I need a beer - but trying to do dry Jan

[OldSpeclkledHen]

First world problems.

How do you break the habit?

You don't NEED a beer. You WANT one and that's the difference. Mind over matter.

For me, same glass but AF drink. Don’t have the first one. One step at a time.

Do something else.....the feeling will pass

Alcohol free is your friend.

In the meantime do something to distract yourself.

I am also doing dry January and today was the first day I missed a post-work drink.

Make a cup of tea instead.

I really want one too but also doing dry jan. Never done it before. Last night I imagined a beautiful pink gin and lemonade, savoured the smell and the taste and then moved on with my day.

We've got this!

Why do you feel like you need a beer? Try and identify the trigger (bad day? Good day? Tired? Energised?) and then recognise the feeling of need, and let yourself make the choice - do I have a beer, with the resultant consequences? (Breaking dry January on day 5) or do I decide not to have the beer.

You have a choice, your call.

Beck's Blue's are my best friend when I'm swerving alcohol!

Brewdog do a lush alcohol free Punk IPA

@Letitsnoooow then I'd have 79 billion biscuits with it 😂😂

You're right everyone, it's just habit 😳 am drinking water 😩

Might have to purchase AF beers

Thank You- just needed to tell someone 🙈

Heineken AF beer is a good 'n, just takes like a light beer. Thoroughly recommend it!

Sitting here with a hot chocolate with a wee cheeky shot of Bailey's as it's freezing outside.

Make a cup of decaff tea, put your PJ's on and go to bed. Seriously. You can read, watch Netflix etc. in bed, but GO TO BED. It will fool your brain - going to bed = no more alcohol.

@User48751490

Sitting here with a hot chocolate with a wee cheeky shot of Bailey's as it's freezing outside.

See, that's unhelpful and unnecessary. Do you have an alcohol problem @User48751490? There is help out there, try the alcohol addiction boards here on MN. We're a friendly lot, no judgement. Come and be welcome.

I've got some fancy canned drinks in the fridge. Sometimes you just need the cold fizz of something. It doesn't have to be beer but I like to have the crack of opening something!

Currently working my way through some kombucha.

Try the 'rule of 30' - useful for any craving. Wait 30 minutes and see if you still have the craving - usually it's passed by then, or you've got distracted and forgotten about it - but saying 'wait 30 minutes' is much more manageable mentally than rather than 'all day' or 'all night.,

When I'm abstaining I just go to bed really early, it does make me a right boring cow! Friday night will be s trigger for me so I've booked squash with D's directly after work (to avoid 5pm witching hour) then I'm doing a restorative yoga class until 9.30, by the time I get home will be bath and bed.

Alcohol free beers are excellent. They’ve got me through 3 years of sobriety. And all the other AF copies of alcoholic drinks. I’d have struggled just drinking water or fruit juice.

If you do actually NEED a beer then you shouldn’t have one

No alcohol problems fortunately, but problems feeling warm (thyroid issues) which was why I had some hot chocolate with Bailey's. A very small measure. I can't tolerate alcohol well.

I agree with others though, going to bed early ideal if avoiding food or alcohol in the evenings. I do this when avoiding food

Wow.