Why does that evening glass feel so hard to give up?
I explore the stress and nervous system patterns behind drinking to switch off, and share practical ways to start changing the habit.
For 29 years, alcohol was my way to unwind. Then, in my 40s, I found myself waking at 3 a.m., feeling anxious and watching my life get smaller. In this solo episode, I share why I look beyond the evening glass when helping women change their relationship with alcohol. We cover the build-up of daily stress, how drinking becomes linked with relief, and why I start with what happens in the morning. From phone-free time and a protein-rich breakfast to calming breaks and alternative evening rituals, this is about understanding what you need from that drink and finding other ways to meet that need.
Key Topics Covered:
- Why your evening wine can feel like the only way to switch off.
- How daily stress can build from the moment you wake up.
- The connection between your nervous system, stress and alcohol cravings.
- Building a personal list of ways to unwind without alcohol.
Timestamps
My Experience With Grey Area Drinking (00:00)
Why You Crave Wine in the Evening (02:05)
Changing Your Evening Habit Starts in the Morning (03:00)
Taking Calming Breaks Throughout the Day (03:45)
Finding Other Ways to Unwind Without Alcohol (05:20)
Sarah Rusbatch is an accredited Health and Wellbeing Coach and one of Australia’s leading experts on grey area drinking. Her podcast, Stronger, Bolder, Wiser, is the go-to space for women who are questioning their relationship with alcohol, navigating life alcohol-free, or simply curious about what life could look like on the other side of the bottle.If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you haven’t already, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review to help more women find this community.
Explore Reset, my app designed by women, for women, to help you change your drinking habits. Find out more through my website: https://sarahrusbatch.com/
Join my free Facebook group, Women’s Wellbeing Collective, a space where women feel safe to be seen, ask the questions they don’t always say out loud and connect with others going through the same:https://www.facebook.com/groups/342319476897067
And if changing your relationship with alcohol is something you want to explore further, you can find my book Beyond Booze on Audible, Spotify, Kindle and Amazon. Click the link here:https://sarahrusbatch.com/beyond-booze
