Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You

by Karolina Rzadkowolska

Euphoric is your eight-week plan for an alcohol-free lifestyle that can lead to more happiness, well-being, and self-love. It's the modern woman's guide to relax without alcohol, find freedom from cravings and fitting in, and create the life you want - along with the audacity to go after it.

Imagine a program that makes the benefits of "Dry January" last all year. That's Euphoric!

Alcohol is everywhere in our society, and it's hard to resist. The pressures to fit in and have "just one drink"--that turns into several - whether at a party or on a casual Friday night, can lead to an imbalanced life that's plagued with unhealthy habits, low self-esteem, and decreased productivity.

How can you change your relationship with alcohol without feeling deprived or like a social outcast? First, decide you want a change and then pick up Euphoric, from certified alcohol-free life coach Karolina Rzadkowolska.

Karolina has helped thousands of casual drinkers transform their relationship with alcohol, including herself. In Euphoric, she shares a proven strategy to make alcohol insignificant in your life. In just eight weeks, you can ditch alcohol and learn how to:

Create a natural buzz that alcohol can only mimic
Be fully present with your kids, partner, and friends
Feel more energized, look better, and live healthier
Enjoy the best sleep of your life
Have fun in any social situation, without drinking
Accomplish goals with your newfound drive
Become confident to chase your biggest dreams

Euphoric presents an eight-week, easy-to-customize plan for anyone who wants to transform their relationship with alcohol and experience the life-changing benefits that happen when you take a break from booze to focus the health of your mind, body, and soul.

Here's the plan!

Week 1: Examine and Dismantle Limiting Beliefs
Week 2: Let Go of Shame
Week 3: Step into Your Best Health
Week 4: Navigate Your Social Life
Week 5: Get Mindful and Embody Self-Love
Week 6: Find Pure and Utter Happiness
Week 7: Create Your Dream Life
Week 8: Step into Your Purpose

Reclaim yourself and rejuvenate your life, as you make alcohol irrelevant and get motivated to claim a new lifestyle clearly focused on your goals, priority, and values.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Audiobook, Addiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published January 4, 2022

About the author

Karolina Rzadkowolska is a certified alcohol-free life coach who helps powerful women make alcohol insignificant in their lives. She’s worked with thousands of clients through her online courses and coaching to change their drinking habit and unleash a new level of health, happiness, and potential to go after their biggest dreams. Her book Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You (HarperCollins and featured in Target) will be out on bookshelves on January 4th. She’s the host of Euphoric the Podcast, founder of Euphoric Alcohol-Free, and her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, Popsugar, Authority Magazine, Greatist, and Elite Daily. Karolina’s passionate about helping you discover what really makes you happy outside of a beverage and design a life you love. She would love to hear from you at www.euphoricaf.com.

Reviews

[Brenda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t the first book I’ve read about taking a break from drinking but it is the first time I feel different about my relationship with alcohol. Karolina shares thoughtful data on what alcohol does to your body and also your mind and also provides a real honest approach to get through the social struggles that comes up when giving up drinking. Karolina’s eight week plan is full of tips and ideas to keep yourself grounded while it also helps connect to yourself on a more clearer and deeper layer. The discomforts that arise with the urge to have a drink is lessened when you are able to step back and look at the bigger picture of your life. The journaling, meditation and fun mocktail recipes help take the edge off situations I used to find uncomfortable. I recommend this book to anyone who just needs to take a break from drinking and start realizing how much time there is to enjoy things when you aren’t hungover.

[Ashley Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just started this book, I may keep reading and change my review.

You can feel the rich, white privilege drip from these pages. Karolina Rzadkowolska's approach to alcohol may appeal to the #SoberCurious crowd, but she treats alcohol recovery like a yoga retreat. She points fingers, and draws a distinct line between the people she helps (driven, privileged, women) and problem drinkers.

This one is insulting.

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You" by the author Karolina Rzadkowolska is an insightful book to read. In this book, the author has shared why going alcohol free was the best decision of her life. One day, the author decided to take a month-long break from alcohol. Karolina took another break from alcohol and she traveled to New Orleans, Hawaii, and Japan, all while alcohol-free. After that, she started her journey to become the woman she is meant to be. She fulfilled her dreams.

I am a kinda person who loves experiencing life fully alive. This book inspired me to set new goals for myself and live a confident life. The author has shared an eight-week plan that will help people who drink to ditch alcohol and become a happy and confident person. I liked the Journaling Homework that is given in the book for the readers.

Cover photo of the book is nice. The title is suitable. Language used in the book is lucid so more and more people could benefit from this book. I am glad to get my hands on this amazing book. Huge thanks to the author for sharing her experiences and knowledge with us. I highly recommend this book to more and more people.

[Jazy]

I absolutely LOVED this book! I love how Karolina takes a mind-body-soul approach on the insanely amazing benefits of going alcohol free, and how the underlying theme throughout the book is that our dreams are more important than a “fermented beverage”. I found the 8 week plan that’s included in the book an easy-to-follow way of discovering more about myself and feeling more empowered in my choice to go alcohol-free. She also includes so many fun and yummy mocktail recipes I can’t wait to try. I’d recommend this book to anyone who is curious or feeling a nudge to ditch alcohol from their life, this book will give you all the compelling reasons why. I’d also recommend it for anyone who is abstaining for alcohol for any other reason; this book will help you feel inspired and empowered about the various benefits you’ll get to enjoy.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book "Euphoric"is inspired and inspiring!!!! Karolina's approach is about self awareness, uncovering the limited beliefs and false messages that keep us stuck in in habits and old patterns , unable to live into our unique potentials for which we are all created. She explains the reasons that alcohol is so powerful in peoples lives and in our culture as a whole. She does an excellent job educating the reader on the specific characteristics of alcohol and what actually happens in our brains even with one drink. This book is for anyone who wants to understand the role that alcohol has played in their own life or in the life of someone they love or wants to discover why it has permeated our society, caused so much pain and become the perceived elixir for peoples stress, problems, ability to relax and have fun. This book is full of truth, facts and life experiences It offers amazing potential and possibilities for those willing to dive into its wisdom and engage. Empowering and Life-giving!!!

[Emerald Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karolina’s approach to “quit-lit” is different from any other sober curious book on the market. The message of her book is one of positivity: amazing things happen when you quit drinking. She begins by working through the ways alcohol impacts physical and mental health, and most importantly, by closely questioning the role alcohol holds in our culture and values. Just when the reader is convinced of the need for a change, she introduces her eight-week plan for a break from alcohol. These weekly chapters combine journaling prompts and action items with the right amount of positivity to keep the reader motivated and inspired. A few mocktail recipes throughout this plan are a lovely bonus. If you are considering one book to change your relationship with alcohol, this is the one to go with. At its core, this is a true self-help book for everyone questioning their nightly wine glass and looking to finally pursue a change.

[LisaJune Link · Rating 5 out of 5]

Euphoric is unlike any other self-improvement book I’ve ever read. Removing alcohol from your life opens a plethora of experiences and adventures that hangovers, crummy moods, and drink-seeking can never replicate. Once the reader has a chance to envision her dream life (after a brief but poignant and humorous glimpse into the double-life we lead as healthy people who still drink), Karolina gives very specific tools to gradually adopt a shift in behaviors that lead towards the best possible life. I especially appreciate the eight week plan that includes actionable steps to do things that you love, journal prompts to design a beautiful life while reflecting on the past, recipes to rock your parties, and a non-judgmental guide for approaching a new way of thinking. Many quit-lit books on the market assume that readers are beginning at rock bottom and that’s the only possible reason to quit. Euphoric takes a different approach: even responsible drinkers are having negative repercussions from alcohol-consumption and you will “redevelop positive beliefs about yourself and welcome more love, self-esteem, and confidence into your life.” I am blessed to have this book as I make my way towards becoming happy, confident, and just maybe even euphoric.

[Andrea Christoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Karolina’s approach. I’ve never felt comfortable identifying as a problem drinker, but I also didn’t like the way alcohol played a role in my life. I love not drinking as part of a healthy lifestyle, but always feel a bit self conscious when socializing. This book really gave me the confidence to be proud of my choice. Love the tips, positivity and analogies throughout the book.

[Meghan Herwehe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Love how she looks at the ‘way we’ve always done things’ from a different perspective and helps call into question long held beliefs. Her approach 100% changed my thinking which I 100% did not think it could. Also found this book super inspiring - it gets you excited to pursue big goals.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of insight and hope. It tells the truth about how alcohol is ruining our lives and the lives of others. It does not use labels, but hope. It gives real alternatives to drinking. I highly recommend it!

[Yovel Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former client of Karolina’s, I can honestly say that reading Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You is like having Karolina on your bookshelf, ready to coach you. You can absorb her wisdom at your own pace, and it will help you to launch your most awesome life to date, free of the psychological shackles of alcohol. Euphoric is a very necessary book in the alcohol-free lifestyle conversation because the usual moralizing, stigmatizing, and demonizing of alcohol and those with a complicated relationship with it is absent. Most helpfully, Euphoric posits that we are “…defined by the next decision I (we) make, not the previous one,” and lays out how to go about making such decisions. Certainly this is a book for anyone who has ever been a drinker, but more importantly, it is a book to read for anyone who has ever wanted a vibrant, more expansive life.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is helping me reduce my alcohol drinking and possibly my quitting drinking all together. Very very good. I totally related to this author

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a fresh perspective on approaching your relationship with alcohol. I was engaged from cover to cover and found it very helpful. Whether you want to quit or reduce drinking, or are merely interested in educating yourself about how alcohol affects us mentally and physically, as well as how it is viewed by society, this is a book for you!

[Marta Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to throw this book against a wall. Extremely infuriating. Then I wanted a drink! A major fail for an author trying to get women to abstain from alcohol, I’d say.

This book is an absolute epitome of white, country club woman superiority? US versus them hierarchy. According to the author, we’re not those problematic heavy drinkers, those alcoholics. Were successful, healthy women who have the white picket fence, ride fancy cars, do yoga, visit our global gym at least three times a week, country club privileged young women (and she’s speaking to young 20 something women in this book) who just like to have a glass, or maybe 6 of wine on the weekends (& sometimes mid week)—where our crash & burn resides.

But if she mentions how health consists of eating like a rabbit I’m throwing the book across the room.

& then she did!!! Again & again & again. Wait. Isn’t this a book about abstaining from alcohol? Why the constant & subtle messaging on veganism/vegetarianism?

Dear Karolina, I did not come here to be schooled on how healthy women eat a vegan diet. “Be healthy” Karolina says “drink your green smoothie, eat your salad” then I saw the book fly clear across the room, it’s pages opening like a bird’s wings in flight, spine cracking as it made contact with the wall, white pages splaying in a satisfactory SMACK. The book slides down the wall, pages tearing with an unbelievably pleasing to the ears sound, as it it lands on the floor. Heart pounding with satisfactory joy.

Ok ok. I didn’t really throw the book.
I’ll keep it in its pristine order so I can recoup some of my money wasted. Pango books here I come.

I have to say this. Karolina, have you ever heard of oxalate toxicity? I bet not. Well, I had this condition & let me tell you it hits your health & hard. & doctors you trust so much all they want to do is place a pharmaceutical bandaid on top of it all. Because they’re not trained on health and nutrition in medical school. All they know is pharmaceuticals, so naturally that is all you get. And Yes. Oxalate toxicity is from consuming plant food. How did I heal myself? I stopped eating vegetables. Humans are predominantly carnivores. Can you imagine the prehistoric man chasing down a buffalo, killing it, only to sit down to a meal of grass and weeds? Laughable. We’d be extinct!

I’ll stop here, don’t waste your money, there is better books based on actual science of what alcohol does to our bodies. & please people, do your health a favor eat your red meat! It won’t kill you & might actually save your life.

[Brittney Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this as a sober curious person was a really eye opening experience. In this book, the author starts out by painting a picture of what I means to consider life without alcohol. She acknowledges all the challenges from social to psychological to physical that one can face during this transformation. I love the detailed holistic approach that this book takes in explaining things.
Karolina takes you on a journey with her in exploring the world as we know it WITHOUT booze. She describes the journey highlighting the highs and lows in this beautifully written book. Her style of writing is informative and interwoven with a very personal touch. You feel as though you are in the presence of a good friend almost immediately.
The journaling homework in the book is incredible. I found it to be a great way to encourage readers to be truly invested in this 8 week plan to become a happier and healthy person. There are little tips and tricks to help readers succeed placed all throughout the reading. One of my favorites is the section on the huge variety of hip new non-alcoholic beverages. I had no idea!
This is a must read for anyone interested in making this positive change in their lives. I highly recommend reading!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very skeptical starting off with this book, as it started out sounding a little like an advert for the author's alcohol-recovery program. However, the book does feature some sound medical advice and neuroscience in parts one and two once you slog through the author's personal journey and plugs. The third part is a guide for an 8-week ditch-drinking detox with alternate activities, mocktail recipes, and reflective journaling prompts. An ok read for anyone interested in finding ideas to improve their life in general and maybe help a friend avoid falling off the wagon.

[Emily Mellow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned one useful thing from this book, and it was valuable to me: If we always drink at social gatherings, we never learn to socialize without alcohol. It leads to insecurities about our own capacities. In order to gain confidence and skill, we need to practice socializing sans alcohol.
The entire book was so clearly written for women decades younger than me, and the "you got this, girl!" vibe nearly had me abandoning the book.

[Kris Patrick]

I would recommend a bunch of titles in the quit lit genre before this one

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You

Karolina Rzadkowolska’s "Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You" laid the perfect framework and foundation for bidding alcohol adieu. She thoughtfully helps build the toolkit for abstaining with journaling, exercises on reflection, the occasional easy mocktail idea and thought provoking questions.

The questions, prompts and carefully curated anecdotes weave together seamlessly to sell you on why going alcohol free is the wave of the future and this book is best to help you do it. I was able to relate to almost everything in the book. There is no shame in the book, but hope, inspiration and room for growth.

Through carefully crafted introspection and with an included “… 8 week plan to ditch alcohol and gain a new happier you” Karolina helps you find who you are, what your dreams are, who you want to be, what is holding you back and what is needed to get there. It really got me thinking and excited. In the end the book is not just about questioning alcohol’s role in your life and how it serves you (or does a disservice to you) but about your limitless potential for anything and everything—and how much more impressive it is if you choose to ditch the booze.

[Brittany Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Euphoric is an easy-to-digest book with practical advice on how to live an alcohol-free life. The author covers numerous topics ranging from the impact on the body, social conditioning, fear of missing out to self-discovery and growth. I found the author’s antidotes highly relatable to my own experiences with alcohol. This was pivotal for my journey. If she can find happiness without alcohol, maybe I can too. One of the most resonating pieces of the book was the mental toll alcohol takes. So much of my time has been consumed with thinking about drinking. When can I drink? Am I drinking too much? Did I embarrass myself? 4 AM wake up-why do I have no self-control? On and on. It made me realize the amount of reach alcohol had in my life and gave me the willpower to say enough is enough. I want to focus on other aspects of my life. Another factor is exhaustion. I am always tired. I have gone to doctors to explore why I am so tired and they could not find anything wrong with me. From reading this book, I recognized my drinking has contributed to poor sleep. I have been basically self-destruction mood without knowing it. These takeaways helped me continue on the alcohol-free journey and I feel anyone who is sober curious would benefit from reading the book.

[WeLoveBigBooksAndWeCannotLie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you participate in dry January?🍹
I have never actively participated and I would have failed if I tried this year, BUT sometimes I do go months without any sort of alcoholic drink. I’ve always had a bit of an allergy to most alcohols.
If you’ve ever considered an alcohol-free lifestyle that can lead to more happiness, well-being, and self-love, then Euphoric by Karolina Rzadkowolska is the book for you!
This is a step-by-step plan on how you can change your relationship with alcohol without feeling deprived or like a social outcast.
Because I’ve always had this allergy, I rarely drink when I go out with friends, so I was able to easily relate.
However, I am always ready to be the first person on the dance floor, and I could be wrong, but I actually think I’m a better dancer without drinking 😀
I love that this wasn’t just a book about being alcohol free, it’s also about becoming your best self!
Thank you @tlcbooktours for this gifted copy!
If you’re curious about what the benefits to you and your body would be like without alcohol you can find Euphoric on our Amazon Storefront! This book published earlier this month and is available now!🧜🏼‍♀️🌺

[Luke R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Whether you're looking to become more mindful about drinking, or leave alcohol behind for good, "Euphoric" is an incredibly refreshing resource. So many of the advantages of ditching alcohol are hiding in plain sight, yet we're constantly fed this story that the only people who stop are those with a "drinking problem with a capital P". Karolina does an unbelievable job of shattering this false belief, while offering fun tips, stories, and a framework to help you go after a life that finally makes space for your biggest dreams. When I first made the decision to go alcohol-free, I was constantly struggling to find the right words to explain my decision in social settings, while also feeling like the usual non-drinking "labels" weren't a fit. Karolina gives you the tools to confidently step into these conversations and stop settling for anything less than your full potential. I'd highly recommend this book (and the Euphoric podcast!) to anyone who might be looking for a fresh perspective on alcohol. The title could not be more appropriate.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really blew me away! I rarely drink so I had not given my relationship with alcohol much thought. I started reading this book with my clients in mind (I'm a wellness coach) but little did I know that I would personally get so much from it! This book taught me so much about what alcohol does to us on the physical, mental, and emotional levels. It helped me to bring a lot of awareness to my relationship with alcohol (and other substances). Through Karolina's fresh, unique approach I am redefining the role of alcohol in my life. Karolina's writing style is captivating and her years of experience in this field really shine through in this book! It is value-packed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels called to explore their relationship with alcohol.

[Kimberly Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend! This book is for anybody wanting to change a behaviour in their life that is holding them back from living their best life. Euphoric….The author flirts with this word appropriately throughout and you start to feel euphoric as you read. She shares her experiences and wisdom to the reader’s, which is empowering.

For a novice writer, she speaks to the reader like a relatable expert. The format is easy to follow with three main sections, starting with body, mind and soul then moving to the action piece. In this final section, she lays out an 8 week program breaking down the simple steps to live an AF life. She masters the key points showing how to live a euphoric life. Well done!

[Margot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for any woman who is sober curious or wants to re-evaluate their relationship with alcohol. Rzadkowolska outlines all the ways drinking is unhealthy, but what is most effective is how she reframes alcohol as a detractor, not an enhancer, of pleasure, In that way, she is able to show how drinking actually limits us and keeps us from reaching our true potential and experiencing joy. The book adapts an eight week course that is usually offered in person. It offers a theme for each week along with journaling prompts and mocktail recipes. As someone who works with people in recovery, this book provides more tools and strategies to share with clients as they adjust to and discover the benefits of a sober life.

[Anastasia Schmalz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karolina took healthy living for me to an entirely different level! I have never identified as a problem drinker. However, reading the book I have started to notice the difference I feel in my well-being and self-awareness when I skip the occasional glass of wine entirely from my routine. Karolina approaches alcohol-free life with a contagious positivity that inspires to want more and more, without imposing any judgement. Euphoric has been a new facet of self-development that surely has changed my outlook on a self-determined and healthy lifestyle. A must-read for all who want to prioritize health and feeling good every day!

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives you a mindful approach to why you may want to stop drinking alcohol. You don’t have to have a problem with alcohol to want to quit it. You can simply want a healthier, more authentic and EUPHORIC version of yourself free of hangovers, which is where this book speaks to me. It is great to read during Dry January and provides 8 weeks of content to use on your journey. Karolina provides her own stories and has facts to back up the stories for a logical and mindful approach. She also provides a lot of tools that can help get you through some of your firsts and helps you evaluate why you feel a certain way in the first place. This is a great read and will change a lot of lives.

[Emma Blanchet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally picked up this book to help gain some practical tips and tricks for working with clients. This is hands down one of the best books I have ever read on alcohol and the impacts on the body. It encourages the reader to take a break from alcohol, look at what's happening when you're experiencing an urge for a drink and how to take a step back and see what's really going on. I think this would be a helpful tool for everyone - even those that drink moderately. The advice is straight forward and practical for those looking to re-evaluate their relationship with alcohol. I highly, highly recommend this book.

[Carolyn Baana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this 4 stars because I don’t want my review to keep someone from reading it, but I have to give it 3 as there isn’t much new here. The first and second sections are worthwhile. The third is an 8-week plan to support an alcohol-free journey. The guidance here is basic coaching, so if the reader has worked with a well qualified coach these exercises will be familiar. The mocktails are full of sugar, so trading one vice for another IMO. Finally, there’s an online support system which I didn’t tap into because I’m not on social media.

All that said, this could be a helpful read for someone attempting a few weeks without alcohol.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on approaching sobriety. The author likens drinking alcohol to what smoking cigarettes used to be, and makes an argument that it will soon have the same stigma attached to it that smoking does now. Regardless of if that prediction comes to pass, this is an interesting book structured around how to effectively take a break from alcohol to see what changes (positive) it might make in your life. Very growth focused and “become a better version of yourself”, rather than blaming, shaming, or name-calling.