Booze-Free in DC’s Laura Silverman on the Zero-Proof Movement

Laura Silverman’s  mission is share the growing booze-free movement in the District with locals and visitors alike. Through her blog, social media presence and so much more, she shares the best of zero proof life in the D.C. area. Silverman talked to us about alcohol-free wellness and the power of fun exercise. Note: This interview is a part of our 20 Masters of Mindfulness, Movement + Connection roundup, which ran in our Winter 2021 issue.

Tell me about your journey and how it brought you to your current role.

I got sober in 2007. I didn’t intend on quitting drinking forever but I knew I needed help. Somehow it just stuck. Over time, I got more comfortable in my sobriety and living a life without alcohol. About eight years into my journey, I wanted to share my story more publicly and connect with others – especially those that had creative outlets, were not anonymous and celebrated multiple pathways to alcohol-free wellness. So I started The Sobriety Collective. A few years later, I got heavily interested in the boom of nonalcoholic beverages and wanted to be a part of spearheading the zero proof movement, both in D.C. and nationally. That’s how Booze Free in D.C. and Zero Proof Nation came to be. Now is the time to embark on a journey of sober curiosity. So many resources and beverages. It’s wildly exciting.

How are you practicing and prioritizing self-care, especially mid-pandemic?

In mid-March of 2020, when all sense of normalcy dissolved around us, I made the decision to move my body more. I knew I could easily pack on the pounds and disregard self-care practices if I did nothing. Choosing to view fitness as a celebration of my body rather than a punishment, I started walking outside more. I danced to Daybreaker LIVE events almost every weekend for six months. I found copious amounts of cheesy/fun YouTube dance workouts. And I rest when I need to. I don’t guilt trip myself into exercising just so I could use the calorie deficit to eat more. I take baths. I read. I’ve watched almost every show that ever existed. I reach out to friends and family via FaceTime. I stay hydrated. I sleep – a lot (and wake up hangover free, of course). It’s all about going back to basics and listening to our bodies and minds right now. 

What does self-compassion mean to you, and how do you incorporate it into your practice?

It means being gentle with myself. Of honoring how my body, mind, and spirit are feeling. The old adage “one day at a time” really means to “be here now.” You can’t live in regret of the past; you can’t live in anxiety about the future. All you can do is really have the present, the now. And sometimes it’s just a day at a time, a moment at a time.

Learn more at www.boozefreeindc.com, www.thesobrietycollective.com + www.zeroproofnation.com and follow @boozefreeindc, @wearesober + @zeroproofnation on Instagram.

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