A normal relationship with alcohol is waiting.
Are you frustrated with your drinking?
- $You know another round isn’t great for your health, but it’s hard to resist temptation.
- $In certain situations, your resolve not to drink or to limit yourself disappears.
- $You’ve told yourself: “I’m never drinking that much again!” Only to go back on your word.
- $You’re disciplined in lots of areas, but less so when it comes to how much you drink.
None of this is your fault.
The Real Problem?
No one taught you how to manage impulsive or compulsive behaviors… especially when it comes to alcohol.
School focused on scare tactics and warned about the dangers of underage drinking.
Friends shared tips on how to get drunk fast and old wives’ tales to avoid hangovers.
Ads said to “drink responsibly” or “enjoy in moderation” but no one ever explained how.
Family warned of relatives with alcohol problems, but their only advice was, “Don’t drink!”
The Result?
You started drinking without a lot of guidance… developed a relationship with alcohol without much forethought… and formed habits without understanding how the brain works.
It’s no wonder drinking less can be frustrating.
No one ever taught you the basics.
Without any instruction, it’s easy to assume that healthy drinking should be instinctive.
But what if you struggle?
You’ve probably heard that some brains are “different,” and the only solution is lifelong abstinence.
Because of this, it’s easy to ignore your intuition that something about your drinking feels… off.
So you keep quiet, hoping you’ll finally “learn your lesson” and can stop worrying about.
Meanwhile, your behaviors with alcohol become more entrenched, making it harder and harder to resist temptation.
Here’s the truth: Society set you up to fail and said that you were the problem.
A healthy relationship with alcohol isn’t just about how much you drink.
It’s about the role alcohol plays in your life.
And if you don’t intentionally decide you will form a relationship with alcohol by default.
When it comes to the brain, alcohol is more than just a tasty beverage.
You’re reading the drink menu to find something that pairs nicely with your meal…
But your brain sees something more:
pass the time.
This is why rules, drink plans, and “Dry Januarys” often fail.
They focus on trying to limit how much you drink while ignoring why you’re drinking.
Without this piece of the puzzle, your attempts to cut back will always be hit or miss.
Imagine…
- NFully trusting yourself around alcohol, whether or not you decide to drink.
- NEasily saying no to another round without all the internal debate.
- NFeeling unbothered on the nights you decided not to drink.
- NNot stopping by the wine shop or the bar after a stressful day.
- NTurning down a drink without worrying what people think.
- NEasily stopping without automatically finishing what’s left in the glass.
All of this is possible when you uncover the real reason you keep going back for more.
(I promise: it has nothing to do with having an “addictive personality.”)
That’s why I created
To help you learn what you were never taught.
So you can figure out a relationship with alcohol that works for you.
Whether that means drinking less, drinking rarely, or not at all.
Creating a new relationship with alcohol is possible
When you follow the take a break process.
1
After one month
Your cravings won’t feel as powerful.
You’ll discover how to manage temptation without avoidance, isolation, or willpower.
After two months
Your favorite drink will be less tempting.
You’ll have tools to relax, have fun, and enjoy the situation without needing to keep the buzz going.
After three months
You’ll feel more in control.
You’ll know exactly how to prepare for anything that might derail your commitment.
Take a Break is unlike anything else out there.
- $A logical approach that explains why you keep making the same mistake without making you feel broken.
- $A flexible outlook that empowers you to adjust your goals rather than insisting on lifelong abstinence.
- $Rapid results: Experience huge mindset shifts that translate into saying no and drinking less in just a couple weeks.
Walk away with the tools you need to trust yourself, no matter what life has in store for you.
What’s inside take a break:
The Foundational Exercises
This framework teaches you the basic steps of lasting habit change so that you can stop setting arbitrary rules and hoping for the best.
ask a coach forum
Monday-Friday, coaches answer your questions and help you stay on track in our anonymous forum.
TOOLS FOR YOUR DRINK TYPE
Personalized tools that address the eight different types of drinking and help you dismantle unconscious patterns keeping you stuck.
THE 30-DAY CHALLENGE
Our newly-updated alcohol-free challenge is unlike any Dry January you’ve tried. Built to help you speed up the process of dismantling your archetypes.
THE MINDFUL DRINK
In order to make good decisions, you need to stay present. Train your brain to drink without immediately going on autopilot or checking out.
WEEKLY Q&A CALLS
Weekly group coaching calls. Join live or submit a question ahead of the call and listen to the answer on the replay.
The Four Pillars Course
This framework teaches you the basic steps of lasting habit change so that you can stop setting arbitrary rules and hoping for the best.
ask the coach forum
Monday-Friday, coaches answer your questions and help you stay on track in our anonymous forum.
TOOLS FOR YOUR DRINK TYPE
Personalized tools that address the eight different types of drinking and help you dismantle unconscious patterns keeping you stuck.
THE 30-DAY CHALLENGE
Our newly-updated alcohol-free challenge is unlike any Dry January you’ve tried. Built to help you speed up the process of dismantling your archetypes.
THE MINDFUL DRINK
In order to make good decisions, you need to stay present. Train your brain to drink without immediately going on autopilot or checking out.
WEEKLY Q&A CALLS
Weekly group coaching calls. Join live or submit a question ahead of the call and listen to the answer on the replay.
Get the courses, tools, and help when you’re stuck
For $197 (USD) a Month
Yes, it’s an investment, but it’s a lot less than the cost of doing nothing or repeating the same strategies that don’t work.
Because the money you waste on alcohol isn’t only found on your bar tab.
Think about all the lost time… late-night snacking… impulse shopping… skipped workouts… relationship problems… shame spirals… and the emotional toll of worrying.
In comparison, Take a Break is a bargain.
There’s no minimum commitment to stay.
Cancel any time.
Take a Break is about more than learning to drink less.
It’s an investment in your physical, emotional, and overall well-being.
Physical Benefits
LOSE WEIGHT
Ditch the empty calories and extra snacking.
Look Better
Lose the puffiness, bloat, and tired face.
Improve Sleep
Stop the 2 am wake-up calls that wreck your sleep.
Regulate hormones
Balance your endocrine system and reduce hormonal imbalances.
Emotional benefits
Happier
Improve your mood and your brain chemistry.
Less anxiety
Feel calmer and better able to handle life’s ups and downs.
More confidence
Stop inventing excuses about why you’re not drinking tonight.
TRUST YOURSELF
Wake up feeling proud of the decisions you made.
Personal benefits
BETTER relationships
Have more energy to give to the people you love.
More money
Save money on your bar tab and extra expenses that come with drinking.
More time
Your free time is precious, so let’s make the most of it.
No regrets
You only get one life. Stop wasting it by drinking too much.
Creating a healthy relationship with alcohol will improve every aspect of your life.
What will your drinking look like a year from now?
Here’s the short answer: Unless you take action, your current patterns with alcohol will become more entrenched.
Change is so much easier when you have the built-in accountability and expertise of a coach.
Join Take a Break and never worry about your drinking again.
I’m Rachel Hart
A master certified coach, creator of The Drink Archetypes,™ author of The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Less (2024) and Why Can’t I Drink Like Everyone Else? (2016), and host of the top-rated podcast, Take a Break from Drinking.
I’m on a mission to help people become more curious, open, and aware of their drinking habits so they can examine their relationship with alcohol without shame or judgment.
My approach is radically different from the typical 12-step or disease-model framework developed almost a century ago.
My ideas have been featured in The New York Times, The Mel Robbins Podcast, Women’s Health, and Psychology Today.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Am I the right fit?
Anyone over 21 who wants to change their relationship with alcohol is welcome to join. We have members of all genders from around the world. You might be a daily drinker or a weekend warrior. Some members have never experimented with alcohol-free periods before joining, others have done more “Dry Januarys” than they can count.
What if I’m not sure what I want my relationship with alcohol to look like in the future?
You’re in good company. Many members join, unsure if they want to drink less, drink rarely, or stop in the future. All they know is something needs to change, and want support on their journey to decide.
What’s the time commitment?
The four pillars course takes about four hours to complete. Some members complete it in a weekend, others use their first month to slowly learn the basics. After that, you can spend ten to fifteen minutes a day inside the membership. We encourage you not to wait for the “right” time to start. Changing your relationship with alcohol means applying and practicing this work in your real life.
Do I have to stop drinking when I join?
No. We recommend familiarizing yourself with the tools and concepts before starting an alcohol-free challenge. Some members start the challenge in month one, others wait multiple months before feeling ready. Other start off doing the work on mindful drinking.
What if I’m already working with a coach or therapist?
We have many members who work 1-1 with private counselors, therapists, or are part of peer-based support groups.
We welcome members under a doctor’s care and taking prescription medication for depression, anxiety, or cravings, but we do not offer advice on medication.
Can I participate anonymously?
Yes! Everything takes place on a password-protected membership site. We do not host a community on social media. You can submit anonymous questions in our Ask a Coach forum or on live calls. You can also keep your camera off when you request live coaching.
When are Rachel’s live calls?
Rachel hosts live coaching calls each week between 9am and 4pm Pacific. Most members listen to replays at their convenience on the private podcast. If you can’t make a call time, you can send in a question for Rachel to answer live and listen to her answer the replay.
How long do most members stay?
Most members who are committed to this process see massive transformation in three-six months.
It’s normal to encounter obstacles as you do the work. One of the key habits we focus on changing is what happens after drinking too much. Our goal is to help you shift gears so you don’t make it mean you can’t change and fall into the “f**k it” trap.
We’ll show you exactly what to do in these moments, but we can’t do the work for you. You must ask for help, and that will be uncomfortable at first. In short, the more you ask for support, the faster your progress will be.
Can I use my health savings account to pay for the membership?
Possibly. Check with your employer or insurance provider if you are unsure. Once you sign up, you will receive an email receipt that you can include in any paperwork.
Do you offer refunds?
No, but you are welcome to cancel at any time.
Questions?
Email us at support@rachelhart.com.
Customer Support responds within 24 hours, Monday–Friday.
Join
Rachel Hart International, Inc., this website, and its content, do not provide medical diagnosis or advice, or alcohol, drug addiction or substance abuse treatment, detoxification, or recovery services. For additional information see the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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