October 12, 2026
Happy Fall Reader,
October is here, and maybe you’ve heard people talking about Sober October. Maybe you are actively participating in Sober October - and you are at 12 days! Congrats - Keep Going!
Maybe part of you is curious and you didn't start. That's okay. Maybe you’ve thought, I could probably go 31 days without drinking. Or maybe another part of you immediately starts negotiating: But what about football? The bonfires? Halloween? Dinner with friends? That glass of wine on a cool fall evening?
And honestly, that’s exactly why I think Sober October can be so powerful.
It isn’t just about proving that you can go 31 days without alcohol. It’s an opportunity to step out of the cycle for long enough to start noticing what alcohol has actually been doing in your life—and what life begins to feel like without it.
Why Fall Can Feel So Triggering
There’s something about fall that can make us romanticize the drink.
The weather cools down. We pull out the sweaters. Football starts. The firepit comes out. Suddenly that glass of wine, seasonal beer, or cocktail can feel like part of the experience.
There’s actually a reason for this. Our brains are incredible at creating associations. If you’ve repeatedly paired certain seasons, activities, emotions, or times of day with alcohol, your brain learns the connection.
Cool evening = wine.
Football = beer.
Stressful day = drink.
Friday night = I deserve it.
But here’s what I want you to remember:
A trigger is not a command.
Your brain can learn new associations. Through neuroplasticity, every time you respond differently to an old cue, you begin strengthening a new pathway.
And I love how this connects with our faith. Romans 12:2 talks about being transformed by the renewing of our minds. We don’t have to remain stuck in the same patterns simply because they are familiar.
So, what might change if you take a break?
Instead of approaching Sober October thinking, I can't drink for 31 days, try approaching it with curiosity:
What might I gain during these 31 days?
You may begin noticing changes in your energy, digestion, bloating, mood, workouts, mental clarity, and eventually your sleep. You may notice that your mornings feel different when you don't wake up replaying the night before.
But some of the biggest changes may not be physical at all.
You may begin discovering how much mental energy alcohol was taking up. This was HUGE for me!
Am I drinking tonight? How much? Should I have another? Did I drink too much yesterday? I'll only drink on weekends. I'll start again Monday.
That mental negotiation is exhausting.
Freedom is different.
There was a time when I thought giving up alcohol meant I was losing something. What I discovered was that I was actually getting so much back.
My health. My mornings. My peace. My relationships. My confidence. My connection with God. My freedom.
Don't Just Remove the Drink- Replace What It Was Doing
This is one of the most important things I teach in Alcohol Freedom Coaching. If alcohol has become your way to transition out of a stressful day, calm your nervous system, celebrate, escape or numb uncomfortable emotions, or reward yourself, simply removing it can leave a hole.
Get curious and ask:
What am I really needing right now?
Is it rest? Peace? Comfort? Connection? Fun? A way to release stress?
Then begin creating healthier ways to meet that need.
Take the walk. Make the tea or alcohol-free drink. Pray. Journal. Get outside. Move your body. Call someone. Take a few slow breaths. Put on worship music. Go to bed early.
And if you love the fall ritual, keep the ritual, and replace the ingredients. This was the big tool for me for the first 5-6 months.
Pour the alcohol-free drink into the beautiful glass. Sit by the fire. Watch the game. Enjoy the dinner. You don't have to give up the experience just because you're changing what's in your glass.
Make a Plan Before You Need One
Don't wait until you're standing in the kitchen at 5:30 p.m. thinking, Maybe just one.
Think ahead.
What are your biggest triggers? What will you drink instead? What will you do when you're stressed? Who can you text when the urge feels strong? What will you say when someone offers you a drink?
And most importantly:
What's your WHY?
Write it down somewhere you will see it.
Maybe you want better health. Maybe you're tired of the anxiety. Maybe you want to sleep better. Maybe you're tired of thinking about alcohol. Maybe you want to be more present with your family. Maybe you feel God calling you into something different.
Your WHY matters when the temporary desire for a drink gets loud.
Let The Rest of October Be an Experiment
You don't have to decide today that you'll never drink again.
And you certainly don't have to wait until alcohol has taken everything from you before you're allowed to question its place in your life.
Give yourself permission to become curious.
What would happen if I gave myself 31 days to experience life without alcohol?
Pay attention to your body. Pay attention to your thoughts. Pay attention to your relationship with alcohol. And pay attention to what God may be showing you in the quiet that begins to emerge.
Sober October doesn't have to be about deprivation or white-knuckling your way to November 1st.
It can be about learning new patterns, rebuilding trust with yourself, caring for the body God gave you, and discovering that maybe the thing you thought you were giving up wasn't giving you what you were looking for in the first place.
You don't have to do this perfectly. You just have to be willing to take the next step.
And if you're realizing that doing this alone feels harder than you expected, that's exactly why I coach - Choose Freedom. My clients tell me again and again that having personal accountability, encouragement, prayer, practical tools, and someone walking beside them has been a game changer.
There is no shame here. No judgment. Just support as you begin moving toward the freedom God has for you.
Here's to a Sober October—and maybe the beginning of something even bigger.
Peace & Joy,
Alcohol Freedom Coach & Certified Functional Nutrition Professional
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:15
👉 Sign up here for a free discovery call where we can talk through where you are, what you’re struggling with, and whether the Choose Freedom™ Group Coaching or 1:1 coaching would support you in this season.
There’s no pressure—just a conversation.
For more tips and inspiration, follow me on Instagram @joyontheothersideofalcohol.
