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 🙂

Evening all - just noticed that we are at 950 messages so may have to hop onto a shiny new berg before the month is out. Which would be good as that should get us onto February and beyond.

I'd be up for a dry Feb thread. Although I'm considering letting myself drink on 2 nights in Feb. It's still a reduction from every Friday and Saturday night.

Checking in for day 25. Still AF. Didn’t sleep well last night though, was clock watching and couldn’t switch off. Feeling tired now so already in bed. I’m definitely up for dry Feb too, as I don’t want to go back to drinking everyday again.

Also checking in 25/25 🐧
Got a busy week, which will go much better sober. I have a couple of social events, which I find so hard dry. I just find it a bit boring and I clock watch verses counting in my head how long it’s been since the last round and when it is socially acceptable to order another wine without raising an eyebrow or two.
I will get through it because it’s been so hard to get to this point I can’t ruin it. Positive attitude and all that!

I’m definitely up for a February thread. I may not be totally dry but I’m definitely up for damp!

The thread has really helped me. It’s great to not feel alone with the struggle.

I only started on the 3rd so it’s day 23 for me. And 18 of those have been dry. Not nearly as good as most of you but I have to say I’m pretty proud of that.

Evening all!
I've been out and eaten a ton (all you can eat PanAsian buffet, anyone? 🤮) No room for booze even if I wanted too.
Glad you stuck with us @mbosnz and my crystal ball, hewn from the ice of this very berg, tells me you'll be drier than the Sahara this Sunday!

Have now realised quite how awful the script writing is in Call the Midwife - things change a bit when you are 100% sober

Haha, yes - I guess booze does have some redeeming features @Cherrymix!

Well I've been a bit remiss with the percentages recently, so this evening sees us 81% of the way through! Yay!

I'll get a new thread up and running shortly.

Checking in on day 26. I slept the whole night, from the back of 11 until my alarm went off at 6.30. It's been so long since I last did that I actually can't remember when it was. Easily months.

Hope those struggling with their relationships find some peace this week. I am a single parent so no dh but I do remember when I did and things weren't working. It was a very hard time.

I am definitely on for a February thread, I'm not sure how I'll do, I would like to not drink at all if possible. I'd really like to get to 100 days but it seems so far away just now, I'll just take each day as it comes after January.

21/25 for me and that is SO much better than a typical month. Want to continue in some form in Feb. Feel good and saving money - what's not to like about that?

Day 26 and feeling positive about seeing out the month AF (hope I’m not jinxing myself by saying that!)

I have been mad busy this month so I think that has helped, as it feels like I’ve hardly had a moment to relax. When I look back at the past 25 days I feel very relieved that I wasn’t drinking, as I don’t know how I’d have managed to do everything that needed doing.

Well I've lost 3.5 lbs since 1st Jan. happy with this 😀

@vinoandbrie

Day 26 and feeling positive about seeing out the month AF (hope I’m not jinxing myself by saying that!)

I have been mad busy this month so I think that has helped, as it feels like I’ve hardly had a moment to relax. When I look back at the past 25 days I feel very relieved that I wasn’t drinking, as I don’t know how I’d have managed to do everything that needed doing.

You may have to consider changing your username 😁

Bored AF. How long to go now? I am fantasising about what I am going to drink on the 1st.

Bored AF

Love the ambiguity of that!

Have a good, dry AF evening, everyone. The end is in sight.

Night all. Day 26 done. Fingers crossed for some decent sleep tonight

End of day 26 and still AF. Partner had a bit of a wobble earlier but managed to stay dry!! Will be so pleased if we both make it to the end of the month without alcohol. Stay strong everyone, we’re nearly there.

Morning all 🐧
I was in the pub last night. I stuck to the zero alcohol menu. Although it’s undoubtedly becoming easier I do find I was also lusting after the white wine menu. And looking forlornly at those nursing a glass or two.
Another alcohol free weekend coming up and I’m going to struggle Saturday night as I’m meeting up with a friend who I haven’t seen for a while. Would be a shame to fall at the last hurdle so hopefully I’ll have the willpower to see it through.
Good luck everyone!

Inexplicably had a really tough evening yesterday, where suddenly I craved a glass of red. Decided to go out for a walk with the dog in stead and by the time I got back I felt a bit better.
This seems like such a long month....

I’m impressed at your willpower @CovidForChristmas. I’d really struggle if I was in the pub.

DH had a real gin last night. More than one! I had a ginger ale and then tea.

So pleased that he is not drinking wine as it does make it so much easier for me.

I'm writing this down to be accountable.

I'm going to keep going until 3rd February then I am planning on having a drink on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th then zero booze during the week and then repeating.

There. I'm now accountable.

@ThatsMe123

Inexplicably had a really tough evening yesterday, where suddenly I craved a glass of red. Decided to go out for a walk with the dog in stead and by the time I got back I felt a bit better. This seems like such a long month....

It really does feel like a long month. I have done Dry Jan a few rtimes before, but this month is dragging. I'm not massively craving wine but it does seem so sllllloooooowwwww.

One weekend to go. I'm feeling quite proud of myself for getting this far

It feels slow to me too. We have been avoiding too much contact with people due to high Covid rates and DC with mock exams plus loads of people I know have had Covid recently so this has meant very little socialising and nothing to do for a cheer up (would normally go to cinema or at least out for a meal or browsing round shops). Also working from home is boring and lonely.

The good thing about all this is that surely it can only be easier when the days start getting longer and sunnier - or is that going to make me start craving nice drinks in summer gardens.

Slog on penguins - the long March is almost over

In previous years I have penned a rousing song to celebrate the end of DJ. Not done anything this year so might have a go tomorrow or Sat to cheer us all up

27 days. Starting to feel the struggle more and more! I think this weekend will be the hardest.

Thursday to Saturday are my weak days. Really felt it earlier …

But push to get us through the weekend!

Ah, a slog it is indeed, but less than a week to go... of January, anyway. Still, even for those that are continuing with the dryness, getting through January is a major achievement and a good checkpoint.
You have got to share that song with us, @Cherrymix!
@spellingtest yes, now we know your intention you'd feel pretty embarrassed and a bit of a failure if you don't stick to it (sorry, a bit of tough love there!)
@CovidForChristmas going to the pub and managing to stay dry? That's some pretty hardcore willpower you've managed to develop there 👍

Well done everyone, and it's good to see you all posting and keeping us updated.

The end of today puts us at the 87% mark! Woo hoo!

I hit 20 dry days tonight. Not consecutive. But I’m pretty chuffed anyway.

We have friends coming for dinner tomorrow night. DH is cooking a chicken dish that calls for a glass of white wine. Normally that would be the green light for me to open a bottle but instead today I bought him one of the small bottles to use. I have put a bottle of white in the fridge in case friends want white but have kombucha for me.