Jan 1st 2026

Dear Friends,

Every December, we slip into what I call the season of too-muchness — too much to do, too many expectations, and too many “yeses” when our body quietly whispers, “please, no.”

For years, I believed alcohol was a key ingredient in the recipe for a “good Christmas.” 
Champagne before lunch, daiquiris by the pool — it was all part of the tradition.

It was also part of my survival toolkit, helping me cope with the stress of constant socialising.

When I removed alcohol, I was terrified that Christmas would lose its sparkle and I would feel anxious and exhausted. 

But the first year was easier than I had imagined.

I remember feeling both fear and relief. The relief part was interesting, because whilst I recalled the 'fun' of the drinking, I also remembered with painful clarity how I'd felt the previous year on January 1st. So I leaned into the possiblity of waking up in 2020 feeling something I hadn't felt for a long time.  Proud.

This is my invitation for you this week. 

🎁 This Week

1. Imagine yourself waking up on Jan 1st 2026 after 2 weeks of drinking and eating - How do you look? How do you feel?

See if you can create this image of yourself in your mind. Get absolutely clear on how you will look and feel. What will your inner voice be saying?

The more you focus on the long-term reality of excessive drinking, not just the short-term gratification, the easier it becomes to say no.

If you repeat this exercise daily, you may find that when you think about drinking,  your mind will bring up this image, the one that feels flat, disappointed, frustrated, and even a bit chubbier :)

✨ With about three weeks to go, now is the time to prepare.  

And if you're really committed to not drinking this Christmas, put pen to paper and get specific about exactly how you will feel if you repeat the same old same old -  and read it every day.

How are you going to feel on Jan 1st 2026?

Warmly,

Sarah Connelly