10 ways to unwind without hitting the bottle

Whether you're cutting out drinks or just cutting back, you can keep your spirits up without the spirits.

- By Scarlett Wrench

1 CUE UP A COMEDY

Laughing produces gamma waves, the same high-frequency brain waves generated during a solid meditation session, according to research from Loma Linda University in California. And the anticipation of a laugh can reduce stress hormones. Start with Seth MacFarlane's Star Trek spoof The Orville: New Horizons.

2 PLAY PICKUP

You may not miss the booze, but you'll probably miss the bar. Round up some fit friends and/or coworkers and schedule a weekly run, 5-a-side or lifting session. These activities don't require a ton of people to be enjoyable (unlike fielding a full touch rugby team) and allow time for what makes bars so great: conversation.

3 DO THINGS ON YOUR OWN

You'll do gardening and grocery shopping alone-so why not the fun stuff? Researchers have found that people who go to the movies, see a concert or visit an art gallery solo experience mental-health benefits similar to those of people who go in groups. Sounds like an excuse to treat yourself to a nice dinner.