Pauline, 71

“I think this has the potential to affect a good number of people in ways which will be really quite beneficial to their health”

Why did you choose to sign up to Take Five?

I find it helpful to have an external structure to focus me and it seemed to be something which would provide a useful framework. I’m ageing better than I thought I would have done – you know, if you’d asked me in my 20s, I would have thought I’d be ready for the knacker’s yard now! But I do love red wine and so for me, Take Five has provided an opportunity to try and change my drinking habits. It’s been too easy in retirement with more time and less driving around to have a regular glass of wine or two in the evening, so I wanted to change this and drink more water during the day. Take Five provided the motivation.

How did Take Five help with your goal?

I committed to not buying red wine for the house but said I could have a glass of wine out or with a friend. And I challenged myself to find nonalcoholic options that I like. Now, five months on, I am still drinking less alcohol and when I do have an alcoholic drink, I drink less, more slowly. So, it’s given me a chance to reset my habits and opportunity to interrogate how alcohol affects my body and mind. Now I feel I can make more active decisions on whether I want a glass of wine or not because I want to be able to function well.

How has this had an impact on how you feel?

It’s certainly improved the quality of my sleep and the quality of waking up: the thing that I thought was tiredness is lack of alertness. I live on my own and you can get used to the fuzziness around yourself. You know, when I was younger, I knew when I drank too much because the tip of my nose used to feel numb. I used to really notice this whereas as time goes on I might notice, but take no notice, so Take Five helped me get back into the space of noticing small changes again.

Did you know anyone else taking part?

Yes, I told a friend in Manchester about it who chose movement and we chatted on the phone throughout (she is still doing her walking and has bought some of the non alcoholic drinks I have recommended). 

Did you learn anything taking part?

I learnt bits but I think its major function for me has been a focus, a structure at a time that I needed it, where you're being very clear about what we could do to make a difference. So, it reminded me that I can get a grip. It’s built my confidence to know I can act and change my behaviour to improve my health.

And, lastly and importantly, did you enjoy taking part?

Yes, it came at the right time for me and has made a difference. I was impressed by the range and the scope of information which you were you were presenting, and I like things which kind of meet you at the point that you are at as opposed to the point where they want you to be. The messages were always very positive; you didn’t presume that we were decrepit but instead capable and didn't talk down to participants. As a black woman, sometimes I see things, and I don’t relate to them or I don’t see myself in the representations but this wasn't the case for Take Five. I'm just very glad that you've done it.