will become entitled to in retirement.
  • Knowing what happens to your retirement benefits if you retire early or delay your retirement could influence when you retire.

Know what benefits you will be able to claim. Check what pensions and financial support you can get, and decide when to retire. Add this knowledge to your own knowledge of the retirement fund you create for yourself over your working life whether from pensions, property, Bitcoin, gold or just what’s under the mattress!

How much should I save for retirement

Retiring is not just about clocking off from your working life to live a hopefully better life in retirement. Retirement lifestyle planning should facilitate a better retirement lifestyle is you complete an ongoing thorough retirement process you review periodically.

If you know how much you will have in your retirement, you will be much better placed to decide how to spend it.

Putting some money away every month, as early as possible in your working life is a good habit to start and continue over your whole working life. The powerful effect of compounding interest on retirement savings and investments will hopefully mean you will not have to put more money away from your working life and will mean you will have more money to enjoy before you retire.

A pension is simply a tax efficient wrapper you can put your money into to hopefully grow your retirement fund faster and/or mean you have to save more of your working life income. A pension may be the right way for you to save as much money as you will need for your chosen retirement lifestyle, but it’s not by any means the only or best way for everyone.

The right wealth planning at any time of your life should include an acknowledgement that you may never reach retirement age. Improving your life should include the discipline to improve your whole life not just your retirement life.

Early Retirement Factors To Consider Before Retirement UK

There are many factors to consider before retiring early in the UK. Some of the most important factors include:

  • Your financial situation: How much money do you have saved up for retirement? Will you have enough income to cover your expenses in retirement?
  • Your health: Are you in good health? Will you be able to afford the cost of healthcare in retirement?
  • Your lifestyle: What kind of lifestyle do you want to have in retirement? Will you be able to afford to travel, go out to eat, and enjoy other activities?
  • Your family and friends: What kind of support network do you have? Will you have people to spend time with and help you in retirement?
  • Your job satisfaction: Are you happy with your job? If you retire early, will you miss it?

It is important to weigh all of these factors carefully before making a decision about whether or not to retire early. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best decision for you will depend on your individual circumstances.

Here are some additional things to consider when planning for early retirement in the UK:

  • State Pension: The State Pension is a government-funded pension that is paid to people who have reached retirement age. The amount of State Pension you receive will depend on your National Insurance contributions.
  • Pensions: You may have a workplace pension or a private pension. Your pension will provide you with an income in retirement.
  • Savings and investments: You may have savings and investments that you can use to supplement your income in retirement.
  • Your home: You may be able to downsize your home or release equity in your home to generate income in retirement.
  • Other sources of income: You may be able to generate income in retirement from other sources, such as part-time work, rental income, or investments.

It is important to get professional financial advice to help you plan for early retirement. A financial advisor can help you assess your financial situation, create a retirement plan, and make sure you are on track to reach your retirement goals

What do I need to know about retirement?

How do I retire comfortably?

You need to know what you want to do in your retirement first then you can calculate if you can do this comfortably

You need to be aiming for 20000 pounds after tax if you are single and more than 30000 pounds after tax for couple. Take a look at inflation in the UK just now. Many are forecasting UK inflation to be multiples more of what we have been used to. This means your retirement fund needs to be increasing at closer to 10 percent than 5 percent for foreseeable future. This means an increase in the size of your retirement fund of in excess of 20000 per year to remain comfortable. The UK state is only gonna give you around 8500 per annum at best and thats only when you are 67 or older, not if you want to retire early.

People in the UK, on average, tend to retire with thousands of pounds less than what you need to retire comfortably in UK. Many escape to warmer climates where it used to be or still is cheaper cost of living. That may bring different lifestyle sacrifices other than monetary like moving away from friends and family.

How much do I need to retire UK?

How much do YOU need to retire comfortably in the UK? A luxury retirement income UK is out of reach for most people. Retiring in luxury when you haven’t been living luxuriously is probably unrealistic unless the reason tou haven’t been living luxuriously pre-retirement is because you started saving for your retirement early in your life, earned a decent amount over your working life and invested most of your earned income in a good type of investment.

Want to run your own car, go on holiday for a couple of weeks a year every year and eat out often with the odd fashionable purchase or two, then you’ll need to push up the figures above

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Essentially having more fun, with more stuff and living in better places is going to bump up the retirement fund you need to build.

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Start saving for your retirement as soon as you enter work in teens or early 20s. Older than that? You need to save more each month. Really older! You may need to pair down your planned retirement lifestyle.

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How much will you need to retire in the UK?

How much will you need to retire in the UK

How do I retire comfortably?

Making the age of retirement in UK work well 4 you

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How do you live your best life in retirement in the UK?

Do you think retirement is to be feared or enjoyed to the full before you die or worse become ill! Life is for living. No one can tell you how to live in your retirement. If you do not know then who will?

You can work as long as you want to. Nobody is forcing you to retire so if you retire make sure you make the most of it. If you do work in a job that does have a compulsory retirement age that does not mean you have to retire. You can change jobs if you need to work. Alternatively there are lots of ways to volunteer and continue in unpaid work.

If the thought of retirement fills you with dread maybe you should consider asking your employer if you can work more flexibly or part time to ease you into retirement.

However retirement in the UK should be embraced as an opportunity to live the life you want. If you want to sit outside a cafe and watch the world pass by then you should. If you want to travel the world then your should. What you should not do is waste your retirement.

Plan for the best retirement in the UK

Clearly identify how you want to live in retirement in the UK. Write your retirement plan down so you can return to it again and again to tweak and improve it.

If you are lucky you will live around a third of your life in retirement. That is a lot of life to live without structure. Many people need some kind of structure to their life to feel mentally and physically well.

When you retire action your retirement plan

You do not know how long you will have your health and wealth! Retirement is not the time for procrastination! Having put a lot of thought into planning the best retirement for yourself it would be a shame to live a retirement life that is substandard to your best.

Retirement Lifestyle Planning and Living Tips

Everything you need to know to retire well in the UK. CheeringupInfo provides retirement inspiration ideas and tips to live better in retirement in the UK. Subscribe to CheeringupInfo for free alerts bulletins and review sent to your email inbox.

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Unretirement Jobs Find New Job During Retirement Years In UK

Discover the best jobs after 55. Develop a new career after 55 with CheeringupInfo.

How can retirees in the UK return to work?

What is unretirement?

Unretirement is where retired people or people close to retirement decide to be part of the workforce through choice or necessity. The decision on unretirement is driven from financial, lifestyle, social and mental or physical health needs.

Career advice over 55s

Find the best jobs after 55 in the UK. Develop a new career after 55. Take a part time job in retirement. Or simply unretire yourself! What matters is what makes you happy and if that means working then maybe unretirement is best for you.

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Unlock the Secrets of Semi-Retirement: How to Balance Income and Leisure in the UK

Unretirement jobs, also known as semi-retirement jobs, are a great way for retirees in the UK to balance income generation with free time to enjoy their retirement. These jobs are typically part-time or flexible, allowing retirees to work on their own terms and schedule.

One popular option for unretirement jobs is consulting. Retirees with a wealth of knowledge and experience in a particular field can offer their expertise as a consultant. This can be done on a part-time basis, allowing retirees to take on projects as they desire. Many retirees in the UK find consulting to be a great way to stay engaged and active in their field of expertise while also earning extra income.

Another great unretirement job option is teaching. Many retirees in the UK have a wealth of knowledge and experience that they can share with others. Teaching can be done on a part-time basis, and many retirees find that it is a great way to stay active and engaged while also earning extra income.

Many retirees in the UK also turn to small business ownership as a way to balance income generation with free time. Starting a small business can be a great way to use your skills and experience to generate income, while also enjoying the freedom and flexibility that comes with being your own boss.

For retirees with an interest in the arts, freelance writing, photography, or other creative pursuits can be a great option. These types of jobs can often be done on a part-time or freelance basis, allowing retirees to pursue their passion while also earning extra income.

In summary, unretirement jobs, also known as semi-retirement jobs, are a great way for retirees in the UK to balance income generation with free time to enjoy their retirement. Consultancy, teaching, small business ownership, and creative pursuits are some of the most popular options for unretirement jobs, which can be tailored to match the retiree’s skills and interests, allowing them to stay active and engaged in their fields of expertise while also earning extra income.

Is it worth working after retirement?

It depends on each persons particular circumstances. Working full time maybe necessary or advantageous for different reasons but full time is not only option in UK for retirees or those close to retirement from their traditional career path. Working part-time can give you a sense of being part of something constructive in your semi retired life without being tied to a career or stress of working longer hours.

How do retirees spend time in UK?

Some have chosen to work. Others prefer to relax full time. Picking up a new hobby or finding more time for an old hobby can be satisfying. Giving back via volunteering can be rewarding. Others just like to enjoy daily activities or the passing of time. If you can simply enjoy the passing of time without boredom, pain or pressure to do stuff that may be true retirement wealth.

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Develop a new career to improve your unretirement years in UK

Reentering the working world in UK after you retired. If you have had enough of retired life or are being forced back into work for personal finance reasons get more on Unretirement here. Get tips and tap into resources to find post retirement employment.

A lot of people in UK are returning to work after retirement Unretirement

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Join the thousands of unretired in UK. Retirees are changing their minds and unretire. Get back into work from retirement years in UK. Many people who retire in UK have checked retirement life out and decide to start working again part time or full time.

People working in unretirement years could help solve the growing skills gap crisis in the UK economy. Retirees knowledge could boost the UK via increased taxation income and better productivity.

Read articles and watch videos on what older workers are doing and what they want from a job in retirement years. Find the right opportunity to work again at retirement age.

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Surviving Retirement In UK

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Flexible Retirement Ideas

Is your retirement life full and satisfying? What structure will your retirement life have so that it fulfils all your dreams of retirement? Are you sure full retirement is what you want? Could partial retirement be better for you? Working part of the time will bring tax efficient income with flexibility of more time to do other things with more leisure time.

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Sign up for free to unretirement job vacancy alerts. Go back to work on your terms – part time to full time job vacancies in the UK. Fill the skills gap employers are desperate to fill now. Our service is free for you to use and you stay in control of the hours you work.

You don’t pay us a penny! We simply keep you up to date with businesses who want to recruit more experienced people to fill the gaps in their business. You decide if you want to apply for part-time to full time jobs and deal direct with the businesses wanting to recruit people with the skills and experiences you already have. You may want to switch out of the career you have to date and start a new direction of employment. Pick a business which offers you a chance to start something new based on how they like you as the person you are now without any direct experience of the job but the ability to adapt.

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Increasing numbers of over 50s returning to work in 2022

Some retirees are seizing on the lack of skills or high employment and record number of job vacancies to reenter the jobs marketplace. They were previously excluded from employment.

Some people who thought they could retire comfortably during the pandemic are now having to unretire and find work again to bring in some extra income and top up their pensions whilst they still can.

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Others are experiencing now or fear imminent cost of living crisis impacting on their retirement lifestyle and are having to unretire to make up the lifestyle they want that has been under attack due to 40 year high record inflation eating into disposable retirement income.

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Combating Loneliness In Older People In UK

Elderly loneliness statistics for UK is shameful. CheeringupTV is working with partners to beat back against the causes of loneliness in elderly in UK. Join the campaign to end loneliness in UK. Millions of elderly people in UK feel lonely.

Find out what causes loneliness in UK and how to tackle the problem of loneliness in elderly in UK. CheeringupTV helping to deal with social isolation leading to loneliness in the elderly UK.

The UK government backs scheme for GPs to prescribe art and cooking classes to beat loneliness

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More than a million older people regularly go an entire month without speaking to anyone according to charity Age UK

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