Replace a habit with a passion for giving in this month-long sober challenge. Press pause on alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine and donate the money you save to a worthy cause. Take a break to feel like yourself again. Instead of burning money, fuel social change.
Calculate your typical spending on alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine and donate that amount to your favorite philanthropy, while you pledge to go without.
Sober October starts Saturday, October 1, 2022
Choose your substance, choose a cause. The challenge began as an alcohol-free month, but has expanded to any substance you choose. It’s also time to choose a worthy cause to receive the money you would have spent on substances. Donate to any cause or organization that you want. If you’re looking for ideas, we have some IUPUI funds highlighted below.
Calculate your typical spending. Rather than pulling a number out of the air, do some quick math to determine how much you actually spend per month. Send that money to a better place and make your donation.
Feeling confident? Keep yourself accountable by including your friends and family. Track your progress on your own or with our Tips and Tracking sheet. Receive motivation and reminders, then complete the email evaluation when the month is over.
Participate in the Pause for a Cause Substance-Free Challenge by donating to any cause or organization you want. If you are looking for ideas, consider the following funds.
The Collegiate Recovery Community Scholarship supports students in recovery from addiction who are bettering themselves through education at IUPUI.
A donation to this fund supports the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion, which coordinates IUPUI’s addiction recovery support program for students.
A donation to Paws’ Pantry will support basic needs for students, such as providing food and hygiene products to students struggling to feed themselves and their families.
Are you giving up coffee for a month, or all forms of caffeine? When you set your goal, you should also set very clear criteria for what constitutes success (or failure). One way to help make your goal stick is to physically write it down. Seeing your goal in writing helps to set your intention, taking it from something you could do to something you will do.
Behavior isn’t all about motivation and willpower. Cues from the physical environment influence our actions. Studies show that putting fruits and vegetables at eye level in a school cafeteria can increase consumption. You can use this same trick to your advantage by stocking healthy alternatives within arm’s reach, and hiding the things you want to avoid under a sink or in the back of a closet.
You just happen to be the world’s leading expert on yourself, and you probably have some idea about how and when you are likely to stumble. Put up guard rails to prevent yourself from steering off course. Make a list of the most likely setbacks and the strategy or backup plan for each one.
Tap into positive social pressure by sharing your goal publicly, post about it on social media, and find your accountability buddy. It’s also a good idea to let your friends know about your goal ahead of time so they don’t accidentally tempt or pressure you. Why not recruit others to donate to a worthy cause by joining the challenge themselves?
If you decide you want to cut back or quit using a substance completely, such as alcohol or nicotine, resources from Healthy IU (for employees) and the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion (for students) can help.
Learn more about IU employee benefits for tobacco cessation, and free tobacco cessation coaching for students.
Employees can also use SupportLinc to address substance misuse concerns, and students can participate in a free screening and brief intervention.
Visit the Healthy IU website for a full list of employee resources, and the Student Wellness Directory for student wellness programs.
