Too often these days we are hearing from our VIP clients, successful, intelligent and sensitive women, that they are ‘relying’ (that’s our word, not theirs) on that glass or two of wine to unwind or dial down their stress at the end of a day.

Of course there is nothing taboo about drinking a glass of wine with dinner;    even everynight is probably ok (as long as it’s not one of those industrial sized glasses).  Not at all.  BUT we get worried when we hear that attempts to change this pattern result in more stress, tension, frustration, pressure, and even anger.  (yup, that’s when we call it ‘a problem’).

Our clients tell us how they can’t wait to get home from work so they can pour that glass of wine to sip while cooking dinner…maybe another while they chill out (for all of 5 minutes!) once the kids are in bed, or how after dinner that extra glass or two offsets the loneliness after a divorce or breakup.  Maybe you are experiencing something similar.

So what’s going on here?  Well, everyday women juggle so many life stressors that they constantly feel over-busy, over-extended, pressured, exhausted and depleted.  Which means that they turn to ‘false cures’ like that extra glass of wine in an attempt to relax, get to sleep, forget their worries, or to shake-off  tension. 

Women‘react’ to alcohol differently than men and it is not just because we are smaller or more delicate!  This is serious stuff!   Research has pointed out that:

• women get drunk on lower levels of alcohol than men
• women experience blackouts at lower blood alcohol levels than men
• women experience liver disease from alcohol earlier in age than men
• womens’ body mass and composition, hormones included, are different than men’s and make them more vulnerable to alcohol related problems earlier in life

We also know that more women are now dying from alcohol related disease than at any period in the past.  Like we don’t have enough going on to worry about!!! 

We know that a good part of it is because having ‘a glass of wine’ is continually portrayed by media as a good coping skill for stressful stuff.  Watch any soap and you will see what we mean!

Here’s the good news!  (We are The Burnout Queens we always an up-side.)  With the right combo of self-awareness and information, along with active-coping skills (and we can teach you these) that successfully prevent burnout and keep stress and tension at workable levels ‘cause it’s not going away, women can be healthy and successful…and able to enjoy a glass of wine or two without the guilt, worry or health concerns.

Come on Burnout Queens, let’s not adopt what were traditionally male behaviours (drinks after work to unwind or a liquid lunch!) and make them ours… we are waaaay smarter than that!

Here’s one great tip:

Next time you go to pour that glass, be brutally honest with yourself.  What are you telling yourself about it?  What’s your mind chatter?  Then set yourself a small challenge to reduce the number of glasses of wine you have each week.  If you still really want one every night with dinner, get a smaller glass, or every other night substitute a ‘cooler’ (half wine, half sparkling soda).

Until next time, grab life by the crown!