Blair lives in Rochester, Minnesota with her husband and son. She works as a Psychometrist and does freelance writing. Her work has been featured in Insider, Monument, Scary Mommy, and more. She’s a tall introverted homebody who loves a good charcuterie board, reality television, and canceled plans. Find her creating on Instagram, Facebook, and on her website.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. What is your professional background? How did you end up with this career?

My professional background is in psychology and mental health. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and have held various positions in the mental health field. I have been a behavioral therapist for children with autism, supervised a group home for adults with mental illness and developmental disabilities, and I am currently a psychometrist at the Mayo Clinic. In my current position I work directly with patients and administer thinking and memory tests to them in a clinical setting. 

In addition to my work in psychology, I am a writer and content creator. I write about sobriety, mental health, parenting, as well as other topics. I am a staff writer for Rochester Mom, a resource in my city, and a regular contributor to The Sober Curator website. I have written for various brands such as NOPE! Beverages and Reframe App, as well as national publications such as Scary Mommy and Insider. 

I have always had an interest in mental health and wellness. After I quit drinking in 2018, I took a look at my life and had to figure out who I was without alcohol. I did a lot of self-work during this time, and still do today.

I create sobriety content on Instagram. I make posts and reels, and do Instagram Lives with others on the platform to talk about living an alcohol-free life. I share so that others feel less alone. 

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What is your self-care routine and how do you find time to integrate it into your daily life?

I try to prioritize my self-care. One thing I make sure I get is enough sleep. When I’m feeling tired, I try to nap if I can, or go to bed early that evening. I think rest is so important for both our bodies and minds, and most people don’t prioritize it.

I try to stick to a routine. If I get thrown off, I’m flexible but I’m much more productive if I keep my routines tight. My morning routine consists of drinking water, stretching, and easing into the day. I like to get up early and I feel most productive in the mornings. If I can, I like to do some writing and answering messages at that time too. 

I am an introvert and a mom of a young boy, so I do like to find time for myself when I can. Time alone is huge for me as an introvert. I don’t feel that I need other people to fill my cup. In fact, too much people-ing can wear me out and make me irritable.Through learning self-awareness I have been able to recognize the things that cause me to slip into a bad mood, so I try to avoid them if I can.

Finding time is one of the hardest things for me. As I said earlier, I’m a mother of a small child. Mothers are often in charge of everyone else and we can forget to make time for ourselves. I try to be proactive with this. I have been working at my job less, and I take time on weekends to get that “me time” even if it’s at the grocery store or running other errands alone. 

Putting yourself first is important to your overall wellness. Given this, what are your best holistic wellness tips? 

I really emphasize to people how important rest and taking time to yourself is. Many people are scared of alone time. They don’t want to be alone physically, or to be alone with their thoughts. To me, it’s important to have that time as it helps me learn to be comfortable with who I am. We can’t be the best friend or partner if we’re not our best selves first.

Some tips:
-Set aside time to have alone. See where your mind takes you. Slow down.

-When you are feeling tired, recognize that feeling and allow yourself to rest. Take a nap. If you’re not a napper, lay down with your eyes closed. Do less. 

-Drink a lot of water throughout the day. 

-Notice how you are feeling. If you’re tired, rest. If you’re happy, keep doing more of whatever it is that is making you happy. If you’re irritated, why? Take a deep breath and make a plan to get through to the other side of that feeling. 

-Go to therapy. Even when things are going great for you, therapy is beneficial.   

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Mental health and feeling good are crucial to maximizing performance. How do you prioritize your mental health? 

Typically I try to keep my life pretty simple. I prioritize activities and people that matter to me, and those that I enjoy. I don’t do things that other people think I should do. I’m really selfish about my well-being. I do have a hard time dealing with stress, but I’m always working on bettering myself. I go to therapy. I talk to my husband and my friends. 

If you could have lunch with one person in the world, who would it be and why? 

I’d love to have lunch with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach. I listen to their podcast twice a week and love them so much! They’re so fun to listen to, and they speak about important topics. I’d love to sit down and have a conversation with them.

If you could inspire a movement, what would it be and why?

I’m actively trying to inspire people to see sobriety and living alcohol-free in a different way. I’m trying to lessen or eliminate the stigma of quitting drinking. In this country we are told that drinking is the answer to everything. We are told we have to drink when we’re happy, sad, and anytime in between. We’re never taught that there is another way. I want to make living alcohol-free cool, and normal. I create content on Instagram to entertain, support, and create a space to show people that it’s OK to be a non-drinker. Your life isn’t over when you quit drinking. I want to show people that you can live a full and happy life without alcohol, I’m proof.

Please list your social media handles so we can tag you.

Website: www.blairsharp.com

IG: @sobrietyactivist

FB: Blair Sharp - Writer