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 🙂

No alcohol cravings here. I'm expecting Thursday/Friday to he a test. Hope everyone else is doing ok

Day 2 almost over!!
I have a headache but no alcohol cravings at the mo. 2 days is the most I've done in quite a while so I'm feeling quite proud so far.
I've been using wine to relax and check out and it has to stop.
My dad died this year and my mum was diagnosed with dementia. It's shit but I can't hide away in a glass of wine - it's boring!
The irony is not lost on me that my dad was an alcoholic.
Good luck everyone!

Evening all. Checking in before my daily episode of Downton Abbey which should get me through quite a lot of DJ. I totally agree that finding a good binge watch helps although it has to be one that doesn't have too many scenes of quaffing giant glasses of wine (which seems to be de rigeur in many BBC dramas).

My biggest temptation is boredom, especially on long dark winter evenings. Am going to try doing some reading rather than doom scrolling COVID stats before bed.

I'm binge reading, rather than watching. I have developed a taste for truly naff, cosy mystery murders. . .

@HPLikecraft

Chernobyl is excellent.

I'm starting on the Tourist tonight, once I've got DD to bed.

@ApolloandDaphne also jealous you are going to see the Foos!

Checking in for evening 2. I am not tempted tonight. Just had a lovely roast dinner and jam sponge pudding. I think the sugar craving has hit because I've also been at the Christmas chocolates.

Day 1 completed - I’m in bed and there’s zero chance of my being bothered to go downstairs and get wine. Well done everyone

Day 2 here. Just made a tea pigs lemon and ginger tea. Not bad! Horrible nights sleep last night so hoping for a better night tonight. Christmas tree and decorations going away tonight.

@space21 - pretty much the same here. My mum died last year suddenly and my dad is pretty much like having another child to care for so I use wine to check out too. I miss my mum so much it makes me want to vomit and it just takes the edge off enough to give me a break.

Need to change my habit as it's getting to around 30 units every week split over 3 or 4 days now and I need to find a way to cope without it. Just too easy to polish off a bottle over the space of the evening.

Hot baths and jigsaws I find pretty helpful on the nights I don't drink. Am also making a pile of all my potions and lotions and determined to use them this month for a bit of self care nights.

Am hoping to see a change in my skin! It's dreadful and I know it's stress and booze. Have ordered a basket for next to my bed so I can have some early nights with my iPad and pamper myself a bit. Have also gained a stone in the last year so hoping I'll have more focus on eating better and feel more like going for a run!

On to tomorrow penguins 🐧

@Impatientwino I’m sorry about your mum. It’s really hard isn’t it. Your plan for a bit a of self care sounds good! I might do a bit of the same. I haven’t run since November as the stress and sadness sucked alll the strength and energy. I know it will help when I do get out there!

Evening all ☺️ just had a lovely dinner so I'm feeling very full, drank lots of water today,not even feeling like a drink which is something!

I'm in. I started today so nearly through day one . I drink everyday so really need to reset myself.

I'm going to look for the try dry app now if pp are recommending it.

See you all tomorrow!

Hugs to @space21 and @impatientwino. Losing a parent is hard.

I had a really hard couple of hours! Real anxiety and was desperate for a glass of wine.... had a hot bath and managed to come through tho. Hopefully tomorrow will be ok. I really need to do this

Please can I join. Hadn't planned to but not had a drink since NYE and fancy a reset!

Day 1 done for me!
Well done everyone. It takes courage to change ingrained habits especially in a stressful period, which it is for so many of us at the moment. We can do it!!

I've always done DJ but I'm another one who lost a parent (my mum, 15 months ago now) and I've found myself more and more reliant on the wine since we lost her. It was very sudden and unexpected and still takes my breath away when I think about it.

Not technically dry yet as I've had a champagne dinner earlier but I gave the last of my wine to inlaws so instead of more booze, I'm on the chamomile now

That's me done!!!

See you tomorrow so I can bemoan day 1 and be jealous of you all on day 3.

Can I join? Was sick as a dog yesterday and ashamed. Also realised it's ages since I did a day without anything. I need to find nice teas and get to a decent m and s for cordial

I’ll probably be drinking my favourite hot drink - lemon and ginger

I always forget hot drinks are an option! I will try to remember that for tomorrow. I had pink Fanta cut with sparkling water so it wasn't too sweet, with lots of ice. Refreshing. But I hit the chocolate mints left over from Christmas a bit too hard while watching TV.

Tomorrow I'll try to remember to line up a bit mug of herbal or fruit tea instead.

It's day one for me and has been alright so far, just decaf tea and hot chocolate this evening. I am hoping my DH will join too, but he has been drinking today so I think he might back out.

Sorry for all of you who have lost parents this year. That is so incredibly hard for you, I am not surprised you have ended up drinking more.

I don't really have any excuse, it just creeps up on me. I will probably be okay now until the weekend but will find Friday hard. Might try to go on beyond January too. Last year I decided to continue but only made it to mid-Feb, I think the lack of focus after January made it harder.

[quote FanGirlX]@HPLikecraft

Chernobyl is excellent.

I'm starting on the Tourist tonight, once I've got DD to bed.[/quote]
We started the Tourist tonight too. very mysterious! The cafe girl was a surprise.

Day two done. We've also been watching the tourist, it's gripping stuff.

Hope I can join in. I don't tend to drink a great deal but its been getting more regular

I've noticed in the past year or so since menopause alcohol really doesn't agree with me and I have a throbbing headache after a couple of glasses of wine. Anyone else notice that?

Hello you lovely lot. I've done dry January for the last three years and each time extended it. It's hard in the beginning but you get hooked on not drinking - I know that sounds nuts but it's true. I really need to do at least 100 days to reset though as 30 days isn't long enough for me to slip back into my harmful ways. Last night (day 1) I was tired when I came to bed but I couldn't sleep. Perhaps had 1.5 hours in total. Brain just working overtime. I hope I sleep better tonight. And for all the people that don't think they can do it, trust me you can. If I can do it anyone can.

Hello everyone, day two done, am really enjoying reading people’s telly and AF drinks recommendations! Am taking this month a day at a time.