In the early hours of the detox, you can write a letter from your drinking self to your sober self reflecting why you want to quit drinking, and your hopes for the future. When the physical withdrawal symptoms make the process tough, you can read this letter for motivation. Who do you hope to be? What are you ashamed of? Don't push away negative emotions. Write out who you are quitting drinking for, who you have hurt, how you have hurt yourself and those you love. Write out the values you'd like to live by and why. "Grounding," which is similar to mindfulness, is a series of research-backed techniques that can help you get through extreme cravings by focusing on the present moment. When a craving hits, use your senses to ground yourself by noticing what's right in front of you. Keep going for as long as it takes for the craving to pass. You can rotate among several techniques if one isn't working. Practice the following techniques: Describe the details of your environment without judging them. For example, you could notice that the carpet is thick and soft, the walls are blue, there's a crack in the ceiling, and the air smells fresh. Distract yourself by naming items in a category, such as types of fruit or countries in alphabetical order. Ground yourself physically by doing a simple exercise or running your hands over a textured surface. Think pleasant thoughts: name your favorite foods or your favorite TV characters. Think or say aloud a statement that helps you cope, like "I've got this." Withdrawal often causes vomiting and diarrhea, which can easily dehydrate you. Be sure to drink enough water to replace lost fluids. You could also drink sports drinks to replace lost electrolytes, but you or your partner should limit these to one or two a day at most. The high sugar content in these drinks can make symptoms worse in large doses. Although you will probably not have much of an appetite, you still need nutrients to get you through this. Don't force yourself to eat large meals- this could make you sick. Continue regular nutrient intake and eat the small frozen dishes if you are too weak to leave the house. Rather than snacks, focus on foods that will replace the nutrients you've lost while going through withdrawal. Staying locked inside for days will probably make you feel sicker. Sitting outside for just a few minutes and getting fresh air and sunlight can help you feel much better. You won't be in any shape to run a marathon or lift weights, but you should move around as much as you can. Staying sedentary is bad for your mental and physical health. Physical activity releases endorphins that help fight the depression and anxiety detoxing causes. Take short walks and get up to stretch once in a while to keep your body moving. Keep talking with your partner and let him know how you're feeling. This will not only pass the time, but it will let him know if he should consider getting medical help for you. Due to the physical and mental symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, people often cave during the detox process. This does not mean you're a weak person. It just means that you need to try again. If this is the case, you may require specialized supervision. Consider attending a rehab or detox facility to help you get through the process.
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One-sentence summary -- Write a letter to yourself. Practice "grounding" techniques. Drink plenty of water. Eat as much as you can. Get fresh air. Exercise. Assess your condition. Consider professional help if you need to do another detox.

Whether you are trusting your baggage in the hands of an airline, or plan on wearing your grandma's antique necklace, lost or stolen items can happen on any vacation. If something is irreplaceable, don't risk the chance you will have to replace it. Fake jewelry. Although you should avoid looking too flashy on vacation, if you want pieces to match your outfit, it is a good idea to take some of your cheap or fake jewelry. If you are staying in a hotel, they will likely provide any needed toiletries like shampoo and soap. Leaving these items at home can save space but also eliminate any potential messy spills. If you have a special shampoo or conditioner you use, your destination likely has stores that sell it! You can buy it there and have one less thing in your bag. If you love to spend your vacation reading, bringing along some books can be a must. However, if you have an e-reader, this would be the time to bust it out. Books are heavy and take up a lot of room. If possible, leave them home! Ditch the guidebooks. These take up room and can also be outdated. If your road map is from even 9 months ago, there is a good chance things have changed. Download up to date guidebooks on your devices or simply get one at your destination. Will you really need your new portable water filter in Hawaii? With smartphones and tablets being so versatile, try to only take what you will absolutely need. This not only eliminates the risk of losing a valuable piece of electronics but will also lighten your load! Keep it basic. Leave the electric toothbrush at home and most hotels you stay at will have a hair dryer.
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One-sentence summary --
Leave your valuables home. Ditch the toiletries. Leave bulky books behind. Leave home unnecessary gadgets.