There was a time when I dreaded October. Not because summer was ending, because it meant going Sober. I used to think: “How am I going to make it through 31 days without drinking?”

Now? I actually look forward to it. So much so that for the last 3 years, I added September. One month became two. And somewhere along the way, my question changed.

In Edition #161, another Sober October.

And I'm starting to ask myself the same question about some of my other vices. Not from fear. From curiosity.

Sober October doesn't have to mean:

❌ Punishment
❌ Deprivation
❌ Counting down the days
❌ Feeling like you're missing out

It can mean:

✅ Experimenting
✅ Learning
✅ Creating space
✅ Seeing what changes
✅ Finding out what you actually want

Instead of: “I can't have this.”

Try: “Let's see what happens when I don't.”

That's a very different mindset.

The human body and mind are incredible. When you change your habits, your system gets a chance to adapt. You may notice changes in:

Some changes may happen quickly. Others take time. And some might not happen at all. That's okay.

The goal isn't to prove that removing something magically fixes your life. The goal is to collect information about yourself.

Sometimes a vice isn't really about the thing itself. It might be about what the thing provides.

This is where the experiment gets interesting. If you remove the behaviour, you can ask:

Then you can experiment with another way of getting it.

Keep it simple.

Choose something you want to take a break from.

🍺 Alcohol
🌿 Cannabis
🚬 Nicotine
📱 Social media
🍔 Junk food
🎮 Gaming
🎰 Gambling
☕ Excessive caffeine
🛍️ Unnecessary spending
😴 Late-night habits

It doesn't have to be traditionally considered a “vice.” It can simply be something you've been wondering about. “Would I feel better without this?”

You don't have to start with forever.

Try: 24 hours → 7 days → 30 days

Or go straight for the whole month.

📅 October 1 → October 31

Give yourself a clear beginning and end.

Removing one habit can leave an empty space. Instead of immediately filling it, try something different:

You might discover that what you wanted wasn't the vice. You wanted something underneath it.

Don't just count your sober days. Study yourself. Ask:

No judgment. Just observation.

This might be the most important rule. You don't need to declare:

Just decide: “Not today.” Then tomorrow: “Not today.”

Eventually, something interesting may happen.

You realize: “I haven't done this in a month.”

Then two months. Then six. And the question changes again.

That's where I am with alcohol. I used to wonder if I could stop drinking. Now I'm wondering if I will ever drink again. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't.

And I'm starting to apply that curiosity to other parts of my life.

These aren't punishments. They're experiments.

You don't have to change everything. You don't have to become a completely different person by November 1. Just start somewhere.

Your body adapts. Your mind adapts. Your habits adapt.

And eventually... You will adapt.

That's the beautiful part. You aren't permanently stuck with your current routines.

You can test them. Change them. Keep what works. Let go of what doesn't.

And discover that something you once thought you needed...

wasn't actually necessary.

Pick one thing.

Write down:

Then start. Don't worry about November. Don't worry about forever 💫

Just give yourself 31 days of information.

Sometimes the most powerful question isn't:

“Can I live without this?”

It's: “Who might I become if I do?”

You’re why I spend hours researching and crafting these editions so you can read more OVE’s Guide and pocket more Sober October days.

Until Next Edition,

Coach DC
OVE’S GUIDE 👁️

^{The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your circumstances. Overman Perspective Inc. does not provide medical or licensed advice. Please get in touch with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.}