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Are you trying to cut down your drinking this summer?

You may have heard of the phrases 'sober curious' and 'mindful drinking', which have appeared amidst our vocabulary over the last few years. But if you're still curious about what these terms mean, read on for everything you need to know.

A mindful drinking is somebody who is paying close attention to their relationship with alcohol, and how alcohol impacts various aspects of their life, such as work, relationships, and sleep. They may not cut out all alcohol completely forever, however they reduce their intake.

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If you're not sure that cutting alcohol out entirely is for you, then mindful drinking offers a good middle ground. 

Being sober curious is sort of a precursor to being a mindful drinker. Sober curious people are reflecting on their relationship with alcohol, and may be considering reducing their intake, however they have not taken any steps to do so yet.

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If you want to start drinking more mindfully, you should consider the life you want to live, and how alcohol fits into that. Consider if you do want to cut back, and how that may improve some aspects of your life. Think twice before reaching for a glass of wine, and ask yourself if you really want it. Look for patterns - are there certain days or places where you drink more? Or certain people who you associate with drinking more than you want to?

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You may decide to cut out alcohol for a certain period of time - three months is an excellent time frame, however one month is also good. You may start drinking again after this, however your relationship with alcohol may have changed.

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You might opt to only drink at the weekends, in order to feel fresh at work. Or you may choose to stop drinking when you're alone. Alternatively, you might change what kind of alcohol you are drinking, as different types of alcohol may affect you differently. You might decide to stop getting double vodka sodas at the pub and switch to single measures, or alternate between an alcohol drink and a soft drink.

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There are a range of alcohol-free beers, wines, and mocktails available these days to make it easier for those who are cutting out or cutting down on alcohol.

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However you decide to change your alcohol habits, it is important to reflect on how it impacted your life. Maybe you got more done at the weekends, or maybe you have lost weight or your skin is looking better. 

Mindful drinking is about everything in moderation, and you can choose the extent to which you allow it into your life.