2- Go Shopping Skip that airport bar in favor of going shopping. Splurge on gum, a million dollar magazine (baby you’re worth it), a bag of nuts, fancy sparkling water, and even a new book. Browse that airport bookstore, newsstand, and factor into your budget whatever you spent on alcohol to be reallocated to fun treats purchased in the airport. A new sweatshirt? Replenish that fancy lotion you had to throw away at security. Lip gloss. Duty free perfume? Spend your time shopping and spoiling yourself, not drinking. Some airports have cupcake vending machines, manicure salons, and massage chairs. Do it. Spoil yourself. Vacation does begin now and it doesn’t begin in a dirty pub with sad people smelling like stale beer and bleach. It begins with sticking to your plan and taking tender loving care of yourself. 3- Reward system You can celebrate and congratulate yourself at every point. One client loved Rolo chocolates. She allowed herself one chocolate upon arrival at the airport. One when she made it through security. One when she made it to her gate. One when she got on her plane. One when she ordered a soft drink instead of alcohol. One when she landed completely sober. It might sound silly, but having a tangible award at each checkpoint gave her something to look forward to and this action rewired the reward circuit in her brain to encourage continued alcohol free choices. She visually walked through and articulated the plan with me on our call before her travel day. She could see herself successfully making it. Since she had already done it in her mind’s eye, she was able to do it in real life when the time came. It’s like an up level in a video game of collecting more stars or gaining more super powers. She felt stronger and stronger as she successfully accomplished each move and that fueled the next move. Visualize yourself succeeding and reward yourself with a little tangible nugget. 4- Drink Up Cinnamon Latte with whip? Yes please. Ginger ale. Salty tomato juice. Fountain Diet Coke from McDonald’s = yes please. Iced tea with extra lemons? Jumbo size fancy glass bottle of overly priced water straight from a mountain stream? Don’t mind if I do. Just because you aren’t drinking alcohol doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of anything else. In fact, I think it means the opposite. Spoil yourself with all the drinks. Have every single drink you want and have them all at once. Order as many drinks as you need to, in order to not have an alcoholic drink. Pro Tip: sit in the aisle seat so you can skip off to the bathroom whenever you want without interrupting anyone. Drink up my friends, just don’t drink alcohol.
5 - EFT Tapping Emotional Freedom Technique tapping can give your busy hands and mind something to focus on. Research how to tap and it’s something you can do sitting right in the tiny airplane seat. EFT tapping points are the side of the hand, eyebrow, the side of and under the eye, under the nose, chin, collarbone, underarm and top of the head. Many of my client’s who have had anxiety about flying have used this technique to calm their nerves and even enjoyed the scenery. They landed at their destination feeling calm and accomplished. 6- Breath Work By shifting your breath and changing your breathing patterns, you can signal to your body a calming response to stress. There’s a variety of techniques that you can use. Box breath (breath in for 4+ counts, hold for 4+ counts, exhale for 4+ counts, hold for 4+ counts. Repeat.) is one option. The simplest thing to remember is to breathe through your nose and let your exhale be longer than your inhale. Slow your breath. That is enough. This will give your mind a focus, and it will stimulate the body’s natural parasympathetic response. You can hold your hand on your belly. Fill with air and exhale. Ahhh, don’t you feel better already? By using these simple breathing techniques and paying attention to what is happening inside of you, you can calm yourself without the mask of alcohol. Stay present. Be with yourself. You are learning to regulate your emotions. You are learning to cope without alcohol. You are trying something new by flying without alcohol. You can expect that you will be surrounded by triggers, but someday in your future you don’t see them. You only see how happy you are with your alcohol free tool kit, shopping experience, and staying with your own breath. You’re invited to join the Exclusive Ditched the Drink Insider Membership fore more support for making sober milestones in community with recorded monthly masterclasses+resources, LIVE Certified Professional Facilitation and Group Coaching Calls (replays available), and a 24/7 off social media private community for less than $30 a month, cancel anytime.
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