For many people, there comes a time when they have to start thinking about how they consume alcohol. None of us stay 21 forever and you eventually need to consider how your drinking might be impacting your health, even if it’s in relatively minor ways right now.
Getting a grip of this issue sooner rather than later and really putting your health first is what you should focus on trying to do. Here are some tips and ideas for how you can start balancing your health and your alcohol intake a little better:
Be Aware of What’s Recommended
First of all, you should learn about what the recommended level of alcohol consumption is. This depends very much on your age, height, weight and gender. If you want to find out specifically what the limit is for you, then you need to talk to your doctor. Of course, from a purely health conscious point of view, most doctors will tell you that the best amount of alcohol to drink for the sake of your health is no alcohol at all.
Cut Down if Drinking is Causing You to Make Bad Decisions
It’s definitely a good idea to start cutting down on your drinking if you’ve been noticing that you make bad decisions when you drink alcohol. This is something that lots of people experience, so you won’t at all be alone in this regard. Putting your health and safety first, as well as the safety of those around you, is what’s most important here. And if we’re honest, we all make better decisions when we’re sober.
Limit Your Purchases
One way to cut down on the amount of alcohol you’re drinking is by limiting the amount of alcohol you actually buy. If you’re not buying as much of it, you won’t be drinking as much of it either. Lots of people find that their spending can get out of control when they’re at a bar or on a night out. It’s important to keep things in control both for the good for your health and the good for your bank balance too. So think about putting those limits in place.
Only Drink at Certain Times
If you’ve been noticing that the frequency with which you drink alcohol has been increasing, it’s definitely a good idea to do something about that. It’s never a good idea to allow your drinking to become something that happens every day because that’s when it starts edging closer and closer to a dependency.
Try to only drink at times of the week when it’s socially normal to do so, such as at weekends when socializing with friends. Don’t let it become something that happens every night.
Know the Signs of When Things Are Going Too Far
It’s a good idea to be aware of the signs that tell you your drinking has gone a little too far. If you’re drinking as a way to improve your mood or you start to feel as if there’s a need to drink alcohol, that’s a sign that you’re developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and potentially an addiction. Finding a good rehab center and getting on top of the problem before it developers ever further is probably a good idea.
Look for Alternatives
For many people substituting alcohol with something else works well. If you find that you’re drinking too much and you want to spend your leisure time doing something else, find an activity or hobby that you find rewarding in some way. It might not sound like much, but it can really make a difference when you’re looking to take a break from drinking or you want to drink less frequently.
Talk to a Professional if You’re Unsure
If you’re unsure at all of whether your drinking habits are currently unhealthy, you should talk to a doctor about that. They’ll be able to give you the advice that you need and be able to tell you whether you are developing an unhealthy relationship to alcohol. Whenever there’s something you’re not sure about, it makes sense to talk to people who understand these matters a little better than you do.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to start regulating your alcohol intake in a way that’s healthier and more positive. So be sure to make the most of the tips and ideas discussed above if you want to take your alcohol consumption in a more positive kind of direction moving forward.
*Photos by Anna Shvets
