I am a creature of habit.

Sitting having my morning coffee this morning I realised that today marks three weeks since the start of my latest habit. Although my latest habit is far less destructive than previous habits and perhaps you would call it more of a routine than a habit. I get up when I wake up (no snoozing!), walk the dog, meditate (headspace) then get on with the day.

Ever since my days at music college I seem to have developed habits (addictions?) easily and then held on to them. Back then there were three habits.

1. Drink everyday
2. Smoke weed every day
3. Get up early and practice hard everyday

Clearly two of those habits were not much use and one of them I’m still struggling with money years later.

I kicked the weed twelve years ago after my partner (now my wife) agreed to getting a dog if I stopped smoking weed! This immediately led to another, much healthier habit, walking the dog. Even in this instance I often ended up habitually going to the same place and walking the same route!

• 

Also around this time I started running, another activity that really suits people that love a habit!!! I love keeping track of mileage, trying to make sure I run at least 1000 miles a year (not as much as it sounds when you break it down) and trying to break pbs.

Other more recently adopted habits include

1. Not eating meat
2. Meditating every morning
3. Getting up early
4. Drinking alcohol free beer

Clearly my habits are becoming more healthy and less destructive. Perhaps an indication that as I approach 40 I’m finally getting my shit together?!

So obviously this blog is about my relationship with booze and I guess the reason for post was to ponder wether my drinking was purely a habit or something more sinister?

I’ve had several prolonged breaks from boozing and each time, once I’d set the date I would stop, it was relatively easy. I’d revel in all the benefits and slip into a positive mindset. In the past this has usually been for around three months while I train for a marathon. I’d then gradually settle back to regular heavy drinking. I never found myself drinking in the morning or craving alcohol during the day however once it got to six o’clock everyday I would start drinking. Is that a habit or an addiction? I honestly don’t know.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts on this in the comments!