For later: drink less alcohol

Consciously dealing with alcohol was an important pillar in the government's corona campaign '# only together'. You consciously pause now, but how do you consciously drink after your break?

The # only together public campaign has been running since March 2020 and is intended to provide clarity to the Netherlands regarding corona measures and to limit the spread of the virus. Now that most corona measures have been released, the campaign is less visible, but the message remains the same. Because taking care of yourself is always important. Getting, being and staying fit is good for your resistance. An optimal resistance makes you strong and less susceptible to viruses and infections.

Drink less alcohol, right now

Drinking too much alcohol is not good for your body. So far nothing new. But did you know that alcohol also affects your immune system? That's how it works: moisture is necessary for the removal of waste. Alcohol is a form of fluid, but not the right fluid. Alcohol causes it to dehydrate your body. In addition, breaking down alcohol costs your body a lot of time and effort. The more glasses of wine, beer or spirits you drink, the less attention your body can put into fighting pathogens. Source: healthnet.nl.

Consciously drink after your break

As for the first pillar: it is in the pocket. You are super conscious right now. But someday this alcohol break will come to an end. And then? How do you ensure that you are still aware of your alcohol consumption? We come with tips.

Tip 1 Make appointments with yourself

The Health Council advises not to drink and if you do want to do so, limit yourself to one glass of alcohol per day. That can be a challenge, but it is good to make clear agreements with yourself. How about the rule: no during the week and yes on the weekend? Small side note: this rule is of no use if you drink a lot in your collar every weekend. Men are officially considered 'heavy drinkers' if they drink more than six glasses of alcohol once a week. Women are labeled as 'heavy drinkers' if they drink four or more glasses of alcohol in one day.

As a variant of the appointment rule, you could agree with yourself that you drink little or nothing during exam periods or periods in which you have to study hard. To reward yourself, order your favorite food after completing your final exam. Or give yourself those nice shoes, new game or cool sunglasses.

Tip 2 Alternate alcohol with something non-alcoholic

Just filling up with beer or wine has the particularly annoying side effect that you slowly become dehydrated. Drinking more often means urinating more often, resulting in a chronic fluid deficiency. This pays off in a big hangover. Alternating your beer or wine with water or a soft drink ensures that your body retains sufficient moisture. That makes a big difference in the hangover the next day.

Tip 3 Find a buddy and inform your surroundings

Alone is also only alone. Sometimes you can use a helping hand or a pep talk. It is also nice if you can go to someone if you notice that you find it difficult to keep the cork on the bottle. Hire a buddy. Ask him or her to stand by when you have a difficult day, have a difficult exam ahead of you or have something fun on the agenda. Your environment can take into account you and your preference for non-alcoholic thirst quenchers because of your confidence - IkPas this month.