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 🙂

And I'm pleased to announce that my cheekbones have reappeared and my eye bags are disappearing.

Thanks for the stats updates @HPLikecraft. I like achieving the milestones.

Another bad night's sleep for me last night. Woke at 4.15 and had to put an audiobook on low to relax enough to fall back to sleep. I've been out to fitsteps this evening and I hope that helps tonight.

Day 8 here, I've been so tempted by fags and wine, just currently having an argument with exH because he's decided that the first day he is out of isolation he will see his girlfriend rather than his kids...🤦
Oh well, drinking won't make him less of a twat.

I had another shit day at work but I've consoled myself with a huge bowl of M&S roast chicken and veg soup. Plus an apple for pudding. Actually feeling quite virtuous today. Although I had a small Milky Way mid afternoon.

Cruising into the end of day 10. Am a bit worried that Downton will run out before January does but plenty of good telly recommendations on here.

Am a bit worried we are all going to have square eyes by 31st.

Am maybe going to start putting together a photo book for DD birth

Birthday not birth!

@blackteaplease I’ve also done an exercise class tonight
I’ve seen this class advertised locally for weeks and weeks, so I decided to go. It was alright actually, will probably go again next week.
Hope it helps me sleep tonight.
I also managed not to stuff a whole box of chocolates, so that might help too…

Back on it tonight.

Busy day cleaning and washing etc. I’m going to Dublin tomorrow for ten days. My dad died in July and need to sort out legal stuff and house etc. It will be stressful and sad but easy to stay dry although I have a couple of nights planned that may involve drinking. Not stressing about it in the circumstances but planning on avoiding wine. But generally I’ll just be at the house on my own at night and won’t be tempted.

Tonight I had a sweet and sour apple juice I got in an advent calendar and after dinner I had tea and a couple of Celebrations.

@Peridot1 I'm sorry about your Dad.

@Peridot1 me too. Hope it's ok

This is only my day two as I started late, well done to all you lot into your second weeks! I'm just having a glass of elderflower sparkling water and watching an episode of the tourist before bed. Hopefully I drop off a bit quicker than last night!!

Thanks @honestogod and @polkadotpjs. I’ve been back and forth a bit since he died. Doesn’t get easier really. It’s shit. I have sisters there so I’m not dealing with it on my own thankfully.

Evening you lovely lot
Day 10 here and still going strong. For anyone that's doing their first dry January (this is my third) it gets easier every year.
I'm still peeing like a race horse at night - up three times again last night so I'm tired but can't sleep when I go to bed. Can't wait till I can sleep through.
TV recommendations - Maid on Netflix is superb.

Evening all. I'm in need of a huddle. Really wanted wine for the first time tonight. Had a bit of a bad day with Zoom meetings being very glitchy and then a client's dad had died of Covid and we get on well, so had a long sad chat about that. And I didn't get on with some work I need to finish for a deadline, or manage to fit in my run today so I feel grumpy and discombobulated.

Didn't have wine, btw. Had pomegranate and sparkling water.

@spellingtest - Isn't `Maid superb? I loved it. That little girl is such a good actress.

@hivemindneeded I just googled and didn't know that Alex is actually Andy mcdowell's daughter in real life. I love how they portray Maddie and Alex's relationship. I'm on the penultimate episode and absolutely loving it.

Just checking in at the end of day 10. Well done everyone, keep going!

Life is a bit rubbish here but I’m feeling virtuous about not drinking and am so far exercising every day, only did 20 mins today though.

Morning, day 11 and I had the worst sleep so far. My sleep hasn't been great for a long time but I had hoped it would improve slightly not drinking. Did an exercise class and started Arianna's (sorry not sure that's her correct name!) 30 day yoga challenge with a friend. I didn't get out for a walk as it's utterly miserable weather here still. Tried listening to a sleep meditation but it annoyed me more than relaxed me, maybe have to keep at it.

I'll keep plugging on in the hope that I eventually get a few straight hours! I find myself jealous of my dc, go off to bed and sleep soundly for 10 hours. I would probably cry if I got 6 hours 😂

I'm very sorry about you dad @Peridot1 but I'm glad you have family to be there with you when you are in Ireland.

Hope everyone has a great day

@lunklitdays sleep eludes me too. I sat up late last night watching TV in the hope I would be exhausted and able to sleep. Woke 3 times (needing a wee) and struggled to get back to sleep. If this is detox it's taking forever!
I'm longing for a few straight hours. I used to be such a good sleeper.
Dreamt so much too - including a dream about moving house and breaking dry January as I wanted to celebrate moving with wine. When I woke up I was so cross with myself - I've not been craving at all then I dream about the damn stuff!

Good morning all!

Sleeping better than I was when I was drinking, a lot less fitful, according to Fitbit. Still struggling to fall asleep before 12 though.

Morning all, well done on reaching the 1/3 mark! Or if you've managed any amount of AF at all, as we're not all on the same page. And especially if you lost the huddle but managed to waddle back in.

Morning everyone, day 11. Loving the congratulatory fish comment 🐟 😀
Still finding it harder to get to sleep but once asleep it's OK. Like some others have said (maybe on another thread) getting up in the morning is harder, I don't want to get up!! Luckily Im WfH so have time to spare, but what's that about I thought I was supposed to be 'up and at em' everyday?!
Well done everyone, enjoy the fish 🐡🐟🐠

Morning all
Day 11 here and I did sleep better. I knew it was the box of chocolates that messed it up (although doing some exercise yesterday probably helped).
The skin on my face is looking so much better. Less puffy and less patchy. It feels softer too.
Sorry to hear about your DDad @Peridot1. Hope the trip to Ireland goes well.

[quote spellingtest]@hivemindneeded I just googled and didn't know that Alex is actually Andy mcdowell's daughter in real life. I love how they portray Maddie and Alex's relationship. I'm on the penultimate episode and absolutely loving it. [/quote]
I know. I spent so many episodes thinking, 'Wow they really got a good likeness match for Alex and her mother' before realising they were related . And they so obviously loved acting together. I enjoyed watching Andie MacDowell let rip.

Thanks for fish! Can't believe we are 1/3 way through. Yay. Not fallen off the berg yet.