))
Tired of breaking your promise to go easy on the drinks tonight? You know your nightly habit isn’t great for your health or waistline, but it’s so hard to say no. Sound familiar? Then you need Rachel. She knows what it’s like to be fed up with your drinking, worried about judgment from others, and turned off by approaches that focus on a higher power instead of brain science. Learn the exact steps she used to change her relationship with alcohol. Discover how the brain works, the real reason ...
…
continue reading
No matter where you are on your journey to changing your relationship with drinking, there’s one question you’ll need to be prepared to answer—and it’s one that you may struggle with or dread: “Do you want a drink?” While you’re trying to find the perfect response, you might actually be missing out on why saying no is so difficult in the first plac…
…
continue reading
Does there always seems to be chatter in your brain about alcohol? Whether you should drink tonight, whether you should have just one more, or any of the questions you ask yourself after a night of drinking. You might be surprised to hear it has nothing to do with how much you drink. It’s a result of how your brain is structured and how you’re soci…
…
continue reading
You may have asked yourself the morning after a long night of drinking or while sitting across from someone sipping their first cocktail as you finish your third: "Why can’t I drink like everyone else?" But what if your drinking has little to do with alcohol? Instead, what if it's a matter of coping with your humanness? In that case, the problem is…
…
continue reading
Humans have a long history of using alcohol for medicinal purposes. While drinking can often numb your pain in the moment, it actually creates more stress on the body. When we repeatedly turn to alcohol for relief from insomnia, chronic pain, or other ailments, our brains start to believe that drinking is the only way out of suffering. But in reali…
…
continue reading
If you find yourself constrained by your life and living up to expectations of who you should be, you’re not alone. You spend so much time adhering to societal conventions that, every once in a while, it can feel freeing to rebel against the rules—by pouring a drink and living uncensored. Having a drink to let go of pressure and expectations can fe…
…
continue reading
When you're bored it’s easy to be tempted by a drink. After all, a little buzz can help pass the time. But have you ever considered what your brain learns when you do this? You might be surprised to discover that the faster you reach for a drink when you’re bored by what you’re doing, the more intolerable boredom becomes. This is what happens when …
…
continue reading
Humans have a long history of using alcohol as “liquid courage.” But did you know this can actually make your insecurities and anxiety worse? The Mask is one of eight Drink Archetypes, and it teaches your brain to associate a buzz with feeling confident around others. But when it feels like a drink is necessary to have fun, saying no will interfere…
…
continue reading
There are no shortages of pop-culture examples in which someone is seen drinking to numb their pain—likely because people have been using alcohol to drown their sorrow for centuries. But the fact is, doing so can prevents you from coping effectively. The Escape is one of eight Drink Archetypes and it teaches your brain that whatever negative situat…
…
continue reading
The concept of drinking to relax is nothing new. It goes hand-in-hand with the belief that you deserve a drink—whether it’s after a hard day’s work or because it’s your “me time” routine. In reality, using alcohol as a treat can backfire. The Reward is one of the eight Drink Archetypes, and it can wrongly teach your brain that alcohol is the only w…
…
continue reading
Humans have long used alcohol’s ability to facilitate bonding by lowering people’s defenses. But you may be surprised to discover that when alcohol becomes your go-to way to open up, it can actually block your ability to connect with others (even with those you feel close to). The Connector is one of the eight Drink Archetypes, and not only does it…
…
continue reading
If you're someone who often reaches for a drink because “it would make things more special,” then you may recognize The Upgrade drink archetype—one of eight unconscious patterns that influence why you drink. Identifying this pattern is the first step in changing your relationship with alcohol. The next is understanding how The Upgrade impacts what …
…
continue reading
Believe it or not, overindulgence is a part of the human experience. So why is it that you consider this natural impulse to be negative? Whether it’s drinking, eating, spending or something else, it's easy to associate overindulgence with your character and make it mean something negative about you. Throw in the societal and moral baggage, and this…
…
continue reading
If you routinely drink too much, should you just stop drinking? What if you keep drinking, even though, deep down, you don’t believe you can moderate? These are fraught questions that often bring up a lot of fear and shame. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is to approach the question from a different angle. In order to do this, you must…
…
continue reading
Listen to Rachel’s conversation with Kara Loewentheil, a Master-Certified Life Coach and author of Take Back Your Brain: How a Sexist Society Gets in Your Head and How to Get It Out. Together, they discuss some of the hidden reasons why you might reach for a drink when you’re feeling anxious at a party, overworked, afraid of making mistakes, or wan…
…
continue reading
You want to change your relationship with drinking, but other than listening to the podcast, you’re not doing anything about it. This paralysis, while frustrating, is actually very normal. Explore the three reasons this happens and how they relate to your cravings, your beliefs about failure, and your vision of the future. Discover why your unwilli…
…
continue reading
Who cares? How many times have you poured yourself a drink after silently uttering these words to yourself? If you’re like most people, the answer is a lot. Hidden behind “Who cares?” is a powerful tension that, if revealed, will help you say no to your cravings. Tune in and discover why this particular excuse is so good at sabotaging your commitme…
…
continue reading
You know the scenario. You promised not to drink tonight… but by 5 o’clock, you’re ready for a drink. Or you told yourself you would only have one drink at happy hour, but then your friend suggests another round. “I’ll be good tomorrow” is an excuse you’ve probably told yourself many times before. Why is it so easy to fall into this trap, even when…
…
continue reading
In this episode, we cover a scenario that may be familiar. You start drinking and then convince yourself to continue because "Why stop now?" This mindset isn't just about alcohol; it can also happen with food and spending. Many of us develop a habit of letting things like an empty glass or a finished package override our feelings of fullness. Liste…
…
continue reading
In this episode, we tackle a familiar scenario: you've made progress in reducing your drinking, but then a special celebration comes up. So, how do you stay on track with your commitment? The answer isn’t what you may expect. Discover how your Drink Archetypes, especially The Upgrade, can act like blinders in these moments and the exact question to…
…
continue reading
We all face moments where life doesn’t match our expectations. We often feel this most acutely when trying to change our relationship with alcohol. In this episode, you’ll hear about the universality of the thought, “This is not what my life is supposed to look like.” Explore the connection between this thought and various Drink Archetypes. You’ll …
…
continue reading
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably told yourself if you had more willpower, it would be easier to drink less. This episode delves into the limitations of willpower and why it often falls short. Discover the skill set most people overlook when trying to drink less. You’ll also learn about the eight Drink Archetypes, and how they fit into yo…
…
continue reading
Have you ever thought that if you could just figure out how to stay motivated, then it would be easier to say no to a drink? You’re not alone. Motivation is a concept that many grapple with. This episode sheds light on where motivation comes from and how to find more of it. Learn the real reason your progress is slower than you want it to be. Uncov…
…
continue reading
Pouring a drink at the end of the day can be a treat. But it can easily sabotage your goal of changing your relationship with alcohol. Especially if you have a love-hate relationship with your desire for rewards. This episode will help you stop framing the reward you want as good or bad. Instead, you’ll learn why it’s important to view the desire f…
…
continue reading
Using alcohol as a remedy for a hangover is so common that it has its own term: “the hair of the dog.” Discover why some people swear by this and what’s really happening when you drink to feel better. This episode explains the real reason hangovers feel bad (it’s not what you think). We explore why so many people promise “never again” after a hango…
…
continue reading
Revisit (or listen for the first time) to the celebration of our 100th episode of the Take a Break podcast. In this episode I’m comb through the archives of the past 99 episodes and pull out some of the most important concepts and lessons from each episode. This is an excellent review for you to look at what your next layer of work is and if you’re…
…
continue reading
