Dry January 2020. A new relationship with alcohol. Who’s joining me?

[ParanoidGynodroid]

It’s that time again!
I did my first dry January around 5 years ago, having seen it on here. It was a great thing to do: really helped my get control of my drinking. Since then I’ve done it every year, along with at least one or two other dry months.

DJ may help you:
Lose weight. ...
Get better skin. ...
Make healthier food choices. ...
Save money. ...
Sleep better. ...
Have more energy. ...
Improve your mood. ...
Improve your general health

and make you feel virtuous!

It’s not necessarily easy though, so it’s good to have support; especially if you’re feeling week and like you may give up. We can support each other here.

Join me!

Who’s got Alexa or amazon echo? Let’s all ask it to tell you a joke and share the results, for a larf.

Oh this is disappointing!

I don’t have an Alexa, but I do have a good dad joke, only a tiny bit late with its Christmas theme.

What’s a dinosaur’s least favourite of Santa’s reindeer?

Comet

Ber boom tish!

Just poured a rose lemonade and have ordered a curry. Happy Friday night everyone

This evening is my first real test, want a drink more than ever. Bought some alcohol free lager from lidl on the way home and some nibbles. Lager in the fridge not tried it yet, can't remember the brand? Having a takeaway tonight and stuff it, I deserve it for staying strong and having a dry Friday night

Finding this evening difficult... agh. I can do this.

Thank goodness for this thread. DH has gone for a drink after work and I'm very jealous. I'm clutching my Becks Blue and reminding myself of fatty livers etc.

I've broken, new team went for work drinks and I've caved. 10 days done. I'll do another 10 until our anniversary on the 27th.

Over the danger point now. DH and I nearly had an argument, violently agreeing that neither of us was bothered by the thought of a drink tonight!

I have realised I want my new relationship with alcohol to make drinking the exception, not the norm. I'd like to be able to have a glass to celebrate something, and perhaps with a roast on Sunday evening, but not to be slinging it back "because it's the weekend".

I'm now in bed with a cup of earl grey rooibos and my book. Rock and roll!

nibedibble - that's your job application to AEcorn in the reject bin then . Brewdog Nanny State AF lager also tastes of grapefruit skin.

I was doing ok until DH came home, drank a huge beer, was horrible and grumpy to me and then I noticed he's got a bottle of wine too. Something I've really noticed when not drinking is how intolerant I am of DH being a little bit drunk (which he will be later if he drinks some of the wine). It will invariably involve him falling asleep in the armchair and me trying to get him to go to bed instead of snoring through whatever we are watching on TV.

It came as a bit of a shock to me last DJ when I realised how much our DC must have noticed it when I thought I was able to drink and still act sober.

Just got to hold onto that thought so that I don't cave in over the wine.

I think my main worry tonight was not that I wouldn’t be able to cope getting through it without my beloved red wine but that it wouldn’t feel like a Friday

But it’s been a nice night, DD’s went for their riding lesson, we came home, everyone in PJ’s, candles lit, music on, DH has just made a curry and I have a couple of Becks Blue which were surprisingly ok and now we are just about to get into bed with a drama on iPlayer...

No difference to how every other Friday night goes really accept I won’t wake up feeling anxious during the night and shit in the morning.

@GreyGardens88 I have that Lidl 0% and it’s so cheap and every bit as good as becks blue. Have you tried it yet?

I’ve had a posh can of new Tesco passion fruit lemonade. It comes in a pack of 4 x 250ml reminds me a bit of Britvic 55 (sort of lightly sparking) but only 10 cals. They had other flavours too and quite grown up. It’s not wine but it’s okay.

We watched Mrs Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children. I didn’t realise it was quite so scary so spent almost 2 hours worrying I was going to scar the children for life or give them nightmares so that was an (unwitting) distraction of sorts.

I’m past my witching hour now. Tomorrow is another day. I still can’t get past the mental image of myself on the 1st of Feb opening a bottle and throwing it down my neck like a cartoon person. I keep thinking this is so bad, that I feel like this, but everyone around me keeps saying ‘I couldn’t do dry January you’re so much more committed than me’ etc. But then I remind myself they probably don’t drink what I do?

Another evening done thanks to the wonderful tonic and bitters. I have found my salvation!

Yes - ten days done! Well done me and all of you.

I'm not really a regular Friday night drinker per se but I caught myself thinking 'could really go a glass of red' as I was making my Greek salad.

It was just a fleeting thought but it came out of nowhere as I've not been feeling the urge at all. I think it must be that association thing.

One glass would be the whole bottle so the cork has stayed firmly in the bottle(s). DH is not much for wine at home so no temptation from that corner.

Cup of tea after dinner and about to watch a film then straight to bed for me.

Well done everyone.

Well done, everyone! Friday night is nearly over. It will be so much easier for another week, I am sure.

I'll have to leave the thread - I've broken! Well done to all for continuing.

Am going to bed completely sober!!! What a change, on a Friday!

I was out with friends last night and saved around £25 off the bill, as they split the drinks separately. Then woke up knackered but at least not hungover at all! I have been drinking too much coffee though and adding in Coke Zero too. It's no wonder I never get to bed until after midnight.

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead

Nooo! Come back! Climb back aboard and finish off the month. It’d be such a shame to waste all your previous hard work.

I’m really fancying a cold glass of cava (or three) right now. Really got a craving.Just about to watch telly with DH, everyone else in bed. Would normally be cava and crisps time; tonight it’ll be Becks Blue and cheese. 😒

Don’t leave because of a slip. Start again tomorrow. think of all the good work you have already done!

@InvisibleWomenMustBeRead are you sure? I think quite a few on this thread have had a day off for work drinks/birthdays etc. Could you start again tomorrow if it's still something you want?

@InvisibleWomenMustBeRead

Do come back if you want to. I always think dry January is a step, perhaps a first step.

So if you made it til now then well done. And you can start again tomorrow if you want to. A few of us are on different days.

I made it a week the first time I did it, and thought there was no point after I had 'failed' But I think if I had had support like this thread then I might have tried again the next day.

So if by the end you can say that you only had a drink one day in Januar then, if you are anything like most (all?) of us on this thread that will be less than you would normally have. And that's a win I'd say.

Totally agree with the others, don't just leave because you have had a day off! Tomorrow is another day and there are still 3 more weeks of January. Also, some people deliberately plan that they will have a few days off for special occasions/nights out, and that's fine too .

Hello everyone, this is my first ever dry jan. No probs until tonight when I've been very grumpy about not having a wine. Hopefully it will pass