Is it time to stop drinking alcohol and go sober this dry January? Hypnotherapist Ailsa Frank shares 3 tips to detox your start to the year.

Dry January can be a good opportunity to begin to break the habit of drinking. It is useful to know that if you don't make the changes in the subconscious you could slip back into old bad habits easily. Here is how to successfully go sober.

Safe dry January

Like dieting abstaining from alcohol can be difficult as the subconscious mind is battling will the deep subconscious relationship. If you do drink high levels of alcohol the sudden reduction can be detrimental to your health. Your body needs time to adjust slowly to a reduction in alcohol.

I work with clients to reduce alcohol drinking with hypnotherapy in a gradual way and this allows the body and mind to adjust to the changes safely. Hypnotherapy breaks the habit of drinking by reframing old drinking behaviour. The therapy releases cravings and tackles the root of addictive alcohol behaviour.

Go sober

If you want to stop drinking alcohol it is wise to do this by making gradual changes to your routines. Hypnotherapy works by fasting tracking changes on a subconscious level. By making changes on a deeper level you will create new habits of being less interest in drinking. It is possible to create a more 'take it or leave it' attitude towards drinking wine, beer or spirits.

With new self-control, you can feel comfortable to sip slowly and be satisfied with a sensible amount of alcohol. In tailored one-to-one hypnotherapy phone appointments, you can work on your specific drinking problems. Or you can break alcohol habits by listening to my Take Control of Alcohol hypnosis downloads. Both options are done in the privacy of your own home.

Create a new routine of always beginning with drinking sparkling water because this will break the habit of reaching automatically for an alcoholic drink. The water will dilute the alcohol, slow down your drinking and change your taste for having a drink.

Here are 3 tips to help you create sober success

1. In the morning prepare a tray with a special teapot, cup and a herbal tea of your choice. At the end of your working day, the tray of tea will be waiting as a reminder for you to drink it. This will help you avoid going to the fridge for wine or a beer. By planting a positive suggestion of drinking tea in advance of the evening, you are likely to drink less alcohol.

2. Shake up your routines by driving a different way home. Try going for a coffee in a cafe. Or have a shower or soak in a warm bath after work and slip into comfy clothes. Do some gentle yoga stretches or slow Tai Chi movement to relax your muscles and calm your mind. Your drinking is a habit triggered by your daily rituals. By changing your routines your mind will have to work harder to find the old drink pattern.

3. Visualise yourself waking up refreshed and invigorated. Imagine getting on with your day with a spring in your step, motivated and organised. Imagine coming home to your home which is like a spa hotel. Treat yourself to a face pack, play music in the background or watch a favourite movie. Positive visualisations will help you to make sober changes.

Take Control of Alcohol hypnosis download by Ailsa frank £14.99  www.ailsafrank.com

Cut the Crap and Feel Amazing by Ailsa Frank £10.99 (published by Hay House) available from Amazon