If you don’t drink what do you do to relax?

[C1239]

I’ve never been a big drinker but I find now even a glass of wine or prosecco leaves me feeling not great the next day so I just don’t feel like the odd drink is worth it anymore. It must be an age thing?! Just wondering what other people do to get to get that relaxed feeling or just to feel the difference between a week day evening and a weekend if they tend not to drink?

Same!

Eat.

A few different podcasts followed by an extensive skincare regimen.

I'm teetotal.
Generally a mint tea on the sofa with a good book! Chocolate is nice, too!

I like to take the dog out for a nice long walk, watch tv, mindless phoning

Agree it's a mindset.

Also no longer really drink so for me it's a bubble bath, glass of fizzy juice, or a piece of chocolate or something. Even just a cup of tea or a hot chocolate.

No alcohol booze. It is definitely a mindset for me. I gave up booze for some medication I needed.
Sometimes I worry that I 'drink' every night!!

Gordon's gin is brilliant

I don't drink alcohol but I do use a weed vape, but only on the weekend. A couple of goes on it, then a good book and chill until bedtime.

I am involuntarily teetotal as I have developed an allergy to most alcoholic drinks over the past few years. Things I do to relax include Yoga, swimming, bath, TV, playing instruments, sex stuff, walk the dog, go to restaurants, bake, listen to music, go to gigs, bike rides, kayaking, reading, camping, writing, get a manicure, chat/debate. Pretty much the same stuff I did back when I drank really (minus a few on night stands).

If you can't imagine relaxing without alcohol and if this is the only way to relax, then you've got problems.

Cup of tea and a block of chocolate or cake and look at my phone.
I play a lot of games on my phone - I don't do social media
I like reading.
I rarely get to watch tv or do hobbies so that does it for me.

Walking the dogs, reading & Edibles

Ha! Same, but podcasts during the skincare 'rituals'. Absolutely love it.

OP there's so much to do that gives a good feeling. A meaningful hug (nothing beats this), reading a good book in peace, walking, enjoying being in a clean and tidy house/room/bathroom/ bed etc.
Simple, small things really.

Drink tea and eat biscuits while watching murder mysteries/comedy.

But I’m so bored tonight I’m thinking of just going to bed. Holding out till 9.30pm.

I used to drink a lot, but I've been sober for nearly 10 years now. I remember the demarcation between busy time and relaxing time was always alcohol for me, and I did struggle initially to find ways to get that similar signal to my brain that it was time to chill out.

I find now that on a Friday night, when my DH will usually have a few bottles of beer, I'll run myself a bubble bath and either read, catch up with someone on the phone (not on FaceTime!), or one of my teenage DDs will come and chat to me for an hour or so. I find it really marks the end of the week for me and I definitely feel like I've started to relax. Much less chance of me doing or saying something embarrassing that I'm going to regret the next day (or the whole of the following week...😳), or of feeling shitty and having an awful headache compared to when I used to drink!

I do drink but only really when socialising. To relax at home, if on my own I’d have a cup of tea, some chocolate and watch tv or go to bed early and read my book. With my husband on a Friday night we often have a take away and watch a film. He’d probably have a drink with it and I’d have a lime Diet Coke!

Go for a run or to the gym - gives me a 'high' that lasts a good couple of hours afterwards if I work hard enough. Then a hot drink, board games/chat with DH, sex, watching something together or reading on the sofa (me) listening to DH play the guitar.

Watch tv- ideally in bed!

There’s some really nice non alcoholic drinks such as Nozecco and bottle green lime and mint cordial with tonic is lovely! Also chocolate. Just relaxing in front of the TV, reading a book or having a bath.

Ooh I love a butter mint tea once DC are in bed too!

Feet up, blanket, occasional posh hot chocolate if it's cold and dark and wet. In the summer to relax/de-stress i'd go out on my bike or at least for a walk out in the countryside. I don't mind going for a pint after work from time to time, or a few local beers when on the continent so i'm not a tee-total (not that there is anything at all wrong with being tee total) but I can't remember the time I had a drink at home if i'm honest.

Jigsaw and a glass of nozecco

A bath with Epsom salts and bubbles is lovely and relaxing.
The longer I go without alcohol, the better I feel. I could do with finding a really good alcohol free Prosecco.

I work really hard in the week, always up 4-5am and usually at work for about 10 hours, sometimes 12. I lift in the gym at least three weeknights after work, so when the weekend comes I'm happy just to be able to put my feet up.

I do sometimes have a whisky but I could 100% do without. I think the busier you are the more you appreciate the small things.

I don’t drink anymore, alcohol used to decompress me until about 4am then I’d have anxiety all day. So I no longer see it as a relaxant - the opposite in fact.

Exercise relaxes me, cleaning the house and putting my feet up, bed with clean sheets, being near the sea, going for a swim in the sea, nice smelling candles, a lie in with my book and electric blanket.

I’ve not drank for two and a half years as it makes me so ill 😫quite pissed off about it tbh 🤣before that I was pregnant so didn’t drink…but before that, always had a drink on a Friday & Saturday night..do miss it sort of, but also can’t imagine being drunk ever again now 🤷🏻‍♀️
I tend to just relax with good tv or a meal out or treats at home whilst watching a film etc
I do really miss sitting on the terrace, drinking a fair few glasses of wine and listening to music..and smoking too…I’m like a different person in the last 5/6 years or so!