Sober October, your way

2 MIN READ

SEPTEMBER 2026

Want to drink less, stay mindful or hit reset? Sober October is a low-key way to try small changes and feel the difference.

Looking for more? Find other articles below

What’s your goal?

You may have heard of Dry January. Sober October is similar — it’s a time to pause and think about your drinking. Your Costco benefits include Pelago, a confidential digital program available at no cost. Pelago supports a range of goals: Drink less, take a break or just understand your alcohol use better. Quitting is always your choice.

One low-pressure approach is mindful drinking — paying attention to when, why and how you drink. It works well if you’re not looking to quit but want to be more aware of your habits.

Look for patterns

Think about your last drink. What was going on right before it? Try noticing patterns, like:

The hours or days you tend to drink
What’s usually happening first, like winding down or being with a group
How you feel after drinking, that night or the next morning

Often, that awareness is mindful drinking.

Try changing 1 thing

Once you see your patterns, change 1 small thing to see how it feels.

You could try:

Sipping a drink instead of finishing it quickly
Waiting before you have another
Skipping alcohol on work nights for a week
Swapping 1 drink for a nonalcoholic option

Then ask yourself:

Do I have more energy or feel better?
Are mornings easier?
Am I more present at home?
Do I better understand what helps me relax and what doesn’t?

It’s not about changing everything at once, just understanding what you’re currently doing.

More support through Pelago

Pelago has tools like tracking and guided exercises to help you explore different goals. You can also talk things through with a coach or counselor by chat or call, 24/7 through the Pelago app. It’s all fully confidential.

Pelago is free to employees and family members ages 15+ enrolled in a Costco medical plan. Learn more at pelago.health/costco.

2 MIN READ