Mindful Drinking Advent · SATURDAY 26TH December 2026
The Second Coming of Christmas
Boxing Day doesn’t have to be Christmas Day: The Sequel. You’re allowed to have a quiet one.
BONUS DAY 1
Boxing Day used to be about rest and relaxation; now it seems to be an expectation to do Christmas Day all over again.
More food. More drinks. More relatives. More effort. As if Christmas Day wasn’t enough, now you’re supposed to rally for round two.
But you don’t have to.
If you drank a little too much yesterday and you’re feeling it today, give yourself permission to ride it out. Have a gentle day. Lots of tea, a walk if you can face it, maybe a long bath and a few good movies. Don’t compound Christmas Day with another write-off.
And if you didn’t drink yesterday and you’re feeling brilliant, don’t let Boxing Day take over if you don’t want it to. The pubs will be rammed, the family drinks will flow, and there’ll be an unspoken pressure in the air to make up for it today.
Ignore it.
You’ve still got New Year’s Eve coming. And probably at least three more gatherings before January. You’re nearing the end, but this is a marathon, not a sprint, and Boxing Day is a perfectly acceptable rest stop.
How to win at Boxing Day
- If you’re feeling rough: Be kind to yourself. Hydrate, move gently, eat something real (put the Quality Street tin down!) Don’t make it worse by ‘hair of the dog-ing’ your way through today.
- If you’re feeling great: Protect it. Don’t let other people’s Boxing Day plans derail your momentum.
- Either way: You’re allowed to have a quiet day on the sofa. It’s not lazy, it’s strategic — it’s why there’s so much good stuff on the telly today! 😉
25 days · one idea a day
The Mindful Drinking Advent
A daily festive prompt to help you move through December with more choice & more control.
YOUR MODERATION MOMENT
As the shops won’t be delivering today, try these easy-to-find Boxing Day drinks for every mood:
- Feeling delicate? Ginger shots (such as the Mother Root from Day 1), electrolyte drinks (use the functional drinks from Day 14), peppermint tea.
- Feeling social but sensible? Head to the pub and enjoy something low, no or mid (check your options from Day 6).
- Feeling smug and energetic? A long walk, then whatever the heck you fancy. Maybe one of the drinks you’ve been saving from Day 15.
WANT TO STAY MINDFUL BEYOND THE FESTIVE SEASON?
Start with the Beginner’s Guide
Work through the questions that come up when you first decide to drink less: what you want to change, why it matters, and how to begin. You’ll explore practical ways to moderate, then bring your answers together into a personal starting plan that fits your life.
