If you’re like me—and like most of my clients—you want to quit drinking… just not yet.
You want to get through the holidays first.

If you’re thinking about addressing your relationship with alcohol but putting it off until the new year, I hear you. Truly.

Living in the drinking cycle—worrying about your alcohol use, promising yourself you’ll change, and then doing nothing—can feel exhausting and defeating. It doesn’t feel good to know a habit is taking more than it gives and still feel stuck. I know, because I’ve been there.

The good news? You don’t have to quit drinking right now to start changing your relationship with alcohol.

You Don’t Have to Quit Drinking to Start Drinking Less

You might feel like you don’t have the capacity to completely abstain from alcohol this holiday season. Waiting for a “better time” or a fresh start—like January—makes sense. Change is hard, especially when alcohol is so woven into social life, stress relief, and celebration.

While I personally believe now is always the best time to evaluate your relationship with alcohol (easy for me to say as someone who’s sober), I want to remind you of something important:

You can start practicing being more alcohol-free right now—without deciding to quit drinking forever.

If the idea of giving up alcohol terrifies you, you’re not alone. Most people feel that way. That fear doesn’t mean you can’t change—it just means you’re human.

Think of this time as setting the runway for a successful Dry January.
And by “successful,” I don’t mean perfect or alcohol-free every day.

I mean curious. Intentional. Different.

Here’s how to start—today.

1. Have a Non-Alcoholic Drink First

It often feels safer to tell ourselves we’ll “have a drink.” But what if you tried having a non-alcoholic drink first?

This is light lifting for your alcohol-free muscle.

Starting with something alcohol-free creates a pause. It interrupts the automatic, robotic reach for a drink and helps you become more mindful.

Ideas:

• Start with water, then decide what’s next

• Stop at a coffee shop on the way to a party and arrive with a drink in hand

• Order a club soda with cranberry before opening wine

• Bring your own non-alcoholic option

You’ll learn so much about your habits, your urges, and your social patterns just by trying this.

2. Practice Daily “Sober Curiosity”

The more you know, the more empowered you feel.

Can you commit to learning about alcohol—and life without it—this month?

That might look like:

• Reading a book about drinking less

• Listening to a sobriety or sober-curious podcast

• Following alcohol-free writers or creators

• Watching Instagram Lives or short videos

Alcohol messages surrounded many of us for decades, convincing us it was a cure-all. Filling your mind with stories of happy, alcohol-free people plants new seeds—ones that eventually bloom.

Ask yourself: How can I tend to my sober curiosity daily, even for 10 minutes?

📩 Want help? Email RESOURCES to [email protected]  and I’ll send you my favorite blogs, podcasts, and lives to get started.

3. Tell Someone You’re Questioning Your Drinking

Saying it out loud is powerful.

Find one safe person and tell them you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol. Better yet, find a community of people doing the same.

Many women don’t have anyone to talk to about this—and that isolation keeps us stuck.

My Insider Community is a non-judgmental space filled with professional women who are drinking less or exploring sobriety. We’re hosting a Dry January Challenge, which includes:

• A workbook + habit tracker

• Support, prizes, and giveaways

• Honest conversations with women just like you

You don’t have to be “ready to quit forever.” You just have to know your current relationship with alcohol isn’t working.

Community was the missing piece for me—and for so many of my clients.

4. Choose a Label That Actually Works for You

Many people resist words like "sober" or "in recovery."  The stigma alone can keep us drinking.

Here’s the truth: you get to define this.

Try on language that feels safe and true:

• “I’m on a wellness quest.”

• “I’m improving my health.”

• “I’m doing a reset.”

• “I’m experimenting with not drinking.”

• “I’m taking a break from alcohol.”

• “I feel better when I don’t drink.”

One client calls it a “halfway-to-90 reset.” Another says she’s simplifying her life—and alcohol didn’t make the cut.

You don’t have to sign up for a lifetime of sobriety. You can commit to X days, a challenge, or an experiment.

Practice saying your version out loud. It matters.

5. Put a Date on the Calendar

This is huge.

Putting a date on the calendar brings relief. It tells your nervous system: this won’t go on forever.

Your future self will thank you.

You can start preparing now by:

• Scheduling complimentary calls with a sober coach (schedule HERE)

• Deciding who feels like the right guide for you

• Planning accountability before January arrives

I offer a complimentary call, and everyone who works with me drinks less or none at all. This is for women who want real results.

You can also enroll now in my Jumpstart Digital Class. It’s self-paced, with new lessons dropping weekly. You can preview now—or binge later when you’re ready to go all in.

Research is clear:
You’re more likely to succeed when you write it down, invest in it, and add accountability.

Put it on the calendar.

Join my Insider Community a private, off-social-media space where women learn to regulate, reconnect, and remember who they are—one grounded choice at a time. and start connecting with like-minded women on a similar path. 

You Don’t Have to Wait Until January to Start

There are so many small, meaningful steps you can take right now to shift momentum in your favor.

You don’t need perfection.
You don’t need certainty.
You just need curiosity and support.

 I’m here for you. Reach out when you’re ready.