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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Alcohol Experiment summary
A 30-day, Alcohol-Free Challenge to Interrupt Your Habits and Help You Take Control
17 mins
Brief summary
"The Alcohol Experiment" by Annie Grace is a 30-day challenge designed to help participants rethink their relationship with alcohol, uncover beliefs about alcohol, and develop a healthier, happier lifestyle without it.
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The Alcohol Experiment
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Key idea 1 of 6
Cognitive dissonance means that giving up alcohol is hard.
Imagine you’re on a diet. You’ve been good all day and have every intention of staying that way. But then someone at work brings in a plate of home-baked cookies. And before you even realize it, you’re scarfing one down.
This is an example of cognitive dissonance – when your conscious and unconscious brain are in conflict with each other. Consciously, you know you should step away from the cookie tray. But some unconscious part of you just can’t resist.
And your brain, clever as it is, does a great job of justifying your actions. You mentally make a firm commitment: that was the last cookie you’ll ever eat. Or you comfort yourself: Don’t we all deserve a treat now and then?
The key message here is: Cognitive dissonance means that giving up alcohol is hard.
As with cookies, so with alcohol.
Perhaps you’re tired of waking up hungover. Maybe you know that alcohol is adding to your waistline, and taking away from your wallet. Faced with this information, your conscious mind knows that it’d be good to cut down on drinking or quit altogether. But, even so, you end up in the bar after work because your unconscious mind – the part that controls your emotions and desires – is packed with information that just doesn't agree.
Years of experience have told your unconscious brain that alcohol is good. For example, it helps you relax. You know this because you’ve seen your parents, or characters in movies, come home after a hard day to crack open a beer with a satisfied sigh. So as much as you might be consciously aware that alcohol isn’t always a good thing, your unconscious mind tends to urge you to drink.
Lots of people try to stop drinking through good old willpower. But as we saw in the cookie example, that’s not really a solution. Willpower is a kind of energy. Eventually, it runs out. And if you need your willpower for one thing – like staying focused during a stressful workweek – you’ll have less of it remaining when you need to turn down that tempting beer.
The good thing is, there’s a solution. In the following blinks, we’ll see how reassessing your beliefs about booze can shut down that unconscious desire for a drink altogether.
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What is The Alcohol Experiment about?
The Alcohol Experiment (2018) is your practical guide to giving up alcohol for 30 days – or perhaps a lifetime. Packed with science-based tips and personal anecdotes, it offers a new perspective on alcohol and explores why we drink it, what it really does to us, and how we can give it up.
The Alcohol Experiment Review
The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace (2018) is a thought-provoking exploration of our relationship with alcohol and the benefits of living alcohol-free. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Provides insightful research and personal stories to challenge societal norms and encourage a healthier, more conscious approach to alcohol consumption.
- Guides readers through a 30-day experiment to experience the positive effects of an alcohol-free lifestyle, allowing them to make informed decisions about their drinking habits.
- Its straightforward and relatable tone and practical exercises make the journey of self-discovery enjoyable, helping readers reevaluate their beliefs and priorities.
Who should read The Alcohol Experiment?
- People who’d like to cut down on alcohol, but aren’t sure how
- Drinkers who’ve tried – and tried – to quit
- Anyone who wants to change their life for the better
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The Alcohol Experiment FAQs
What is the main message of The Alcohol Experiment?
The Alcohol Experiment teaches us how to change our relationship with alcohol and live a healthier, happier life.
How long does it take to read The Alcohol Experiment?
The reading time for The Alcohol Experiment varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Alcohol Experiment a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Alcohol Experiment is worth reading as it offers practical guidance to reevaluate our habits and make positive change.
Who is the author of The Alcohol Experiment?
The author of The Alcohol Experiment is Annie Grace.
What to read after The Alcohol Experiment?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Alcohol Experiment, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr
- The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
- This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
- Alcoholics Anonymous by AAWS
- Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker
- How to Eat to Change How You Drink by Brooke Scheller
- Mindful Drinking by Rosamund Dean
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- The Creative Brain by Anna Abraham