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! 🙂☕️🧃

I did dry January 2 years in a row, but do not feel like doing it this year. Enough bad as it is.

Me please, I do it every year and I'm thinking that this year I might not start drinking again in Feb.
Well, we'll see on that I suppose but I'm definitely doing DJ
I'm normally a bit habitual rather than heavy in my drinking, I don't drink a lot in one go or get smashed regularly but I would happily have one every day
I can easily stop at one drink or have a couple of days off altogether, but if I have it in the house - I will generally drink it.
I'm getting to that age where even one drink is making me fuzzy the next day and on the occasions where I have a few drinks, I'm getting really ill from it.

Count me in too

Welcome one and all... it will be so much easier for all of us with all of you lovely people on board

Hi Plonque, same here. I could have written your post, except that I haven't tried DJ before.

I’m in. Have tried before. Never managed it though.

Have been drinking far too much. Coping mechanism. Habit. General love of wine.

Doesn’t help that DH is the same. And doesn’t want to stop. Although he says he will do a week off this time. Which will help.

I'm in!

Yep. I’ve got my app all set up as well.

The biggest tip I can give anyone (did 6 months from Jan 24th 2020 - shock bereavement, just had to stop. Unto end of June 2020) is to say “fine, I’d like a glass of wine, I’ll have one tomorrow if I still want one” rinse and repeat.

Oh and treats. Lots of treats. Buy that book/silk-pillowcase/lipstick/etc.

@Plonque I did dry November and never went back to it. It’s a relief not to have to choose what I want, how much to have and to always wake up with a clear head.

@hashbrownsandwich I am the same. Love to match wine to whatever we're eating and will be interesting to see if I can find anything else as good to match with food (probably not). I've done it before and not found it too difficult, just miss Friday night glass or two to celebrate the end of the week. Will have to figure out what I can replace that with.

Hello I will be joining you

To be honest I am worried about how much alcohol I drink. I dont drink to excessive amounts where I cant function but a bottle of wine each friday saturday and sunday night at least and the odd G&T on a thursday.

I want a clear head and try and loose weight and enjoy long walks with the pubs at 7am!

I'm in! I did it last year and felt fantastic. I continued to drink moderately and then I lost my mum in June and completely fell off the wagon. I've been drinking far too much since then and need to get a grip for the sake of my health. Hoping to go way beyond January.

@Passthewinebottle I like Heineken zero and ginger cordial with ginger beer, it packs a punch, I love it. I use to do things to distract myself, like having a bath, using a game app on my phone, doing a yoga session and reading.( today is my 300 days without booze birthday lol)

@PineappleCheesecake

I'm in! I did it last year and felt fantastic. I continued to drink moderately and then I lost my mum in June and completely fell off the wagon. I've been drinking far too much since then and need to get a grip for the sake of my health. Hoping to go way beyond January.

Sorry to hear this

Similar story for me, except I lost my mum very suddenly in September.

I've tried not to let wine become a crutch, I make myself have more dry days a week than "wet" but its been such a difficult time

I am going to seek some bereavement counselling in the new year. I need a different outlet.

@CountryLady1 I’m exactly the same. Have a few alcohol free days a week but weekends can be quite heavy and as a result unproductive.

I’ve done dry Jan twice before and managed it but then went out and got totally smashed on 1st Feb so it never really changed my mindset. Hoping to have a hit more long term success this time with reducing my intake over the rest of the year

@Crunchymum Thank you and I'm sorry for your loss too

Bereavement counselling sounds like a good idea. I may look into this too.

@Catsneezies well maybe we can offer eachother some pairings?
Meatballs minus red wine makes me a grumpy sandwich

Sounds good!

I do like apple juice mixed with ginger beer but it doesn't quite have the same celebratory feel as a lovely cold glass of white on a Friday night once I shut my laptop

I'm in - really need it.

Also in and have done it a few times as a reset. This year I'm hoping it'll help kick start weight loss given how much I've put on in lockdown! Preparation is key for me so I've bought a load of tomato juice and some interesting cordials.

I’ve also been drinking a lot more than usual because it’s Christmas and I’m not rushing around like I usually am.
I’d like to cut back generally and lose some weight!

I'm in please!
Third year running for me.
I feel so much better for it, but then slip back into my nightly glass (or two) of wine habit.
I feel so much more alert and chilled not drinking.
Going to try to extend it through Feb too.
But one step at a time.
I like Becks Blue too - and ginger beer.

Nice to see you all, welcome aboard!

Little bump here for the late crew

Hello, joining please. I’m actually hoping to quit for the long haul. I’ve done 6 months plus before, as well as two pregnancies, and felt so much better for it. Recently I’ve slipped back into old patterns of alcohol use that fill me with shame and guilt (not because I’ve done anything terrible, just because it knocks me so far off par) and I’m ready to just stop, potentially for good. Haven’t had a drink since Christmas Day so should be in a good place for this by Jan! Hi everyone 🙋‍♀️

Hi @FirsAndFairylights 👋😊