DRY JANUARY 2021! This way please... all welcome

[HPLikecraft]

It’s that time of year again... the late Christmas present to our livers!

You may be thinking of doing Dry January to:

*detox a little after seasonal overindulgence, or
*help you cut down a bit generally, or
*help you start to get out of a harmful alcohol habit, or
*just be a bit healthier for a month...

It’s good for all of those things!

I find the MN DJ threads excellent for support, encouragement, sharing info,‘we’re in this together’ camaraderie, suggestions for grown up drinks, aversion techniques and just fun.

This is my fourth year of DJ and I swear it has made all the difference to me; it was so hard first time, but having succeeded I did dry June and October after that, and do so every year. It has broken my habit, banished the craving and reset my relationship with booze.

I won’t be finding DJ too difficult this year, but some will. Hopefully this thread will help.

Come climb aboard the wagon! 🙂☕️🧃

Day 2 has been uneventful, and being sick curbs any urges to drink more than tea. I'm very bored (kind of not sick enough to just rest, but too tired to do anything?) and have been reading various blogs and articles on DJ and quitting/reducing alcohol, which has been motivating.

A nice plus: I've just done an online food shop (somehow there were delivery slots available for tomorrow!), and it was a good deal cheaper without the usual alcoholic additions! I did order extra hot chocolate and some diet soda, but that's hardly extravagant.

My dh and I are doing dry January. Our alcohol intake was steadily increasing during the last year, to the point our Christmas wine deliveries were drunk well before the day itself.
We do have some wine left but that's out of sight so out of mind.
I was watching Saturday Kitchen this morning and they were tasting some low and no alcohol drinks. I'm interested to try this one www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/allnewyearsparty/everleaf-non-alcoholic-bittersweet-aperitif-50cl Has anyone else tried it?

These were the others they tried
Lucky Saint Unfiltered Lager Sainsbury’s, from £1.50

Fortnum’s Sparkling Rose Tea Direct, £16.95

Punchy Golden Hour Direct, £2.00

I'm going to treat myself to some Seedlip for weekends, but am sticking with herbal teas and cordial/fizzy water for my normal (i.e. standard non-drinking) days.

Already had a good night's sleep last night, and not drinking also reduced the number of hot flushes I get at night, being a Woman Of A Certain Age.

I'm told that Stryyk is a lovely fake gin. It's a bit cheaper than Seedlip and apparently is nicer.

I am glad I've lost track of time over the festive period as Saturday is always, always wine and takeaway evening for us. I can't even tell its Saturday today.

I can drink / not drink any other night of the week (to be fair it's usually drink as opposed to not drink ) but Saturday is "my" night.

Personally when I do dry periods I don't replace for non alcoholic versions - I don't find it helps in any way other than keeping me in the habit of having a glass on the go.

I find I need a week of early nights (always stay up a bit too late when I drink as I tend to wait until kids are in bed before 'opening up') and then I'm OK with getting on with life without booze!!

Well dinner is done and dusted, roast lamb which would normally be paired with a nice red wine. Instead we had some more of dh's lovely fruit juice mocktail blend, so we're doing OK so far this evening. Went to see my parents for a socially distanced visit yesterday, and bless him, dad handed me two bottles of wine he had left over from Christmas, because they won't drink them, and neither will my pregnant dsis. I've put them in a cupboard, rather than straight in the fridge, they will keep until February. Feeling quite proud of myself :)

Another joiner! I am a regular drinker - 4 or 5 night a week - and probably drink a couple of glasses of wine a night and more on the weekends. I have cut down over recent years due to sleep problems when I drink too much (menopause related no doubt).
I do look forward to wine o clock so this will be hard for me.
Last night was no problem as it didn't feel like a Friday night. Tonight I had a large glass of squash with ice (surprisingly delicious!) and a Heineken zero. We also ate earlier which was good, as once I've eaten I usually don't feel like carrying on drinking.

To those struggling, it does get easier.

I nearly didn't manage my first DJ. It was excruciating but I'm glad I stuck it out because it helped change my whole relationship with alcohol (which had previously been very unhealthy!)
Five years on, and with two or three dry months per year, I'm so much healthier, lighter and in control of the dreaded booze.
I shudder to think how I'd've been if I'd never done it.

@notyetamumbuttrying

I failed already and drinking leftover red wine 🥴 I'll start tomorrow when there is no unopened alcohol in the house! 😬

Your slate is officially wiped clean, and tomorrow you'll do so much better

My first DJ totally reset my relationship with alcohol and I've sustained that. Even though that first time, my (alcoholic) husband (now deceased) kept trying to derail me and got quite ratty about it all.

And of course drinking a lot less means that what you do drink can be nicer - if I want my favourite gin at £slightly ludicrous, I'll get some.

This is day 2 of DJ. I drank far too much during lockdown and over Christmas and need to take better care of my body and mind. Slept dreadfully last night but am determined to see benefits in a few weeks.

Day 2 for me. I've downloaded the Dry January app, and was ridiculously pleased to get my first badge ( can you tell I was a brownie many years ago )

Can I join too? Never managed a full DJ before but really need to this time.
Didn't drink yesterday and struggled (already) today, took my teenage dd out for a driving lesson. My nerves were shot and we were barely talking by the time we got back. Managed not to pour the wine but it was difficult!

Day 2 done. Really struggled to get to sleep last night. I hate the first few nights of being AF when sleep is elusive and you wake up feeling so shit you think you might as well have got pissed anyway. I know it gets better though. Got to hang in there

I've done DJ in the past and always find the first few days tough but then get into the stride of it and then (considering I'm an absolute lush) I find it much easier a week or so in!

Lots of baths and early nights which I really enjoy are a happy alternative. I try and use all the lotions and potions that build up in my toiletries cupboard. Self care feels long overdue.

I've always been a heavy drinker if I'm honest but this year though my drinking has been terrible. I always have 4 AF days a week but generally manage 30 units in the other days without really trying. Big tolerance not good.

I know why, my mum died violently and suddenly in February and wine just takes the edge off. However, it doesn't take it off for long and I need to find healthier coping mechanisms and I need to learn if I can moderate again.

Have eaten and now got a fizzy squash and am about to head to bed with a new magazine and a surf on Mumsnet.

Day 2 done

Ginger ale and some candied fruits for supper. Feeling great about this. Feeling more confident that my drinking was habit, I'd like a drink but I wouldn't call it a craving.

Well done everyone 👍

I'm also loving the try dry app, I set it for 7pm and once I've told it I haven't had a drink I feel determined to stick to it for the evening.

I'm on slimline tonic, but might try one of the AF beers mentioned here next weekend.

@lunklitdays I was giving my DD a driving lesson today too, so I feel your pain!

"Stop telling me what to do all the time, let me do it by myself!"

I’ve had a very productive day, although I am expecting to feel really ropey for a few days - always happens. I think it takes our bodies a while to stop sending compensating hormones to our brains!

I had a “drinking thought” at about 6pm, so I told myself “it’s just a thought, it will pass” and I had a slimline tonic. All that mindfulness stuff must be getting through at long last. 😬😬

Now in the bath and enjoying a glass of AF fizz. I know it’s only 8.15 but I’m past the witching hour so I’ve logged a dry day and got my teacup.

Day 1 (yesterday) was easy as had a lovely wintry walk and lots of tea and (quite) a few chocolates were just what I felt like afterwards.
Normally a weekend walk would be followed by a pint or wine in evening but it actually felt nice to so something different.
Today was a bit harder as was cooped up all day. Felt a bit of a craving around 5pm and was moping about.so took myself off for an early evening walk around town..fresh air and change of scenery really helped.
Agree with others that the fact it doesn't really feel like a Saturday helped.. I'm kind of expecting things to get harder this week after starting work again. However feeling quite positive I can do this!

@HPLikecraft I made the fatal error of telling her to look more carefully at junctions. How very dare I? Couldn't I see she was looking 'like totally properly'.
I'd honestly rather give birth than do this driving lesson shit.
Still day 2 done, tomorrow has to be easier 😂

Today’s been fine for me, although I may have eaten more chocolate than I would usually! Did a weigh in and selfie this morning so I can track changes, hopefully.

Glad I found you! Day 2 here.

Have done it before, took me a couple of years to crack it but did really well a couple of years ago and carried on for most of the year.

This year has not been good.. The lack of structure to the week due to working from home has been my downfall. And December a write off due to all our relatives sending wine presents for Xmas.

Anyway all Xmas wine now drunk or stored in cellar ( sounds grand but actually just a glorified cupboard). Wondering whether should put combination lock on door as I know how easy it is to give in to those sneaky subliminal thoughts on day 6 ish.

Checking out some easy viewing to distract myself

Evening all, how are we doing?
So, I've taken myself off to bed for an early night and trawl through MN. I have ginger beer!
I always take about a week to get used to not drinking - sleep will be disrupted, so I'm expecting that.
But I always start to feel better second week in. What surprises me the most is I feel far more chilled and relaxed not drinking.
Good luck all!

Day 2 done. One day at a time.