Society tends to talk about people being in “denial” about their drinking. But this belief often causes more harm than how much someone drinks. In this episode, learn the truth about why you might not be taking action even though you know your relationship with alcohol is unhealthy. Discover what’s really behind the idea of “being in denial” and how it can get in the way of change. You are not a problem that needs fixing, which is good news. Even if you’ve been shaming yourself about your drinki...
Feb 20, 2024•15 min•Ep. 370
Shame and regret about your drinking can feel so isolating, but it’s way more common than you think. The real problem is the unconscious ways you might find yourself trying to make up for being “bad.” It’s easy to spin on questions like, “Why was I so stupid?” or “When am I going to learn my lesson?” Or to wish you could build a time machine and change the past. But this line of thinking is a trap. Discover the thought error around shame that is actually keeping you stuck and preventing you from...
Feb 13, 2024•14 min•Ep. 369
If you have chronic pain, an autoimmune disease, or insomnia, you might use alcohol to cope. This makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, alcohol can act as a band-aid that’s blocking you from the cure. How do you deal with the pain in your body without alcohol? This question is at the heart of The Hourglass, one of the eight Drink Archetypes. Discover why it can be challenging to keep your commitment when you have this archetype. The good news? Work with the Remedy archetype and learn to separate p...
Feb 06, 2024•12 min•Ep. 368
Drinking to feel more free and to be ourselves is common. You'll often hear friends talking about having a drink to "let loose" or "let their hair down." In this Drink Archetype episode, you'll understand The Release's origin. Listen to hear how to create more freedom for yourself—even while choosing to drink less or not at all. You can learn to live a less restrained life. Even if you feel trapped by perfectionism, high expectations, or imposter syndrome. Working with The Release archetype will...
Jan 30, 2024•14 min•Ep. 367
How do you fill your time when there’s nothing to do? This question is at the heart of The Hourglass, one of the eight Drink Archetypes. Uncover why it can be hard to keep your commitment when you have this archetype. The desire for entertainment is a normal part of being human. Whether you’re drinking, eating, or scrolling through your phone. Yet, pairing unscheduled time with a drink can cause more problems than you might realize. The good news? Work with The Hourglass archetype and discover h...
Jan 23, 2024•14 min•Ep. 366
In this episode, you’ll learn about The Mask, one of the eight Drink Archetypes. The archetypes are unconscious patterns that can influence your relationship with alcohol. Using alcohol as the antidote to social anxiety is so common that society even has a term for it: “liquid courage.” Uncover why The Mask can lead to drinking more than you want to. The good news is that, even in social situations, you can learn to manage your anxiety without a drink. Working with The Mask archetype will help y...
Jan 16, 2024•21 min
Even if you’re not planning on Dry January, make sure you listen to this episode. These two mistakes will sabotage your attempts at change, no matter your plans this month. Most people assume two things when trying to cut back on their drinking. Assumption #1: Saying should be enough to create change. For example, if you usually end your day with a drink, a month of abstinence should erase the habit. Discover why saying no is only one part of lasting change. Assumption #2: It’s always going to f...
Jan 09, 2024•16 min•Ep. 364
Taking a month off from drinking can be an incredibly powerful New Year's resolution. But if you don’t prepare for the most common stumbling blocks, your best intentions can backfire. In this episode, you’ll discover how to set yourself up for success. You’ll learn about five key areas: urges, excuses, temptation, the habit, and staying on track. You’ll walk away with tips and tricks to help you get the most out of a month without alcohol. Even if you’re unsure about Dry January, this episode wi...
Jan 02, 2024•27 min•Ep. 363
It’s not unusual to crave a drink in times of stress. But when life won’t let up, how are you supposed to cut back? In this episode, you’ll learn about The Escape, one of the eight Drink Archetypes. The Escape is associated with drinking to ease worry or quiet an overactive mind. Learn why this archetype tends to make you pour larger drinks and drink faster. The good news is that you can learn to drink less—or even skip the drinks altogether—when times are tough. Working with The Escape archetyp...
Dec 26, 2023•18 min•Ep. 362
It’s incredibly common to reward yourself with a drink after making it through a long day or a long week. But no longer having a treat to look forward to can make it hard to keep your commitment to drink less. In this episode, you’ll learn about The Reward, one of the eight Drink Archetypes. Discover why it’s easy to get into the habit of drinking when you’re overworked, exhausted, or need a break. And why this pattern can lead to drinking too much. The good news: you can work with this archetyp...
Dec 19, 2023•18 min•Ep. 361
Welcome to the Take a Break from Drinking podcast with your host, Rachel Hart. If you’re looking for a radically different approach to help you cut back or stop drinking, this is the place for you. You probably have plenty of good reasons to drink less, but that doesn’t mean saying no is always easy. Listen as Rachel dispels the most common myths about why it’s hard to resist temptation. Forget about labels, judgment, or one-size-fits-all solutions. Rachel will give you a logical framework to re...
Dec 13, 2023•2 min
It’s normal for drinking to be a shared activity with friends, family, and romantic partners. So how do you change your drinking without feeling disconnected? In this episode, you’ll learn about The Connector, one of the eight Drink Archetypes. When drinking is bonding go hand in hand, it can be hard to keep your commitments around alcohol. The good news: you don’t have to replace your relationships when you cut back or stop drinking. Discover the real reason you feel disconnected when you say n...
Dec 12, 2023•18 min•Ep. 360
The Drink Archetypes are eight unconscious patterns that influence why you drink. On this episode, we’ll do a deep dive into The Upgrade archetype and why it can make saying no tricky. The Upgrade archetype comes from the idea that certain things are better with a drink. Wine elevates the meal. Get-togethers feel more special with alcohol. Even watching the sunset is better with a drink. But associating alcohol with enjoying “the finer things in life” has its downsides. Take alcohol away, and su...
Dec 04, 2023•29 min•Ep. 359
Even when you have lots of good reasons to cut back or stop drinking, most people eventually go back to their old ways. Why? Because people drink for reasons that aren’t always easy to see. That’s why I created The Drink Archetypes. These eight unconscious patterns influence why you drink and reach for another. Knowing the archetypes that apply to you will give you a blueprint to follow to create lasting change. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/358...
Nov 28, 2023•16 min•Ep. 358
You’ve been there. A no good, very bad day occurs and, seemingly out of nowhere, a voice in your head urges you to pour a drink. Yet you don’t abide. You might be surprised by the ease at which you respond to such a moment of temptation. But then again, you know that developing a lasting change to your drinking requires an understanding of what that drink truly represents. This week, you’ll hear a story about how not accepting the false narrative that breaking the habit is a life-long battle can...
Nov 21, 2023•9 min•Ep. 357
You might believe that the end of the year is a difficult time to change your drinking habit. In reality, this period of temptation can actually supercharge your ability to retrain your brain. This week, you will learn how to address that lacking feeling you experience before pouring a drink and the questions you need to ask yourself to ultimately do the work of changing your brain. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/356...
Nov 14, 2023•15 min•Ep. 356
If you reach for a drink when you get home from work, there’s a good chance you were experiencing some type of negative emotion during the day. However, it could have been so subtle you didn’t even know it was there. By bringing awareness to these subtle emotions throughout the day, you can decrease the urge you feel to drink. In this episode, I’m sharing how to work on the skill of “being where you are” so you can notice the subtle emotions that lead you to pouring a drink at the end of the day...
Nov 07, 2023•31 min•Ep. 355
When everyone around you is drinking, the fear of missing out can make social situations especially hard to navigate. Luckily, this episode explores some strategies you can go to instead of pouring a drink. You'll hear some insights on your lower brain when it comes to your desire to drink, and how to stick to your commitments. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/354...
Oct 31, 2023•22 min•Ep. 354
If you had a drink after deciding you were taking a break, you might have the thought that “it doesn’t matter.” This is an extremely common thought to have when you’re struggling to stick with your commitment to change your habit. This week, learn how the excuse of “it doesn’t matter” is getting in the way of changing your habit, and how to keep taking strides towards improving your relationship with drinking. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/353...
Oct 24, 2023•29 min•Ep. 353
Free drinks are everywhere. Whether you’re at an open-bar event, there are bottomless mimosas at brunch, or they’re offering a glass of bubbly in the airport lounge, it is incredibly common to encounter free drinks. This can make saying no to those drinks extra difficult. This week, learn how to keep working towards changing your relationship with drinking regardless of the free drinks available to you. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/352...
Oct 17, 2023•9 min•Ep. 352
Even when you aren’t experiencing the urge to drink, you can still have a lot of fear around urges. You might think that the urge to drink is so powerful that you won’t he able to say no. This week, discover how to move through any urge you have including the urge to pour a drink. You’ll learn how to create a new relationship with the desire to drink so you can identify this desire without fear. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/351...
Oct 10, 2023•16 min•Ep. 351
When you feel compelled to drink, the act of drinking isn’t very enjoyable. It can feel like you’re “giving in” or are out of control. However, it is possible for drinking to be a pleasurable experience and not leave you feeling guilty or undisciplined. The key is changing what your goal around drinking is, and that’s what you’ll hear all about in this week’s episode. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/350...
Oct 03, 2023•17 min•Ep. 350
When all you want is a glass of wine, a cold beer, or a cocktail, water can feel boring. No matter how you dress it up, it can leave you feeling resentful, disinterested, and wanting an alcoholic drink. This week, learn why water is not the problem, and how to use a glass of water to reveal what is really driving your habit and relationship with drinking. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/349...
Sep 26, 2023•13 min•Ep. 349
Do celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries feel more special with a drink in hand? Do you think that cooking dinner or watching a sunset can be even better with a drink? This week, learn how to teach your brain that toasting with a drink isn’t the only way to make a situation feel special and how to recalibrate your reward center to seek pleasure from other sources. Get full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/348...
Sep 19, 2023•16 min•Ep. 348
When you get in the habit of relying on a drink or overeating to make you feel better, your brain can get confused and start to see alcohol and food as friends. This week, learn why alcohol and food aren’t your friends, the exact reason your brain tricks you into believing they are, and 5 important qualities you need to examine in your relationship with alcohol and food. G et full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/347...
Sep 12, 2023•31 min•Ep. 347
It can feel impossible to be in social situations without a drink, but spending years, if not decades, relying on a drink to get you through these situations could be making it harder for you to stop. This week, learn why we have this ingrained pattern with drinking when meeting new people, and why continuing to drink in these situations is not the solution to alleviating your anxiety around them. G et full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/346...
Sep 05, 2023•17 min•Ep. 346
Do you worry that you will never be able to change your relationship with alcohol? Do you question how you’re going to drink less and figure it all out? If so, you are not alone. This week, discover a simple tactic to help you explore your feelings of fear and shame, create awareness around your habits, and transform your doubt into something more useful. G et full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/345...
Aug 29, 2023•14 min•Ep. 345
If you find yourself continuing to give in to the urge to drink, even though you know it’s not great for you, you’re not alone. Focusing solely on the impact of drinking when it comes to your health only tells one piece of the story. This week, learn the problem with focusing only on the health risks of drinking and discover another way to change your relationship with alcohol. G et full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/344...
Aug 22, 2023•13 min•Ep. 344
For many of us, pouring a glass of wine or opening a beer at the end of a long or stressful day is the easiest way to unwind. This week, learn why the thought that it is easier to drink is keeping you stuck in the cycle of overdrinking, and use this knowledge to create long-lasting change in your drinking habit. G et full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/343
Aug 15, 2023•17 min•Ep. 343
When trying to change your relationship with alcohol, subtle comments like “Oh, you’re having another?” or “You sure like your wine!” can feel embarrassing and painful. But you can leverage these moments and use them to your advantage. This week, learn how to deal with other people’s subtle comments about your drinking and use them to create real change in your habit. G et full show notes and more information here: https://rachelhart.com/342...
Aug 08, 2023•22 min•Ep. 342
