Stop beating yourself up over having another glass of wine
Since physical distancing was first being encouraged in Canada this past March, Nanos Research reported that 18 per cent of Canadians surveyed have increased their alcohol consumption. Along with many of our drastically altered lifestyles, alcohol consumption is not the only thing to change: many peoples’ eating habits have changed as well.
The “Quarantine 15” has been joked about for weeks, but is now facing backlash because it’s simply fat shaming, which is not helpful for anyone, ever. It’s not the end of the world if someone gains weight because of altered eating habits for a brief period of time, and in the same way, it’s okay if we have an extra drink or two along with the other 18 per cent of the Canadian population while we wait out this pandemic.
Of course, if you face serious problems with alcohol, it’s best to avoid it in general. But if you enjoy a glass of wine sometimes in the evenings, don’t spend your night obsessing over that second glass you had — just like you shouldn’t obsess over having a bagel and a thick amount of cream cheese for breakfast instead of just black coffee. That high-calorie breakfast and an occasional extra drink will not kill you.
According to the Nanos report, the four main causes of an increase in alcohol consumption at this time was a lack of regular schedule, boredom, stress, and loneliness. That’s very understandable. We’re human and sometimes a gin and tonic or two can not only calm us but also even bring us some hint of joy in these sad times.
I’m sure I’m not alone with constantly counting how many beverages I’ve had a week so I can’t be classified as a “heavy drinker” when my doctor asks me how much I drink a week. Here to Help B.C. recommends no more than 10 alcoholic beverages per week for women and no more than 15 for men. Usually this is easy for me to keep under; I’ll have one or two beers most days then I’m totally fine. But since being isolated, I seem to want a drink more often than usual. And I’m here to say that now I am officially done being mean to myself about wanting (and then having) an extra drink these days, and you should too.
I’m making this choice for myself for several reasons. Firstly, I’m not paying $12 for a cocktail right now, I’m just tossing tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup in a glass and calling it a day; it’s a money saver. Second, I am in no way getting the kind of drunk where I have to use the whole next day nursing my hangover. And finally, craft beer is delicious, and I’m supporting breweries in the Fraser Valley when I buy from them.
Just like you’ve (hopefully) stopped hating yourself for ordering pizza for dinner again this week, avoid hating yourself for having a second (or third) glass of wine with that pizza. Things are weird right now, and it’s okay if we act a little differently than usual.
Illustration: Kayt Hine/The Cascade
