When I was a kid, I had two basic requirements for anything I was going to give up for Lent.
- It had to be doable (i.e. I couldn’t give up doing homework or brushing my teeth, because those were required of me).
- It had to be something that I would miss (i.e. I couldn’t give up washing dishes, because that wouldn’t be a sacrifice).
For a lot of folks, alcohol fits those criteria, so it’s no wonder that giving up alcohol is a popular Lenten sacrifice. Some do this as a meaningful aspect of their religious practice, others as a 40-day health challenge. Whatever the reason, if you’re cutting out drinking this Lent, here are some tips and some things to consider.
If you drink heavily, give yourself grace and ease into it
Alcohol withdrawal can be intense and even dangerous for people who have been drinking heavily, especially for a long period of time. Going cold turkey might be more recognizable as a sacrifice, but it’s not necessarily the best or safest option. If you’re a regular drinker, it can be wise to taper down your drinking instead of stopping all at once. Dr. Eileen Barrett discussed this option in our post, “Safer Alcohol Withdrawal: The Slow Taper.”
Plan ahead for how you’ll replace alcohol in your life
Many people who give up alcohol for Lent (or Dry January, Sober October, or a defined period of time like during pregnancy) are shocked to discover that it leaves a hole in their life. But it makes sense! For most of us, alcohol is fulfilling some kind of role—bonding activity with friends, coping strategy or relaxation ritual, or even just a preferred beverage. If you want to make it to Easter, you need to be aware of how you usually incorporate drinking into your life, and then plan some ways to replace it. Learn more about this in our post, “Replacements for Alcohol.”
Some people will take your decision personally
You would think that your decision to give up alcohol for Lent is entirely about you (and maybe your relationship with God). And that’s true! But that doesn’t change the fact that you may encounter friends, family, or coworkers who make it all about them. There are a lot of people who will take your decision not to drink as a judgment upon them—even if they don’t drink that much! Ahead of time, think through what you’ll say if you run into this social phenomenon. We discuss more about this in our posts, “Why Do My Friends Push Me to Drink?” and “9 Easy Ways to Say No to Alcohol.”
This will be easier with support
I’m not saying you have to run out and join a 12-step group (though you certainly can if you like). But I am saying that any lifestyle change—even a temporary one—is easier to maintain if you have encouragement and accountability. Look into Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and local groups of other folks who are giving up drinking this season. Talk to a friend and agree to support one another in your Lenten sacrifices.
Take the time to become more aware of your relationship with alcohol
When you stop drinking for a time, it can make it easier to see how alcohol has been affecting you—your health, your emotions, your relationships. You may discover that your drinking has been a mere habit, and that it’s pretty easy to cut out of your life. Or you may learn that alcohol dominates your thoughts more than you knew. In the second case, this period of abstinence could encourage you to be more watchful about your drinking, or even to seek help.
You may find that you can’t seem to give up alcohol for Lent, even though you wanted to. If this is true for you, know that there is help. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Learn more about Workit Health’s online program for alcohol here.