My Name’s Kate And I’m Not An Alcoholic #health #holistic

In my drinking days, I must have googled “Am I an alcoholic?” so many times. 

I didn’t think I actually was an alcoholic, but my drinking certainly didn’t feel “normal”. I was stuck, not finding anything that described me or what to do next. 

Fast forward to today and an awful lot has changed. 

Not only am I happily sober, but my thoughts on the whole “alcoholic” label are a lot clearer. I wanted to share them here, in case you’re feeling as confused as I was. 

Key points

What exactly is an alcoholic anyway?

It’s a genuine question. How do you define that? Is it someone who regularly drinks above the recommended guidelines or often has more than they intend to? Or is it someone who feels they have to drink every single day? It’s so hard to define.

Some studies have found that only ten percent of excessive drinkers are officially ‘alcohol dependent’. Even if you fill out an online questionnaire about your drinking, it won’t tell you that you’re an alcoholic – it will refer to an alcohol use disorder instead.

Alcohol vs other drugs

When it comes to other substances, we’re not so obsessed with labels. Smokers never wonder if they are nicotine-oholics or whether they have a disease. They’re never going to question why they can’t just ‘control’ their intake of cigarettes or why they can’t smoke ‘responsibly’. 

The difference is that we recognise nicotine as a drug. We understand that if you use an addictive drug, then you’re probably going to get addicted to it. That addiction won’t be a reflection on you or your morals or your inner strength – it’s just what happens. 

A controversial opinion

Some people will come at me for this… but honestly? I think the only people who like to use the word alcoholic, are those who benefit from labelling others. It suits the alcohol industry to pretend that there’s such a thing as ‘normal’ or ‘responsible’ drinking. 

Other drinkers benefit from this too. They want to believe that they’re fine, they’re normal, they’re not doing anything wrong… and people who “have” to quit are different from them. It suits the system to keep perpetuating the myth that there’s just a small group of people out there who can’t use alcohol “responsibly”. 

No need for labels

As you might have guessed, I don’t call myself an alcoholic, I don’t think I am at all. I think I had a very normal relationship with alcohol, because it’s normal to get addicted to addictive substances, especially when they’re romanticised and glamorised. 

Unless the “alcoholic” label empowers you to change, feel free to ditch it. If you quit drinking, all it really means is that you’re a non-drinker. You’re alcohol free. You’re a teetotaler. You’re enjoying a hangover-free lifestyle. And you’re awesome. That’s it!

Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.

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Forget Dry January – February Matters Just As Much! #health #holistic

February is here. If you did Dry January, how did it go?

Maybe you sailed through and plan to continue… or perhaps you’re not sure what to do next. Maybe you’ve already had a drink or struggled to make it through the month.

I’ve had ALL of those experiences at some point or another, so I know what it’s like. 

And here’s the thing: it’s what you do next that matters just as much as what happened in January. I explain why in this video.

Key points

No matter what you do next, reflect first

It’s really important to capture how you’re feeling right now – the good and the bad. (Download the Dry January Debrief to help with this). Some of my biggest breakthroughs came from reading something I’d written months earlier and realising: “I forgot how good I felt back then.” Or I’d look back and notice a pattern to my drinking that I hadn’t spotted before. 

For example, if you completed Dry January but it felt like an endurance test – akin to being on a diet, perhaps – then let’s capture why sobriety feels like hard work right now. Why does it feel like deprivation? What do you think you’re missing out on? This information is key to changing those beliefs and how you approach alcohol-free living in the future. 

If you’re going to drink again…

Put a note in your diary first! I wish I’d done this after my breaks from drinking. I was so determined that everything was fine (“Look – I stopped! No way do I have a problem…”) that I conveniently overlooked what happened next. Somehow, it didn’t register how quickly I slid back into drinking in a way that didn’t work for me.

So set a reminder to check in with yourself at the end of February. Put another reminder on your phone for the end of March. On each occasion, grab your Dry January Debrief to remind yourself where you were at the end of January. Have things got better, worse or stayed the same? This is how you collect proper information about your drinking – don’t rely on your memory (which always distorts over time). 

If you had a tough month, you’re not alone

In 2013, I attempted Dry January with a group of friends. I lasted a week before giving up. (They all made it through the month and I had to pretend I was still doing it too. It was awful). But do you know what else happened in 2013? That was the year I quit for good.

So if you need a reminder that all is not lost and this year isn’t a write-off – then hello: I’m it. I’m living proof that you can turn things around. All that matters now is moving forward with intention. The key is capturing how you feel right now. Then you’ll have real data to work with – not just vague memories or wishful thinking.

Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.

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Что означает имбаланс в трейдинге Биржевой Университет #health #holistic

Имбаланс: когда рынок теряет равновесие

FVG в трейдинге или imbalance (на английском imbalance in trading) – это трехсвечная комбинация, область, где только одна сторона рынка предлагает ликвидность. Очень часто imbalance в системе Smart Money появляется после обновления какой-либо ликвидности. Imbalance (fvg, inefficiency) – импульсное движение цены, которое показывает неравновесие между покупателями и продавцами в определенном диапазоне из за нехватки ликвидности. Синим уровнем и красной стрелкой выделен огромный множественный имбаланс продавцов.

Пример 3: Ложный пробой и сбор ликвидности

• Если цена движется без четкой структуры, лучше воздержаться от входа.
• Чтобы эффективно сбалансировать цену и предложить ее обеим сторонам, в какой-то момент времени график вернется туда.
• Единичный имбаланс в верхней части бара, выделенный красным цветом означает, что перевес со стороны продавцов составляет более 300%.
• Причина, по которой мы называем это явление имбалансом заключается не только в том, что это дисбаланс между покупателями и продавцами, но и в том, что на рынке буквально существует дисбаланс.

Имбаланс в трейдинге — это несоответствие между спросом и предложением на определённом финансовом инструменте. Если на рынке существует сильный дисбаланс между покупателями и продавцами, это может привести к резким движениям цен в ту или иную сторону. Например, если продавцов слишком много, а покупателей мало, то цена будет снижаться. Напротив, если на рынке преобладают покупатели, а продавцов недостаточно, цена будет расти. Имбаланс на рынке можно определить как дисбаланс между покупателями и продавцами. За бычьим дисбалансом стоит больше покупателей, имбаланс а за медвежьим – больше продавцов.

Имбаланс — что это? Как найти и торговать имбаланс.

Фитили обычно представляют собой колебания цены вверх и вниз за определенный промежуток времени. Если на часовом таймфрейме вы видите палочку снизу или сверху свечи, это не просто какой-нибудь штрих, это полноценное движение на 1-5минутном графике. Когда вы видите насыщенную свечу без прикрывающих её теней от соседних свечей – вы определили явный дисбаланс в цене. Институциональные игроки формируют на рынке большие торговые объемы благодаря своим крупным ордерам на куплю или продажу.

Когда на графике формируется медвежий FVG, это прямой сигнал, что продавцы взяли контроль над рынком. Такие зоны часто появляются после резкого дисбаланса спроса и предложения, когда крупные игроки агрессивно разгружают позиции. Имбаланс (imbalance) в трейдинге — это диспропорция между спросом и предложением, вызывающая неравномерное распределение ликвидности и значительное https://forexby.com/ движение цены в одном направлении. Этот феномен играет ключевую роль в формировании трендов, волатильности и поведения активов на финансовых рынках.

Для более подробного описания работы индикатора посмотрите вебинар его создателя. Данные об открытом интересе в режиме реального времени предоставляет только Московская биржа, поэтому индикатор работает только на фьючерсных контрактах Московской биржи. Если вы хотите подробнее узнать, как торговать на имбалансе и как извлечь из него выгоду, рекомендуем вам записаться на курсы Биржевого Университета. Мы детально рассмотрим на них все интересные стратегии и разберем разные ситуации на практике, что позволит вам лучше усвоить информацию. Помните, что определить возникновение дисбаланса не всегда возможно. Часто для этого нужно использовать специализированное программное обеспечение, индикаторы, кластерный анализ и пр.

На верхнем графике вы можете наблюдать, как стремительно развивается восходящее движение фьючерсного контракта на британский фунт. Поступим как профессиональные трейдеры и попытаемся найти на графике футпринт Bid x Ask Imbalance платформы ATAS, крупный стек имбалансов, сформированный агрессивными покупателями. Если вдруг вы увидели, что имбалансы сформировались не в сторону вашей сделки, они скорее всего переедут ее своими большими колесами.

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My Biggest Lessons From 10 Years Of Running The Sober School #health #holistic

The Sober School turned 10 this month and over the weekend I threw a party in Birmingham to celebrate.

Students from all over the world travelled to the event to mark this milestone together. 

The party got me thinking about everything I’ve learned over the past decade of helping women put down the wine glass.

So I wanted to share some of my biggest takeaways with you in a video I filmed during Saturday’s event. 

It’s a bit rough and ready, but it’s the behind-the-scenes stuff that’ll give you a sense of what The Sober School is really all about.

Key points

Don’t think too far ahead

When I launched The Sober School in 2016, I had no idea where it would end up. I certainly never imagined I’d be hosting a party like this, celebrating ten years with a room full of women who’ve transformed their lives.

The same is true for your alcohol-free journey. You don’t need all the answers before you begin. You can’t figure out how you’ll handle that holiday in three months because you’re literally going to be a different person by then – thinking, knowing, and feeling different things. Future-you will have the skills to handle what comes next. You just need to start.

It’s hard to be what you can’t see

Standing in that room full of sober women was powerful. These are friendships forged online and magnified in person. People who understand each other’s journey because they’ve walked the same path. There was no chit chat about the weather here – just meaningful connection with people who get it.

So don’t do this alone. Surround yourself with people who’ve done what you’re doing and are a few steps ahead. The women who have the most success are the ones who stay connected to a great community.

Your sobriety creates ripples you’ll never see

At the party, I reminded everyone of something important: so many of them were the first person in their family or friendship group to stop drinking. They had to go first… but since then, others have followed.

Your kids, grandkids, partners, friends – they’re all watching. No matter what they say to begin with, they’ll feel the benefits of you changing your life later on. The ripple effect of your sobriety stretches much further than you realise.

Alcohol-free living is the ultimate lifestyle upgrade

In ten years of coaching women, I haven’t seen any evidence to the contrary. Not once! Ditching alcohol is not about settling for less. When you go about it the right way, alcohol-free living adds more into your life than you’d ever find at the bottom of a bottle.

Standing at the party, watching women hug, chat and celebrate together – all completely sober – was proof of that. This is what’s possible. If you’re curious about what life could look like without alcohol, I hope to see you at The Sober School one day. It might just change your life.

Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.

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2025 In Review: Our Alcohol-Free Highlights Of The Year #health #holistic

One of my favourite traditions at The Sober School happens every December. 

I ask the women I’ve coached throughout the year if they’d be happy to send me a photo of their alcohol-free highlight of the year.

The pictures that come back are incredible. Sometimes it’s a moment they’re grateful they were able to experience, sober. Other times it’s something that would never have happened if they’d still been drinking.

These aren’t stock photos or posed shots – they’re real life glimpses into what a happy, alcohol-free life can look like. I can’t wait to share them with you in today’s video.

What about you?

If you’ve got a favourite alcohol-free highlight that you’d like to share, let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear about it!

If you feel inspired by these photos and you’d like to make a fresh start in 2026, make sure you join my free New Year Masterclass! It starts just after Christmas. Fill out the form below to join.

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10 Things I Love About Being Sober At Christmas #health #holistic

Not drinking at Christmas?! I know it might sound a bit… boring. Maybe even impossible.

When I was drinking, I couldn’t imagine getting through the festive season without alcohol. 

All those parties, family gatherings, shopping, the stress of it – wine just seemed like an unmissable part of things.

But here’s what I’ve discovered since stopping: an alcohol-free Christmas is actually brilliant. Nowadays, you really couldn’t pay me enough to drink at this time of year. 

Here are 10 reasons why being sober at Christmas is better than you think…

Key points

1.  No embarrassing mistakes

Whether it’s putting the wrong labels on presents, forgetting something really important or doing something at your office party that you later regret… alcohol dramatically increases the chances of you doing something you later cringe at!

2. You have more energy

This is a tiring time of year. There are 101 things to sort out and I bet it’s mainly you who’s responsible for making it all happen, right? Not drinking will give you more energy and headspace for figuring this stuff out. 

3. Your money goes further

If finances are tight right now, take a moment to work out how much you normally spend on booze at this time of year. This is a month when most of us go out more than usual. Drinking alcohol is guaranteed to make your bar bill much bigger.

4. Driving yourself home!

I still love being able to jump in my car at the end of a great night and drive myself home. No waiting around for a taxi, trying to flag one down or paying for an expensive Uber. Being able to go out and then leave exactly when you want to feels very freeing.

5. Less drama

Real life isn’t like a Christmas card. Real families argue and things go wrong. However, the chances of you getting into a row, or overreacting to something are massively reduced when you’re sober at Christmas. 

6. Guilt-free festive food

A slice of Christmas cake contains at least 200 calories. A large glass of wine also contains around 200 calories. If you aren’t drinking, you’ve got room to indulge a bit more without feeling guilty!

7. Looking better

Alcohol dehydrates the skin, increases redness and can make you look puffy and bloated. It’s not a good look, and makeup can’t always hide it. I ask everyone I work with to take a before and after picture because your appearance will inevitably change.

8. No more acting

Pretending to be hangover-free and bursting with energy is draining. Trying to sneak a few extra drinks here and there without anyone noticing is also hard work… and that’s the last thing any of us needs.

9. More time

Sobriety gives you extra time in the day, which just feels great at this time of year. When you’re drinking, you don’t just lose time being drunk – it’s the sluggishness afterwards, the time lost worrying and the time spent putting things right and beating yourself up. 

10. Make memories (instead of forgetting them)

At the end of the day, this is what this crazy time of year is all about, isn’t it? Alcohol robs you of your memories and can leave the most special days blurry and forgettable. Being sober at Christmas gives you those special moments back… and you can’t put a price on that.

Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.

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4 Reminders You Might Need At This Time Of Year #health #holistic

Alcohol seems to be everywhere at this time of year. 

It’s piled high in the shops on special offer. It’s on the Christmas cards with those “GIN-gle bells” jokes. It’s in every advert on TV and at pretty much every festive gathering.

When alcohol is connected to everything, it’s easy to lose your way or feel as if you’re missing out.

So here are four reminders you just might need to hear right now.

Key points

Alcohol is not magic joy juice. 

It’s not fun in a bottle or liquid happiness. How do we know? Because of all those times when you’ve drunk loads and haven’t had a good time. Alcohol doesn’t have the power to transform a boring or bad situation into a good one. Otherwise every single night drinking would be fun. People wouldn’t get into arguments. The reality is that drinking at a bad party just means you’re getting drunk at a bad party.

If you want the festive season to be memorable, you’ve got to be sober for it. 

Everyone talks about creating special Christmas memories, yet alcohol literally deletes your ability to remember things. When you look back on previous years – honestly – what was the true cost of drinking? I remember Christmas Days, forgotten presents, nearly-burnt dinners, and hours spent feeling dreadful wishing the day would end.

Sobriety is worth the awkwardness!

Yes, it can feel uncomfortable to turn down the offer of an alcoholic drink or have people asking questions. But that discomfort is relatively short-lived. It’s nothing compared to the weeks of discomfort that you’ll go through if you drink and break a promise to yourself. 

Alcohol doesn’t fix your problems – it keeps you stuck with them. 

Christmas can highlight what’s missing or not working in your life. It’s tempting to drink to avoid thinking about absent people, difficult relationships, or unmet expectations. Whilst it’s tempting to paper over the cracks with alcohol, that’s also a trap because drinking means you’re less likely to take action and more likely to decide you’re unable to change. 

Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.

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