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! 🙂☕️🧃

That's true, Plonque. I'm thinking of having a Heineken Zero on a Friday night.

Day one for me. I'm having green tea. My craving will be later on at dinner time, when I usually have a drink.

Day 3 today. I think I had the best sleep in months last night.

I have downloaded the dry January app and joined The Naked Mind although not delved any further into it.
I'm a bit like @TartanTed in that comes Thursday I'll be wondering where my treat glass cough I mean bottle of vino is

I'll save my AF beer for then

Day 3 here, just checking in as there's a lot to catch up on and I haven't done it yet - it's good to see that this thread is so popular and that's fabulous motivation in itself! I'm still doing ok. The first time I did this last year it was really hard and I frequently had to negociate the wish to have a drink, but this year so far I'm fine. Last night I briefly missed it when I was cooking, I like to play music and have a glass of wine whilst cooking - it's as close as I get to a night out these days (re my lifestyle, not re covid!), but I just put the music on and went about the meal prep. Made an amazing tray of enchiladas! I return to work tomorrow and negociating the end of the work day will be a thing but I'm not concerned.

I completely agree about not replacing booze with 0% drinks, but realise it works for some people.

For anybody tempted to buy the alcohol free spirit Caleno from Sainsbury's- it's £18 and comes in a classy looking, colourful bottle, they say it's supposed to go lovely with a tonic and ice ....
I say £18 for a bottle of what tastes just like elderflower cordial is a bit steep and to just use elderflower cordial 🤣 in fairness to Sainsbury's they took it back and refunded me even after I'd opened it and tasted it

I have the Try dry app too, I like ticking off the days! I can't believe how much I think of having a drink though, scary. I had some tonic water with lime to drink last night , I put it in a wine glass and had my usual nibbles so didn't feel like I was depriving myself. 31 days seems hard when this is only day 3 but I will do it.

Hi all also day 3 like many here. Slept quite well but still exhausted in the mornings.. Wierdly. I feel I have the rage with my H though every little thing he does is annoying me. Also gave up smoking 7 weeks ago and have put on so much weight but eating everything in sight! Sigh at least I'm not drinking the empty cals hey... And dry Jan app is brilliant I also love ticking off the days!

Doing ok here. I’d love to do 2 or 3 months but don’t know if I can 😬 You read about these people who’ve done a year, 2 years, 3 years sober but that can never be me 😩 The most I’v ever managed is 69 days. One day at a time...

Haha Ynwa I have that app too. Ticking off the days is weirdly addictive isn’t it? Almost as addictive as alcohol! It has really helped me, this will be my 3rd dry January.

I'm in. Feeling a bit grumpy today and I did wonder if it was because I'd not had a drink for a couple of days! Got into the habit of at least one, often two or three glasses of wine over Christmas and want to knock that on the head.

Evening all. Day 3 going well. I stayed up far too late binge watching the Serpent last night and then woke up at 10. Luckily no mum taxi jobs today.

Back to work tomorrow. Fortunately my kids are older so home school not much of an issue. However in the summer they missed exams and did loads to help round house but now the novelty has worn off and they claim to be too busy studying to do anything

Day 3. It's fine. I feel pretty shit, but not from lack of alcohol. I've had the passing thought of how nice it would be pour a bit of something stronger into my hot drinks, but nothing but passing thoughts, really.

I have the Try Dry app, too. I wish there was a way to calculate savings based on supermarket booze prices. My drinking has never been pub-based.

InTheseUncertainTimes There is. When entering your daily data, if you choose “drank” there’s an option at the top to choose “shop bought” or “pub/restaurant”.

Apart from making their own lunches/ snacks and filling house with plates.

I have found AF drinks help with DJ and are so obviously not alcoholic that they don't perpetuate a drinking habit. But everyone needs to just do what gets them through.

Also agree that AF gin substitutes are expensive and disappointing. Am impressed by Sainsbury's refund. I'm trying to save money too so sticking to water and trying to eat more fruit instead of resorting to crisps.

I'm certainly with everyone saying Friday will be the first real test.

Feeling more energetic and positive already but I'm also taking vit D, B12 and multi vits which I started just after Xmas as I felt so crap and low. Probably a combination of the two but not fussing for a drink at all even though DH has some wine on the go.

Which apps are people using? I've done 3 days I didn't think I'd get this far.

RaisinsRuinEverything I haven't been drinking, though. Just wanted to set the baseline. Can't find an option like that, but after a more careful look, it seems I can just put in a sum of my own anyway, so my moaning was uncalled for.

Xmascardcrap - the one I'm using is just called Try Dry. It's a free app specifically for Dry January.

I am also using the Try Dry app @Xmascardcrap .

Try here too.

Having a tonic and ice before dinner, still using the nice Christmas glasses - makes it feel more of a treat.

I'm irrationally grumpy this evening, I've had the kids all day, while dh has had a day to himself, and I'm tired, sick of noise and mess, have a mountain of laundry to do, and I'm in pain from an ongoing hip problem. Just fecked off with it all. Normally I'd go for a hot bath and a glass of wine. I'm resisting, but the temptation is definitely there.

That's dinner over with so I'm out of the danger zone. Day one done!

Feck I want wine. Back to work tomorrow and I'd normally sink most of a bottle of wine to numb the idea.

I'm also trying to not fall head first into Christmas chocolates as a diversion.

Reminding myself of my last 2 nights of crappy sleep meaning I need to do this. And of the extra Christmas weight that I know from experience will only go by cutting out the alcohol.

But tonight it's all just a total pain!!

I am relieved to hear some of you saying you feel grumpy, my husband is getting right on my nerves! Everything he says is annoying me.
I'm really chuffed with myself on getting, almost, through day 3.
The test for me will be tomorrow, back at work, always call for a bottle of wine on way home, worried about it tbh.

I usually get grumpy on the third day, Hepzibar that's usually how long I last...