What do you use as a reward other than alcohol?

[Anonymous]

I use sugar, but that's also not great for you.
Trying to replace that with tea.

[Anonymous]

Exercise or binge watch mindless shows on Netflix.

Alcohol makes me sleep crappy, gives me a headache, and is generally unhelpful so why would I use it to de-stress at this age. I KNOW I will regret it. It’s just a bad coping mechanism.

[Anonymous]

NA beer satisfies my taste for something that is not coffee/water.

Otherwise, agree on herbal tea and mocktails

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:>>A gift to myself has been therapy to change my mindset so I dont think I need a reward when I have a hard day

Intriguing. But don’t you get all stressed out and feel like you need something to release it?

Exercise does it for me. I truly feel lucky to be able to move my body.

[Anonymous]

I think changing the idea that wine is a treat for you is a good one- and can understand it may be hard to do. I found that understanding what alcohol does to your body physically helped me realize that after drinking people are lower mentally and physically. Read “The alcohol experiment” and she explains exactly what happens to your body and mind. Then when you think, “I need to relax, I’ll have a glass of wine,” you’ll also tell yourself- nope, old news- I’ll feel more stressed -physically and hormonally- after drinking so that isn’t a good way to relax. Get out your crystal, pour whatever drink you feel like and take a beat. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

So many things...a massage, yoga, meditation, matcha latte, sauna, red light therapy, reformer pilates class, a castor oil face pack, pranayama.

[Anonymous]

A new virbrator

[Anonymous]

My vices in “old age” are coffee in the morning while doing my NYT games, and popcorn in the evening while binging some good tv.

Sure, exercise, friends, and hobbies are great —but I really look forward to these two things to bookend most days. I have given up so many other things that other people still get to enjoy, so I’m keeping these.

[Anonymous]

A thirty-second hug with my spouse. When you’re starting, it feels awkward at the 5-10 second mark (when “normal” hugs end). Just keep going. Releases all the tension!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to quit or cut down on drinking due to all the usual middle aged reasons. After a long, stressful workday, I really want a drink. What do others use as a reward/destresser/transition from the workday?

I have heard going for a walk, but that does not cut it for me!

You should first look at what your body is expecting when it has a drink. Does it like the physical act of drinking? Then you can swap the drink with any drink and it will feel the same. Does it like the specific effect alcohol has for you? Then you should pick something that has a similar effect -- like maybe a relaxing bath?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to quit or cut down on drinking due to all the usual middle aged reasons. After a long, stressful workday, I really want a drink. What do others use as a reward/destresser/transition from the workday?

I have heard going for a walk, but that does not cut it for me!

You should first look at what your body is expecting when it has a drink. Does it like the physical act of drinking? Then you can swap the drink with any drink and it will feel the same. Does it like the specific effect alcohol has for you? Then you should pick something that has a similar effect -- like maybe a relaxing bath?

I remember I used to love going to the vending machine at work and getting a soda every day around 3 pm. But then my dentist told me to quit drinking soda. So I switched it with taking a water bottle to the water purifier that was next to the vending machine. The drink didn't matter so much as the whole act of getting up and going to get a drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds weird but the “bite” of lemon ginger tea kinda resonates like wine. Good luck op and ignore the haters. F

This is true. Also jalapeno. You can find spicy margarita mixes (no/lo cal) and mix with lime sparkling water. The bite is great. Thank you for the PPs on the phony negroni. I'm going to hunt it down.

Another telling you to ignore the haters. What a bunch of bitters.

[Anonymous]

Diet Coke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop thinking you need a reward for a day

This… I never have turned to alcohol as a reward. Though I do think it comes out in other ways, like impulse shopping.

[Anonymous]

Dark chocolate, hot tea, a good TV show or book, an occasional massage