How Much Discipline Does It Actually Take to Stop (or Reduce) Drinking?
The answer: not as much as you think.
Because when it comes to your consumption, and your relationship with alcohol, it’s less about willpower and more about how clear you are on your vision of who you want to become.
It's an identity game.
"Self-Belief is Your Greatest Asset in this Journey."
Let’s be honest—many of us struggle with discipline not because we're flawed, but because we’re negotiating with ourselves all the time.
“Maybe just one glass.” “Next week I'll try again.” "Now's not the right time."
That cycle is ultra-draining.
If “discipline” feels exhausting, it’s time to start working with your brain, not against it.
Because discipline is directly linked to freedom and happiness.
But here's the thing: discipline requires having the willpower to stop and question what we do (hopping off autopilot as I like to put it), and linking our behaviour back to our motivators: what we want, and who we want to become).
This is the most empowering thing you can do: to resist an urge and decide that you are doing something good for you, because you believe you can, and you know it helps you shape your life the way you want it to be.
When you do that, you are no longer at the mercy of impulses, pressure, and old limiting beliefs.
You are taking control. THAT is true discipline.
“When someone is disciplined, it means that they have the ability to use their own conscious, objective free will to govern their mind, body and emotional system.”
-Teal Swan
Discipline is not about force or punishment.
It’s about self-leadership: stepping into your power, even when the impulse, the context, or your habitual thinking is telling you otherwise.
With true discipline, you are working with yourself, not against yourself. Without discipline you are at the mercy of yourself (and everything & everyone else).
You are choosing long-term wellbeing over short-term escape. And this is real, compassionate discipline.
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony."
-Mahatma Ghandi
The Exhaustion of Negotiation
The mental and physical drain doesn't come from trying to stay on track, it comes from always being out of alignment with the person you want to be, and from constantly negotiating with yourself.
The energy it takes to plan your drinking, debate it, delay it, or justify it is enormous. The mental toll that a hangover can have, when we're already uncomfortable with our drinking habit, is crazy. I know, I've been there, and you all tell me how much chatter is happening up there 🧠!
It's exhausting.
Discipline, when defined as aligned choice, cancels that cycle. It anchors you to your values and your future self.
So what now?
The truth is, cravings often aren’t about alcohol at all.
They’re signals. Messages from your mind or body, asking for connection, stimulation, calm, or release.
What's your signal telling you?
Remember cravings only last for 90 seconds if you allow them to be there, and to go away. 90 seconds.
So when it hits, remind yourself of the person you want to be. The pride, the energy, your kids, whatever motivates you to breathe for 90 seconds instead of picking up the bottle or going to the shops to get one.
Discipline is that space where you remind yourself that right here, right no, you have the choice. And right here, right now, this time, you're choosing yourself over comfort, over habits, over the urge.
When you respond with presence instead of pouring a drink — that’s where your power is. This is discipline.
And inside The Mindfully Sober Program, you’ll learn how to:
💛 Spot your triggers
💛 Respond with compassion
💛 Build a toolkit for discipline that’s actually yours
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being equipped.
Mindfully Sober is not about perfection — it’s about possibility.
It's a coaching program built for the high-functioning, sober-curious people who want to live on purpose — aligned with their values, not society’s expectations.
I believe you deserve to feel good in your life, proud of your choices, and clear about your future.
Every time you choose to listen to your inner voice, you come back to yourself.
And that’s where real freedom begins.
Be on your own side,
Sophie 🌿
Sophie Anderson is an ICF-certified coach, wellness expert, and founder of Mindfully Sober. Completely alcohol-free since 2020, she empowers others to step into their potential by creating a life they don’t need to escape from. With a compassionate, practical approach, Sophie helps clients break free from drinking culture and live with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
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