The No More Wasted Days Podcast

Ep. 159: What Happens in the First 100 Days of Quitting Drinking

Enrollment for PUSH to 100, my 100-day alcohol-free challenge, is officially open, and today is the last day to join before we start together on February 10.
This challenge will give you enough time to actually experience what an alcohol-free life feels like.
👉 Learn more and join here: nomorewasteddays.co***********************************
January has a way of convincing us that if we didn’t hit the ground running, we’ve already failed. That mindset keeps so many people stuck, especially when it comes to quitting drinking.
In this episode, I’m breaking down why there is no magical start date for an alcohol-free journey, and why starting later might actually work in your favor.
I also share my own real-time goals for 2026, including what I’ve been consistent with, what I haven’t started yet, and why none of that means I’ve failed.
If you skipped Dry January, didn’t finish it, or never planned to do it at all, this episode is for you.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
🔹 Why January is not the make-or-break month we’ve been taught to believe it is🔹 How all-or-nothing thinking keeps people stuck in drinking cycles🔹 Why February can be a quieter, more supportive time to start real change🔹 My personal story of quitting drinking in May, not January🔹 Why shorter alcohol breaks often feel harder than longer ones🔹 What actually happens in your body and brain during the first 100 days alcohol-free🔹 Physical changes you may notice in the first 6 weeks🔹 Emotional shifts that tend to show up between weeks 3–8🔹 Mental clarity and identity changes that often happen after week 6🔹 How to start now without overwhelming yourself🔹 Why support and community matter more than willpower
Why I Recommend 100 Days Alcohol-Free
Short breaks can be helpful, but they often don’t give your nervous system enough time to stabilize or your brain enough time to recalibrate.
With 100 days, you move through:➡️ withdrawal and adjustment➡️ emotional regulation➡️ habit change➡️ identity shift
You don’t just “stop drinking”, you actually get to try on an alcohol-free life and see how it feels when things settle.
It’s the phase of my journey where everything changed, and it’s why the PUSH to 100 exists.
About the PUSH to 100
The PUSH to 100 is a structured, supportive, 100-day alcohol-free challenge designed to help you stop starting over.
Inside the program, you’ll get:✨ Guided video support✨ 8 live group coaching calls with me✨ A private text-based community for daily support✨ Tools to navigate cravings, emotions, routines, and social pressure✨ A longer runway to actually feel the benefits of being alcohol-free
You do not need to be on Day 1 to join.
Many members continue into PUSH to 100 after Dry January or other breaks.
Final Reminder
If January didn’t look the way you hoped, that doesn’t mean the year is lost.
You are not late.You didn’t miss your chance.You can start now.
And if you want to do it with support, I’d love to walk with you through the next 100 days.
👉 Join the PUSH to 100 at nomorewasteddays.co
If you found this episode helpful, you can support the podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, commenting on Spotify, or watching the video version on YouTube or Spotify.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Episode 158: Reinventing Yourself After Alcohol with Amy Mashburn

What happens when you quit drinking and realize the hardest part isn’t the alcohol, it’s letting go of who you used to be?
In this episode of The No More Wasted Days Podcast, I’m joined by Amy Mashburn, nearly 18 years alcohol-free and co-founder of Upper Left Strength. Amy got sober at just 23 years old, long before sobriety was trendy, and her story offers a powerful perspective on identity, mindset, and what it actually takes to build a life you don’t want to escape from.
This conversation goes far beyond health and fitness. We talk about the identity shift that comes with quitting drinking, why mindset has to change before your habits do, and how discomfort is often the doorway to real transformation.
If you’re tired of negotiating with alcohol, half-trying, or feeling stuck between who you were and who you want to become, this episode will land.
In this episode, we talk about:
⚡️ What it was like to get sober at 23 and rebuild life from the ground up
⚡️ Why drinking is often a symptom, not the root problem
⚡️ The identity grief that comes with quitting alcohol (and why it’s normal)
⚡️ Ego death, perfectionism, and self-sabotage in early sobriety
⚡️ Why women are so hard on themselves and how that fuels relapse and burnout
⚡️ The role of discomfort in lasting change
⚡️ How sobriety reshapes standards in relationships, work, and self-respect
⚡️ Why health and fitness can support sobriety without becoming another extreme
⚡️ What “no more wasted days” really means when time is your most valuable resource
A powerful reminder from this episode:
You don’t quit drinking just to stop drinking. You quit so you can reclaim your time, your energy, and your future. Alcohol takes far more than it gives, and once you see that clearly, it’s hard to unsee.
About Amy Mashburn:
Amy Mashburn is nearly 18 years alcohol-free and the co-founder of Upper Left Strength, a health and fitness company focused on sustainable nutrition, strength training, and mindset work. She works alongside her husband to help people step out of all-or-nothing thinking and build lives rooted in alignment, strength, and self-trust.
You can find Amy on Instagram @upperleftamy  and learn more about her work at Upper Left Strength at www.upperleftstrength.com
Work with Amy:
Upper Left Strength offers customized nutrition, strength training, and mindset support through their app-based coaching and Blueprint membership. This is not a quick fix or diet culture solution, it’s real work for people ready to stop starting over.
Find out more at www.upperleftstrength.com
Ready to go deeper in your alcohol-free journey?
Enrollment is open for the PUSH to 100 Alcohol-Free Challenge, starting February 10 and running through May 22. These 100 days are designed to help you walk into summer confident, grounded, and clear.
You can sign up at nomorewasteddays.co.
If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review or comment on Spotify or YouTube, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.
Your time matters. Let’s stop wasting it.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial
 

Ep. 157: Is It Time to Quit Drinking?

If you’ve ever found yourself quietly wondering, “Is my drinking a problem?” this episode is for you.
Before we dive in, I want you to know this:
👉 Early enrollment for the PUSH to 100 Alcohol-Free Challenge opens tomorrow. This 100-day guided experience begins February 10 and is designed to help you step away from alcohol with clarity, structure, and real support. You’ll receive daily guidance, workbooks, group coaching, and access to a private, off–social-media community where you won’t have to do this alone.
You can join the waiting list now at www.nomorewasteddays.co/100waitinglist, or click the link below. Everyone on the waitlist will be notified as soon as early enrollment opens.
About This Episode
“How do you know when it’s time to quit drinking?”
This is one of the hardest questions to answer, and it’s the exact question I asked myself for years before I finally stopped. I wasn’t waiting for a DUI, a job loss, or a dramatic rock-bottom moment. I was waiting for permission. For certainty. For a sign big enough to make the decision feel undeniable.
In this episode, I explain why that sign rarely comes, and why waiting for it often keeps people stuck longer than necessary.
Instead, I walk you through six clear areas to reflect on, not with judgment or shame, but with honesty and compassion. These are the same signs I ignored for years, and the ones I wish someone had laid out for me sooner.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
🫶 Why asking the question at all is often the first sign that something needs to change🫶 How to recognize when drinking takes more than it gives, emotionally, mentally, and physically🫶 The exhausting cycle of negotiating with yourself and making rules you keep breaking🫶  Using alcohol to numb, cope, escape, or quiet the noise, and why that’s not a personal failure🫶 The overlooked clue that matters most, how you feel on the days you don’t drink
We also talk about something that doesn’t get said enough:
You do not need a dramatic reason, a label, or a diagnosis to quit drinking. You’re allowed to stop simply because life feels harder with alcohol in it, and easier without it.
If You’re Nodding Along While Listening
If this episode feels uncomfortably familiar, that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means your mind and body are trying to tell you something.
Alcohol is a highly addictive substance that has been normalized, encouraged, and marketed as self-care. Feeling stuck in a cycle with it is not a moral failing. It’s a predictable outcome.
And the good news is, you can choose something different.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re thinking, “I’m ready for a change, but I don’t know how to do this on my own,” I’d love to support you inside the PUSH to 100 Alcohol-Free Challenge.
This is not about perfection or forever decisions. It’s about creating momentum, rebuilding trust with yourself, and experiencing what life feels like without alcohol in the way.
📌 Join the waitlist here: www.nomorewasteddays.co/100waitinglist Early enrollment opens tomorrow, and the challenge begins February 10.
You don’t have to decide anything forever. You only have to listen to what your body and your intuition have already been telling you.
Thank you for being here, and thank you for listening. I’ll be in your ear again next week. 💛
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 156: A Healthier Alternative to Alcohol? Kava 101 w/ Morgan Smith

The next round of the PUSH to 100 (100-day alcohol free challenge), begins on February 10. This is for you if you’re ready to quit drinking with confidence.
👉 Join the waiting list for early access, priority enrollment, and an exclusive bonus at:
www.nomorewasteddays.co/100waitinglist
 
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In today’s episode of No More Wasted Days, I’m joined by Morgan Smith, founder of Kalm with Kava, for a grounded, honest conversation about kava, what it is, how it works, and why it’s becoming a popular alcohol-free ritual for people who still want to unwind without poisoning themselves.
 
If you’ve ever thought:
➡️ “I just want something to take the edge off”
➡️ “I miss the ritual of a drink, not the alcohol”
➡️ “I don’t want to be numb or impaired, just calmer”
This episode is for you.
 
Morgan is a self-described kava nerd, and his depth of knowledge shines through without making this conversation feel overly scientific or overwhelming. We talk about kava as a tool, not a cure-all, and where it fits realistically into an alcohol-free lifestyle.
In this episode, we cover:
✨ What kava actually is and how it’s been used for thousands of years
✨ How kava interacts with the nervous system and why it feels calming without intoxication
✨ The difference between kava and alcohol (and why comparing the two can be misleading)
✨ The truth about liver toxicity, outdated studies, and modern research
✨ Why quality, sourcing, and preparation matter when it comes to kava
✨ How kava can support evening rituals without impairing memory, judgment, or presence
✨ Why no substance, including kava, should be expected to “fix” your life
✨How to think about kava as part of a sober toolbox, not a replacement addiction
Resources & Links:
🌈 Kalm with Kava Website: www.kalmwithkava.com
🌈 Follow Morgan on Instagram @kalm_with_kava, TikTok @kalmwithkava, and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Drinkkalm for education and behind-the-scenes looks at how kava is grown and prepared
🌈 Morgan’s Hawaiian farm project: Puʻuhōnua Eva Hawaiian Farms (linked on his socials)
One Last Reminder
If you’re tired of trying to “moderate,” tired of starting over every Monday, and tired of needing something external to get through your evenings, the PUSH to 100 was built for you.
This round runs February 10 through mid-May, setting you up to enter summer and long weekends feeling confident, clear, and grounded in your alcohol-free identity.
👉 Get on the waiting list here: www.nomorewasteddays.co/100waitinglist
If this episode resonated, please subscribe to No More Wasted Days on your podcast app and leave a review. Reviews help this message reach people who need it, and they’re one of the most powerful ways to support the show.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 155: The Shift That Makes Ditching Alcohol Feel Easy (How to Quit Drinking Without Willpower)

Dry January is usually hardest after the initial motivation fades.
The first week can be rough with headaches, fatigue, and withdrawal symptoms.
The second week often feels better physically, but this is when the “drinking brain” starts whispering, “See? You don’t have a problem. You can go back now.”
➡️➡️ This episode is your reminder not to listen to that voice.
In today’s episode of the No More Wasted Days Podcast, Sara shares six practical, mindset-shifting strategies to help you move beyond white-knuckling Dry January and into something far more powerful: joy, clarity, and abundance.
These tools are not just for January. They are the same strategies that support long-term alcohol-free living.
(Looking for the sign up link to get on the waiting list  👀👀 for the upcoming PUSH to 100? Look no further - www.nomorewasteddays.co/100waitinglist)
Inside This Episode, You’ll Learn:
1️⃣. How to manage cravings with a plan, not shameCravings are not a personal failure. They are a sign your brain is healing. Sara explains urge surfing, changing your environment, using non-alcoholic drinks strategically, and a simple mindset shift that helps cravings pass without spiraling.
2️⃣. How to clarify a strong “why” that makes alcohol-free living non-negotiableYour why will evolve as you do. This episode helps you move from surface-level motivations (like avoiding hangovers) to identity-based reasons that actually last.
3️⃣ How to socialize with confidence without drinkingFrom ordering drinks without overexplaining, to planning exits, to navigating awkward moments without alcohol, you’ll learn how to feel grounded and self-assured in social settings.
4️⃣. How to live sanely in a culture that glorifies alcoholAlcohol marketing is not neutral. Sara breaks down why Dry January is triggering for big alcohol, how to curate your social media and ads, and why choosing sobriety is quietly rebellious.
5️⃣ How to shift from deprivation to abundanceDry January should not feel like punishment. Learn how to track alcohol-free wins, practice gratitude, and recognize the real benefits that make you want to keep going.
6️⃣ How to create micro-joy moments that rebuild real dopamineAlcohol hijacks the brain’s reward system. Sara shares simple, accessible ways to create sustainable dopamine through movement, novelty, creativity, and small daily pleasures.
This Episode Is For You If:
🌈 You’re two weeks into Dry January and feeling tempted to quit🌈 You’re tired of white-knuckling alcohol breaks🌈 You want sobriety to feel expansive, not restrictive🌈 You’re curious what life feels like when joy is no longer borrowed from alcohol
Ready for More Support?
✨ Enrollment is opening soon for PUSH TO 100, Sara’s guided 100-day alcohol-free challenge starting February 10. ✨
This experience is designed to help you quit drinking with structure, community, and real-life tools so you can feel confident, grounded, and supported through your first 100 alcohol-free days.
👉👉 Join the waiting list to get early access and a special enrollment bonus:  www.nomorewasteddays.co/100waitinglist
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 154: What Happens to Your Body in the First 10 Days Without Alcohol

Sara breaks down what really happens in the first 10 days of an alcohol-free journey (beyond the highlight reels and feel-good memes).
Most people don’t talk about the not-so-glamorous physical and emotional shifts that come up when you stop drinking. But Sara’s here to get real—and to empower you with science-backed insights and simple strategies so you can make it through the early days with confidence.
She covers:
🍷 What’s happening physiologically when alcohol leaves your system 🧠 How the dopamine crash messes with your motivation and mood 💤 Why sleep can get worse before it gets better 🍭 The truth about sugar cravings (and why they’re not just “bad habits”) 🧰 Six practical tools to survive and thrive in the first 10 days
Whether you're just getting started or preparing for a new AF season, this episode will help you normalize the messy middle—and stick with it.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
✅ Alcohol affects way more than just your bloodstream—it impacts your dopamine, sleep cycles, and blood sugar✅ You’re not “doing it wrong” if the first 10 days feel flat, foggy, or hard✅ Healing happens in layers—physical, emotional, and spiritual✅ Nourishing your body with protein + complex carbs = fewer cravings and crashes✅ Morning routines and natural dopamine boosts can jumpstart your day✅ Planning your witching hour (and finding community) is essential to staying the course
 
👯‍♀️ Want deeper support for your journey? Join the PUSH to 100 waitlist to be the first to apply for the next round (spots open January 28th!). You’ll get structure, coaching, community, and tools that go far beyond “just don’t drink.” ✨ nomorewasteddays.co/100waitinglist
 
🎧 If this episode helped you feel seen, leave a quick review! Your words help this message reach more people on the path to freedom.
 
Resources Mentioned:
* Daymakers Community: Weekly coaching calls, private messaging threads, and a supportive community. CLICK HERE to learn more here.
 
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Looking for support on your alcohol free journey? Consider joining us in the Day Makers Community.  CLICK HERE for all the details 
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial
 

Ep. 153: Hit Your 2026 Goals by Ditching Alcohol

If something in your life feels off, if you know you’re capable of more but keep feeling held back, Dry January might be the reset you’ve been looking for.
The Dry January Experience is a guided, supportive 30-day alcohol-free challenge designed to help you:
Build confidence without relying on willpower
Understand what’s actually happening in your body and brain
Create momentum, clarity, and self-trust
Experience what life feels like without alcohol in the way
You’ll get daily support videos, a printable journal, a workbook, and live coaching calls with me, plus a community that’s doing this alongside you.
Doors close January 1st at midnight (Pacific).
Join now at nomorewasteddays.co/dryjanuary.
 
Episode Summary
As we close out the year, this episode invites you to imagine a different version of yourself. Not a version created by doing more, pushing harder, or fixing yourself, but a version revealed when you remove the one thing that’s been quietly draining your energy, confidence, and clarity.
In this deeply personal episode, Sara shares:
Why 2025 was one of her hardest years emotionally and mentally
How anxiety resurfaced in a way that reminded her of her drinking days, and what she did instead of numbing out
The story of her last New Year’s Eve as a drinker, and how it set the stage for real change
Why trying to “drink better” kept her stuck, and why removing alcohol closed the gap between who she was and who she wanted to be
This episode introduces the idea of YOU 2.0, the version of yourself that emerges when the noise is gone.
Alcohol doesn’t create confidence, energy, or freedom. It blocks access to them.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
Reinvention does not require more habits. Sometimes the biggest upgrade comes from subtraction.
Alcohol quietly erodes sleep, emotional regulation, self-trust, and momentum.
The distance between your potential and your reality shrinks dramatically when alcohol is removed.
You don’t have to decide forever. Thirty days is enough to see what’s possible.
Dry January works because it gives you social permission, structure, and space to reflect.
Sara also shares how her alcohol-free journey led to:
Greater creativity and clarity
Financial and career confidence
The creation of No More Wasted Days
A deeper connection to who she actually is, not who alcohol told her she was
A Question to Sit With
Who might you become if alcohol no longer dictated your evenings, your energy, or your emotions?
What would feel possible in your life if you trusted yourself again?
Join the Dry January Experience
If you’re curious about who YOU 2.0 might be, Dry January is a powerful and safe place to start.
Doors close January 1st at midnight (Pacific).Join here: nomorewasteddays.co/dryjanuary
Let’s make this the year you stop leaving yourself behind. 
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 152: Your First Sober Christmas: What No One Tells You

Enrollment is officially open for The Dry January Experience, a guided 30-day alcohol-free reset designed to help you step away from drinking with confidence, clarity, and structure.
If you’ve ever wished alcohol could become something you could “take or leave,” this experience is for you. You’ll receive daily emails, short supportive videos, and group coaching calls with Sara to help you navigate cravings, mindset shifts, and real-life triggers without white-knuckling it.
👉 Join now at nomorewasteddays.co/dryjanuary or use the link in the show notes to get started.
Episode Summary
Christmas is supposed to feel magical, but for many people it’s one of the most emotionally intense and alcohol-heavy times of the year. In this episode of No More Wasted Days, Sara speaks directly to anyone navigating their first alcohol-free Christmas, or quietly questioning whether drinking is making the holidays harder than they need to be.
Sara shares honest stories from her own past Christmases, days filled with drinking, waking up hungover, emotional meltdowns, and the familiar December 26th shame spiral. She breaks down the truth many of us avoid: alcohol never actually made the holidays calmer, happier, or more meaningful. It only delayed the stress and magnified the aftermath.
This episode offers seven practical, compassionate strategies to help you move through Christmas without alcohol, while protecting your peace, your nervous system, and your self-respect.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why holiday pressure is largely artificial, and how alcohol marketing intensifies it
How alcohol increases stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion during the holidays
Why you are not boring without a drink, you are more present and more connected
How nostalgia distorts memories of drinking, and how to remember past holidays accurately
Tools for navigating triggering family dynamics without using alcohol as a coping mechanism
How to set boundaries, rehearse responses, and give yourself permission to disappoint others
Why choosing yourself may feel uncomfortable at first, but builds lasting self-trust
How to create one intentional ritual to anchor you through the holiday
Why December 26th is the real victory, and how waking up clear-headed changes everything
Sara also shares simple scripts for handling pressure to drink, ideas for taking micro-breaks during family gatherings, and a powerful reminder: your healing journey is not something other people get to vote on.
If you’ve been afraid that an alcohol-free Christmas will feel dull, isolating, or joyless, this episode offers a different truth. Alcohol-free holidays can be steadier, calmer, and far more peaceful than anything alcohol ever delivered.
Continue your alcohol-free momentum into the new year
If this episode resonated, The Dry January Experience is your next step. This is not about willpower or deprivation. It’s about support, education, and creating a solid foundation for an alcohol-free life.
👉 Enroll now at nomorewasteddays.co/dryjanuary and start your year clear-headed, grounded, and supported.
If you enjoyed this episode, leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. Sara reads and responds to them personally.
The greatest gift you can give yourself this Christmas is presence.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 151: Quit Drinking Without Calling Yourself an Alcoholic (ft. Suzanne Warye)

Thinking about starting the new year alcohol-free, but don’t want to do it alone?
You can still join the Dry January Experience waiting list and be first in line when early enrollment opens on December 19th. Waiting list members receive early access and an exclusive discount.
👉 Join the waiting list here: nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist
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Episode Summary
In today’s episode of the No More Wasted Days podcast, Sara sits down with Suzanne Warye, author of The Sober Shift, host of the Sober Mom Life podcast, and founder of the Sober Mom Life Café.
This is an honest, grounded conversation about motherhood, identity, shame, and the moment many women quietly realize that alcohol is taking more than it’s giving. Suzanne shares her powerful story of becoming “spontaneously sober,” why moderation is a trap for so many women, and how alcohol culture has deliberately targeted exhausted, overwhelmed moms.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you “qualify” for sobriety, or felt like you should be able to make drinking work even though it never really does, this episode will land deeply.
In this episode, we talk about:
Suzanne’s last night drinking and the moment she knew she was done
What “spontaneous sobriety” really means and why relapse isn’t inevitable
The hidden shame cycle so many women live in, even when they look “fine” on the outside
Why moderation fails, and why the drink is the problem, not you
How alcohol marketing targets women and moms under the guise of self-care and empowerment
What abundance actually looks like in an alcohol-free life (hint: it’s quieter, steadier, and more joyful)
Why community is essential for women in sobriety, especially mothers
How quitting drinking allows women to come home to themselves and trust their inner voice again
Suzanne also shares why she wrote The Sober Shift, and how it’s designed for women who don’t relate to rock-bottom stories but still know something feels off.
 
About Suzanne Warye
Suzanne Warye is the author of The Sober Shift, host of the Sober Mom Life podcast, and creator of the Sober Mom Life Café, a supportive community for mothers exploring alcohol-free living. Her work focuses on dismantling shame, questioning drinking culture, and helping women reclaim their time, energy, and identity.
You can find Suzanne on Instagram at @suzannewarye and learn more about her work at suzannewarye.com.
 
If this conversation sparked something in you and you’re craving a fresh start with real support, now is the perfect time to get on the Dry January Experience waiting list. Early enrollment opens December 19th, and waiting list members receive a special discounted rate.
👉 Join here: nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist
 
And if you haven’t already, please consider leaving a review or comment on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Sara reads every one, and your feedback helps this message reach the women who need it most.
 
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Follow the podcast on Social Media:
IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod
 
Follow Sara on Social Media:
IG: @no_more_wasted_days
TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ep. 150: How to Know If Alcohol Is a Problem, Even If You Don’t Drink Every Day

Get on the Dry January 2026 waiting list if you know you’re ready for a reset. You’ll receive early enrollment access plus a discounted rate.Sign up at nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist.Episode Summary
Most women who struggle with alcohol never fit the stereotype of the “daily drinker.” They function well, they hold everything together, and from the outside, everything looks fine. Yet inside, alcohol is shaping far more than they realize.
 
In this episode, Sara breaks down how to recognize when drinking is running your life, even if you don’t drink every day. She explores the subtle signs of low grade dependency, how mental energy becomes entangled with alcohol, and why frequency does not equal severity.
 
Whether you are still drinking or already alcohol free, this episode will help you see your relationship with alcohol with more honesty, clarity, and compassion.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
1. Why frequency isn’t the real issueSara dismantles the old belief that “a real problem” only exists when someone drinks every day. She explains why modern drinking struggles show up through mental preoccupation, not just quantity.
2. The four signs alcohol may be running your lifeSara walks through four categories where alcohol leaves fingerprints, even for gray area drinkers:
Mental and emotional signs such as rule setting, constant planning, thinking about alcohol like clockwork, or needing it to regulate emotions.
Physical and sleep signs like middle-of-the-night wakeups, sluggish mornings, anxiety spikes, cravings, and inflammation.
Behavioral signs including, sneaking sips, avoiding events without alcohol, or planning commitments around hangovers.
Identity signs such as struggling to imagine yourself without alcohol or leaning heavily on your “drinking persona.”
3. The brain chemistry behind “needing a drink”
Sara breaks down dopamine spikes, cortisol crashes, and why anxiety lingers for days after drinking. She highlights why even inconsistent drinking still keeps the reinforcement loop alive.
4. What gray area drinking actually is
Most women who feel stuck in the start-and-stop cycle aren’t “alcoholics.” They’re gray area drinkers living in quiet chaos, often rewarded by society for coping silently.
5. Why a meaningful break changes everything
Taking 30 days off alcohol stabilizes the nervous system, exposes what alcohol has been costing you, and gives you a first glimpse of the peace and clarity you’ve been chasing.
6. The questions that matter more than ‘How much do I drink?’
Sara offers reflection questions to help you evaluate whether alcohol is supporting your life or slowing it down.
Key Takeaways
Alcohol doesn’t have to completely derail your life to be running it.
If you’re thinking about it daily, planning around it, or dreading life without it, that is enough information.
A meaningful break is often the turning point where everything becomes clear.
 Alcohol is a socially accepted poison that disconnects you from your power, but stepping back reconnects you to who you really are.
Get on the Dry January Waiting List
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→ Sign up free at nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist.
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