How can you relax without a drink? Here are some ways to replace alcohol as a way to relax – because alcohol isn’t the only way to relieve pandemic stress. Here are some non-alcoholic alternatives (some of which will give you a real boost of energy!).
Different ways to relax without alcohol
In this unprecedented era of confinement and social distancing, alcohol has become a major coping tool. A recent survey of 1,540 adults, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, found that alcohol use is up 14% from last year. Women appear to be particularly vulnerable, especially when it comes to heavy drinking. Meanwhile, another survey showed a 54% increase in alcohol sales between March 2019 and March 2020.
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that alcohol can turn your life upside down almost as much as the pandemic. “Alcohol and other substances may make you feel good in the moment, but their long-term – and even short-term – effects can actually produce the opposite of what they were intended to do for you,” says Brittany LeMonda, a senior neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. It’s really important to choose healthy ways to relax.”
Here are different healthy and thoughtful ways to replace alcohol.
