The Mindful Drinking Experiment: A Life-Changing Approach to Alcohol Awareness

By Coach OnowaHello everyone!

Coach Onowa here. As we continue our journey of questioning alcohol, I want to introduce a powerful, life-changing experiment that can shift everything for you on your path to finding freedom from alcohol. This simple but profound practice is called the

Mindful Drinking Experiment—and it has the potential to change your relationship with alcohol forever.

What is the Mindful Drinking Experiment?

As the name suggests, this is an experiment—an opportunity to explore your relationship with alcohol with curiosity and openness. Instead of going through the motions on autopilot, you’ll slow down and observe your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations before, during, and after drinking.Approach it with a mindset of discovery:What will I learn?What patterns will I notice?How does alcohol truly affect me?The goal isn’t to judge yourself but to collect data—bringing unconscious habits into your awareness. Once you see these patterns clearly, you can make more intentional choices about drinking.How to Conduct Your Mindful Drinking

ExperimentStep 1: Check In Before You Drink

Before you take that first sip, pause and ask yourself:How am I feeling right now?What am I hoping this drink will provide for me?Often, we drink because we’re looking for relief—whether from stress, boredom, overwhelm, or fatigue. Identifying the real need behind your desire to drink can be incredibly eye-opening.

Step 2: Observe During the Drink

As you drink, slow down and pay attention to your body and emotions:Does the drink give me what I was hoping for?What physical sensations am I experiencing?Do I feel the urge for another drink?This part of the experiment helps you tune into the real effects of alcohol, beyond the initial buzz.

Step 3: Check In 30 Minutes Later

After 30 minutes, take another pause:How do I feel now?Has my mood shifted?Do I feel satisfied, or am I already craving more?Many people notice that the short-lived buzz is quickly followed by a crash, leading to a desire for another drink to avoid the dip in energy or mood.

Step 4: Reflect the Next Morning

The next morning, take a moment to review:Did the drink help with what I was seeking?Did it improve my sleep or make it worse?Do I feel better or worse today because of drinking?If you’ve ever woken up at 3 AM with racing thoughts and anxiety, that’s your body responding to the chemical after-effects of alcohol. While alcohol may provide temporary relaxation, it often leads to stress hormones flooding your system later, making you feel more anxious, restless, or depleted.

Why This Experiment is So Powerful

One of the biggest revelations for me on this journey was realizing how short-lived the alcohol high actually is—sometimes as little as 15-30 minutes. But what follows? A crash that lasts for two to three hours as the body works to rebalance itself.That’s why so many people wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious—the body is still dealing with the chemical aftermath. Many of us don’t connect the dots between alcohol and the stress hormones that flood our system hours later.This experiment helps you see those connections in real-time. Once you bring this awareness into your experience, you may start to naturally shift your choices without force or restriction.Try It for YourselfI invite you to set up your own Mindful Drinking Experiment and see what you discover. I’ve also created a fillable worksheet that you can use to track your observations. You can access it in the comments below—simply pull it up on your computer or phone and start collecting your own data.

Once you’ve completed the experiment, I’d love to hear your insights! What did you notice? Did anything surprise you? Let’s continue this conversation and support each other in this journey of awareness.

Wishing you a beautiful and mindful day,
Coach Onowa

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