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'm thinking of doing it for the first time this Jan just to help with weightloss and save a bit of money.

Currently I drink about 4 nights a week but not to excess (usually a Guinness and / or a couple of glasses of red wine) so I'm not sure how easy / difficult I'll find it.

Any tips would be very welcome!

Welcome all newcomers, good to have you on board!

Yes, there will be plenty of tips along the way @ButtercupBlue, but one thing to do is come in here and tell us if you're struggling or tempted; hopefully at least one of us will be around to lend support and encouragement.

Good to see some returners, too 🙂

Keep those AF drink recommendations coming, everyone - haven't given mine yet; will do later - I'll make a summary in a few days.

T - 4 days now, I'm almost looking forward to it! (but not quite 😌)

Is anyone intending on a big blow out on New Year's Eve?

I'm working a 12 hour shift on New Year's Eve so when I come home at 7pm it'll be pyjamas, curry and plenty of red wine.

Then from midnight it's on the wagon for 100 days.

My DH and I have said if anyone mentions they are tempted to drink (as in either one of us at home) then they have to do a forfeit. We will not cave!

I'm in! I am planning to do 100 days too. I started the year well but have ended badly, drinking far too much. My mental health has been shit this year and I need a reset.

Looking forward to it.

Can I join too? Am really keen to do this, but don't think I can do it alone.

Are there two threads on this? I am sure I already joined one🤔

Yes, there are!
Thank God for that, thought I was cracking up 😁

Hello everyone, I'm in

I'm in.

I'm in too please.
After a couple of really difficult years, I use a glass of wine to de-stress and switch off in the evening but it's too regular a habit, I snack on rubbish after a drink and it affects my sleep.
DH gave up drinking last Feb and has managed Christmas drink free.
I'm impressed and want to show I can at least do dry January.
Thknk I'll need help though.

Penguin reporting for duty.

Have done it for years now. Doing it a bit differently this year though- planning on starting when I go back to work (10th Jan) and doing at least that half term, if not more. Shall see!

I’m in!

@Ratched

Yes, there are! Thank God for that, thought I was cracking up 😁

One in alcohol support and one in chat. Planning on joining both, so that there should be someone around to talk me out of it when I get a craving 😀

I'm in

Yep, I'm planning a big NY blow out (although most of the festive period has involved booze of some guise) of red wine and Chinese and then I will do 100 days.

Excited.

I managed 45 days last year but "conditions" were tough (working from home, home schooling x2 kids and I was only a few months on from losing my wonderful mum very suddenly)

This year I really, really want to see how I feel after 100 days. And I really, really hope to become a non drinker in 2022.

I'm in. I've been thinking about doing it for a long time as I drink every night, not to excess but still? I'm kind of worried about that it's becoming a crutch and that I won't be able to sleep. I'm trying to find tips and ways to develop a new night time routine to help avoid the "habit".

Please may I join?
Done so well during this last year, not drank half as much, making sure I stop early and have a cup of tea instead of a ‘ one last one’ before bed.
Skin clear, getting up early and out and about.
Now Xmas holiday is here after a few hectic weeks at work, and I thought stuff it, I’ve been good, time for a beer.
My body is feeling it. It’s like it’s saying ‘woah woah WOAH, what are you playing at?’ It’s like it’s gone into shock and I feel awful …..

I wonder if there is some connection with strong ginger helping to reduce alcohol cravings. I've seen it on a few threads now.

Me please! Regular drinking crept up about 3 Christmases ago when the good timez spilled into Jan then Feb... Now working from home means I don't have to drive in the morning so the mid week drinks kicked in and I've got a taste for strong cider and wine. DH the same. And I've got fatter. I am ready

That was supposed to be a disco ball! Bloody app.

Good to see the new "faces".

Just three more days left in which to indulge!

I'm also doing a chocolate and crisps free Veganuary, so I'm hoping I have enough willpower for everything. Last year though I managed Dry January but fell down on the crisps!

Interesting theory about ginger @FanGirlX ... I often have gingery drinks during DJ - a nice ginger cordial or slices of ginger in a hot infusion. I suppose it replaces a bit of the 'warmth' of alcohol.

The ginger I found was nice and fiery - the Sainsbury's one especially, that along with the sugar in the drink just gives it something a bit extra.
Those that are mentioning the 100 days, can guarantee you will notice a difference, my was clear skin and completely de bloated, was able to think clearer too. The great sleep, that came along much later for me, but at least I wasn't waking up hungover. We are all different and the benefit that come with not drinking will be too. The difference, for me anyway, between 30 days and 100 days was vast.

Count me in! This will be my third Dry January. Last year I even managed a dry 3 months as lockdown made it so much easier not to drink. I’m hoping to match that in 2022 or even improve on it.

Can anyone recommend a ginger drink? Not too sweet ideally but I like spicy/fiery.

Hi can I join? Been on a couple of DJs on here and enjoyed. It’s such a good reset. AF drink suggestion I saw on Saturday Kitchen was cold brewed earl grey, leave it overnight then drain and have with lemon I think- it’s very tasty.