345.  How do I want to feel on Christmas day with Sarah Rustbach

345. How do I want to feel on Christmas day with Sarah Rustbach

How I quit alcohol

Danni Carr and Sarah Rusbatch discuss how to plan for a joyful, alcohol-free Christmas by focusing on how you want to feel and taking actionable steps to get there.

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15:2220 Dec 2025

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Crafting a Joyful Christmas Without Alcohol

Episode Overview

  • Envision how you want to feel on Christmas Day and plan actions that support these feelings.
  • Identify non-negotiables like sleep and exercise to maintain a joyful mindset.
  • Consider what you need to say 'no' to in order to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
  • The first sober Christmas may be challenging, but it gets easier each year.
  • No one regrets choosing not to drink.
"No one's ever regretted not drinking."

Christmas is around the corner, and with it comes the whirlwind of emotions and triggers that can make staying sober a real challenge. In this festive episode, Danni Carr sits down with Sarah Rusbatch, a seasoned sober coach and author, to talk about how you want to feel on Christmas Day and the steps you can take to ensure it happens.

The conversation kicks off with light-hearted banter about Christmas shopping chaos and the importance of family experiences over material gifts. But it soon gets to the heart of the matter—how to navigate the holiday season without falling back into old habits. Sarah shares her personal strategy of 'reverse engineering' the day, where she starts by envisioning how she wants to feel—energised, calm, and happy—and then works backward to identify the actions that will support these feelings.

This approach naturally sidelines alcohol, as it doesn't align with feeling your best. The episode is filled with practical advice, such as identifying non-negotiables like sleep and exercise, and how these contribute to maintaining a joyful and present mindset. Listeners are encouraged to consider what they need to say 'no' to in order to say 'yes' to a healthier, happier self.

The episode ends on an uplifting note, reminding everyone that while the first sober Christmas might be tough, it only gets easier with time. Whether you're new to sobriety or a seasoned veteran, this chat is packed with wisdom and warmth. So grab a pen and paper, and start planning how you want to feel this Christmas—because as Sarah says, "No one's ever regretted not drinking."

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