DRY JANUARY 2022! Been overindulging? Drinking crept up? Want to begin a healthy new you? 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 fifth 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 most years. It has broken my habit, banished much of the craving and reset my relationship with booze. I imagine it's added years to my life.

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

Throw your hat in the ring, pull up a chair and let's do this together. 🙂☕️🧃

The DJ2022 Wagon creaks to a start in just 5 days, but always stops for latecomers 🙂

I always do Dry January but the plan this year is to do 100 days, with the view to stopping altogether.

I look forward to resetting my habits, losing a bit of weight (I am very fat so a stone drops off quite easily, I need to loose a lot more but its a start) having better sleep and generally being a bit more balanced.

I've decided on 100 days as January never fully resets my habits. I'm hoping 100 days will give me a true picture of how happy and fulfilled without the wine!!!

Sorry that should read
How happy and fulfilled my life can be without the wine.

• I've not been on the wine already today

Welcome aboard@Crunchymum!

I too need to lose weight.

100 days sounds good. I may try that, too!

Checking in so I don’t lose you! I have done it the last 4 years I think- and it will be desperately needed by Jan 1st!
Ps are we still penguins??

Signing in!

I'm in!

Good to see you all 🙂

Please remember to post your recommendations for AF drinks 🙂

I'll join. Whereas I've never had a problem with alcohol, I'm increasingly noticing how much alcohol hates me. I had all of about three units yesterday and am still feeling utterly wiped this afternoon. Not worth it.

As you can probably tell from my user name I don't drink🤣 I use to, alot, wich is why I gave up, there was another thread on a different board i use to check in with wich I found really helpful. I'm 21 months now AF.

Anyway I came on to give my AF drink recommendations. I love Heineken Zero. Nozzecco and a couple of other brands similar to that one, Im really like the tins of Gordon's no gin and tonic. When I first stopped, for a long time I loved ginger beer, the hot stuff, or ginger cordial topped up with ginger beer and a slice of lime. Now I drink alot of tea, though not in the evenings.

Good luck everyone, you'll really notice a difference in yourselves I think, whatever the reason/amount/cut down you want to change for.

I joined the DJ thread last year. Am still dry.
For anyone doubting themselves, hovering, wanting to but think they can't- please give it a go.
I never, ever thought I would get past day 1, but I did and I am in no doubt whatsoever that I couldn't have managed it with the help and support on here.

I'm nearly at my 1 year and forever grateful to all those who helped me through those early days (weeks and months)

If I can do it - anybody can.

I'm in! I think it's been 5 years for me too, I'm an original penguin. Last drink will be Friday then I'm on the wagon.

I'm doing 100 days from 1st January. I'm a daily drinker purely by habit and it's the only vice I have. I know this is going to be one hell of a challenge!

Lovely encouraging posts, @Hepzibar and @Positivelysober thanks so much for those. Good to see it is possible to kick booze's arse, and how beneficial it is to do so.

And thanks for the drinks recommendations!

I’m in. This will be the 4th year I’ve done DJ, each year has been easier and easier. But by the end of the year im back to really bad habits. Hoping to really reset my relationship with alcohol this year.

I'm in. Serial dry January lurking penguin and I desperately need to reset a horrible habit. I say the same every year so there's that but I really do enjoy DJ each year. This year after DJ my intention is to cut right back from Feb and have at least 5 days AF each week and if i don't manage that then I will start again 1st March and attempt the 100 days.

I like the fever tree Mexican lime soda in a wine glass and a sparkling AF wine called Noughty which I found on Amazon. I only drink dry wine so I find all the AF a bit sweet really but it got me through a party when I was tempted to drink and it was fine.

Little bump for the evening crowd

Obviously yesterday's evening crowd are a bunch of unashamed boozers as they didn't want to join us! Join us now, there's plenty of room on the wagon.

Anyway, for the rest of us and newcomers here are some hopefully helpful links. Why do Dry January:

alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january/why-do-dry-january-1/why-do-dry-january

www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/health-matters/health-and-wellbeing/the-benefits-of-a-dry-january

Also, it is very helpful to use an app, such as Try Dry to help you keep going and track your progress 🙂

I am so in! I'm actually excited to do it, this year. DH is doing it also.

They're working up to it @HPLikecraft you've planted the seed

I'm in! Looking forward to it. Think this will be my third year

Checking in. Will be starting in 2nd Jan though, so will add an extra day on the end.

Can I join in please?
I am desperate to lessen my alcohol intake. I end up having something every evening and start every day planning that I won't. A glass of wine with dinner or spirit plus mixer watching tv. Not excessive amounts but consistent. I'd like to get to the point of AF days as a norm.

I enjoyed it so much last year that I've done Dry July and Ocsober too. It's a great reset and ties in nicely with my health kick - I really need to lose a stone, ideally a stone and a half, so I'd like to aim for 100 days as well.

The first weekend is the worst for me, as I'm so in the habit of after work wine on a Friday.

I'm not too keen on AF wine. I like ginger beer or sparkling elderflower with a slice of lime. I also like clipper lemon and ginger tea, as it has a good ginger kick. I've also found a bedtime tea I like - dragonfly night sky calm, it has valerian in it so helps with sleep.

I'm doing this for my physical and mental health. I need to find a healthier way of relaxing. Whether that is online yoga, or reading again. I used to be a book worm but barely read now - blaming drinking (as I'll just watch easy stuff on tv instead) and social media.

I’m in