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Original poster

DRY JANUARY 2023! Been overindulging? Drinking crept up? Want to begin a healthy new you? This way please. All welcome!

992 replies

HPLikecraft · 28/12/2022 20:17

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 sixth year of DJ and I swear it may have saved my life; 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. Everyone welcome 🙂☕️🧃

The DJ2022 Wagon creaks to a start in just 4 days, but always stops for latecomers 🙂

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
pollyannaperspective · 09/01/2023 20:49

Quick salute to all on whatever day of your DJ you have under your belt.

Have recognised a trigger and avoided the petulant glass of wine that might have followed. I don't have a DH problem, but very rarely DH can push my 'f* it' button. I saw it coming, said my piece, not saying anything is what results in the wine, and moved on to a glass of tonic. That hit the spot, I feel better for not giving in, so Day 9 done for me.

Best of luck Pointythings with the interview tomorrow.

pollyannaperspective · 09/01/2023 20:51

Quick salute to all on whatever day of your DJ you have under your belt.

Have recognised a trigger and avoided the petulant glass of wine that might have followed. I don't have a DH problem, but very rarely DH can push my 'f* it' button. I saw it coming, said my piece, not saying anything is what results in the wine, and moved on to a glass of tonic. That hit the spot, I feel better for not giving in, so Day 9 done for me.

Best of luck Pointythings with the interview tomorrow.

TheZeppo · 09/01/2023 20:57

@Cherrymix waves a flipper- I think I was part of that great year too!

Im aiming for the whole year. Which is 2% done 😁

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
TheZeppo · 09/01/2023 20:58

@Cherrymix waves a flipper- I think I was part of that great year too!

Im aiming for the whole year. Which is 2% done

MeinKraft · 09/01/2023 21:45

Sodding fed up today, running out of money fast and still a long time until payday, and car giving me problems too. I was so tempted to turn to wine but didn't (just turned to food instead hah)

Hedjwitch · 09/01/2023 21:47

Made it. The Rig is crap so catching up on His Dark Materials which is much better.
Hope I....and everyone else ...sleeps well tonight

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 09/01/2023 21:50

Stickywhitelovepiss · 09/01/2023 18:34

Also a bit grumpy today - and am reminded how much I use wine to deal with work stress!

Completing my Try Dry app at this time each day gives me a little bit of a boost though.

Same here!!
V stressful day, tempted but didn't buckle. Tea and toast instead and I was able to update my app too 🥳

freshstart2023 · 09/01/2023 22:11

WheelofLife · 09/01/2023 20:20

I know. What we’re doing is really difficult. You’ve done amazingly well so far. It’s worth doing the whole month. Although I didn’t manage the entire DJ last year (!) but even a few weeks left me with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Sometimes I’d find myself with a glass in my hand and realise I wasn’t even enjoying it, and that I could have one or two drinks instead of six. They say the first two weeks are the worst. It’ll get better and easier for all of us

Show quote history

Thank you for the encouraging words. Interesting to hear that about the first two weeks as well.

I'm off to bed in a minute so can safely say that day 9 is done and dusted for me. Well done to everyone who's had a stressful day but resisted temptation!

Acinonyx2 · 09/01/2023 22:29

Stressful Monday at work - managed not to buy gin on the way to the bus - managed not to pick up gin driving home from the car park. Despite utterly craving G & T therapy. Major achievement! One whole day more.....

Not sleeping too well though. I think that gets worse before it gets better.

Cherrymix · 09/01/2023 22:49

Evening all. Am home and knackered after a day of driving DC back to uni and visiting friend who has been unwell. Very tempted to pick up some wine on way home but resisted it.

Did crack on the veggie front though with a chicken sandwich from motorway services.

Waves flipper at @TheZeppo at @the

Cherrymix · 09/01/2023 22:55

Sorry that should just say @TheZeppo .

I was the song writer with GCSE DC. I remember you well. Am definitely on for trying to beat my record

Original poster
HPLikecraft · 10/01/2023 07:26

Morning all. Well it's dark, cold, blowing a gale and the heating is taking its time to do anything chez Likecraft this morning, but I'm up, reasonably well rested and not hungover.
I thought I was acing this until I saw a cold bottle of Pinot Grigio in the fridge last night that DH had put there. Still, I resisted temptation and remained firmly on my seat in the wagon!

We finished nine days (hopefully) so that takes us to
29%
of the way through! Nearly a third!

I'm so proud of you!

OP posts:
Greatly · 10/01/2023 07:36

Well done all!

I'm still dry and not finding it generally very hard. I did go up to visit my sibling at the weekend which was an almost 6 hour return trip - they've had major surgery due to alcohol related issues - and weirdly that was the only time I wanted a glass of red (weirdly because they are still very ill and you'd think it would put me off alcohol for life). I was tired and a bit low so would normally reach for a glass to 'ground me'. But I had an AF beer instead and by the time I'd settled on the sofa I was fine.

Someone up thread said save the AF alternatives for the nights you would normally be drinking which I think is fantastic advice so I'm saving mine for Thurs/Fri/Saturday.

I'm also now trying to lose 10lbs so can't even eat cake or sugary things 😭😭

Sunshineesther · 10/01/2023 07:38

Apologies if this post is familiar
I posted in the freedom thread instead of this one but I guess it's relevant to both and it is early morning!
I started DJ a little later so this is my day 8.
I have been managing fine with apps/ early bed/reading posts on here, and was just thinking that I could be a weekend drinker after DJ, just a couple of glasses~even though I have tried to moderate a million times before~but then yesterday something minor upset me
I didn't drink but I ate and ate and ate.
Considering I am trying to lose weight and have currently lost 2 stone just by choosing what to eat and when it made zero sense.
I wasn't enjoying the food and I ate it in ridiculous proportions.
I wasn't hungry.
It was a timely reminder that I lose control too easily and definitely wouldn't have stopped after a glass of wine.
Onwards and upwards

Greatly · 10/01/2023 07:42

pointythings · 09/01/2023 20:09

I'm feeling a bit bleh tonight because I've just shipped the last of the DC back to uni, so it's just me again. Always a bit of an adjustment before I start enjoying it again.

But I have a job interview tomorrow and am looking forward to that, plus some social events in the calendar. All will be well, herbal tea beckons.

I hate those first few days when they are gone. Taking dd2 back tomorrow 😭 I forgot that taking them back after Christmas in their first year is the hardest. It's been lovely having her here, shes great company for me and for poor old dd3 who will be lonely when she's gone. I won't miss her bottle of rose sitting in the fridge mocking me though!

OneFrenchEgg · 10/01/2023 08:26

Is it an NHS Drink Free Days one people are using? Rather than a specific DJ one? I've set a target of 3 drink free days a week (aiming for all of them in DJ to be drink free) and will carry on for the year I think.

Stickywhitelovepiss · 10/01/2023 08:39

I use Try Dry.

Struggling to concentrate at work atm. I wonder how much of my previous vigour and drive (to the point of self-flaggelation) has been facilitated by the promise of a giant glass or red as reward at the end of the day...?

At sixes and sevens without it!

freshstart2023 · 10/01/2023 08:54

I slept well again last night and when I woke up I had a bit of an epiphany.

As we all know, DJ is about more than just getting to the end of the month then reverting to old habits. It's about re-evaluating our relationship with alcohol for the long term, learning how to manage cravings when they do arise and lots more.

My physical cravings didn't last that long after 1st Jan, but it's the mental side that I found very difficult and continue to struggle with. At certain times my mind seems to scream and shout for a drink and it's a huge battle of will power to ignore those thoughts.

This morning though I think I came up with a solution. Up until now, whenever I think about alcohol I almost always focus on the good things that come with it - escapism, a warm fuzzy feeling, confidence in social situations and a nice taste.

But what I need to do is start focusing equally (if not more) on the negatives. I need to remember that after having a few drinks, I will feel lethargic, tired, like I can't be bothered and like everything (cooking dinner for example) is more of a struggle. I'll also be far more likely to row with DH.

Then if I carry on drinking, the next morning I can expect to feel hot, sweaty, tired, light-headed and anxious, with a banging headache, dry mouth, memory loss, paranoia about what I might have said the night before, racing heart and nausea. I can also expect the day to be a write-off because I'm too hungover to do anything beyond going through the motions.

I think reframing my thoughts around drinking to focus on the negatives that alcohol brings (which actually far outweigh the positives from my list above!) could really help me.

freshstart2023 · 10/01/2023 08:57

Also, congratulations on reaching day 10 everybody. It feels so good to be in double digits at last.

Els1e · 10/01/2023 08:58

Nearly a third of the way through. Keep going, we’ll be over the halfway hump soon. I’m sleeping better and have lost 5lbs since the 1st. Delighted with that as not really changed eating and have still been mopping up the last of the Christmas chocs etc. Still waiting for fabulous skin but maybe at a couple of months off 60, I’m being a bit optimistic. 😁

freshstart2023 · 10/01/2023 08:59

Keep going, we’ll be over the halfway hump soon.

When we get over the halfway hump I think I'll finally start to believe that I might actually be able to do this.

Spirini · 10/01/2023 09:35

Well done everyone, it's so helpful to hear about everyone's DJ journey.

I'm definitely chirpier and more productive but getting out of bed is still a major struggle for me. I don't think it would ever be easy, I'm just not a morning person and never have been!

I also agree with keeping the nice AF drinks for the weekend, I'm only having Coke Zero, so nothing fancy, but I need to keep it relatively 'special'.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 10/01/2023 09:37

Envious of those of you on double digits! I'm only 1 day behind but 10 seems much more impressive!

I'm finding this is getting easier now that my default isn't reaching for wine every night. That said my main triggers are my teen DDs MH issues (she ended up in hospital between Christmas and NY - I had 3 bottles over the next 2 days) and it's been a relatively calm start to the year.

The true test will be when the next thing happens and if I can remain level headed. That said I am still really pleased that for now I am not missing ir nightly nearly as much as I thought I would.

I think @freshstart2023 that's a really good thing to do.. 'playing it forward' - I have found that really helps.

Have a good day everyone and great news on the weight loss for some too. I think I have slightly but not weighed as yet.

MeinKraft · 10/01/2023 10:13

freshstart2023 · 10/01/2023 08:54

I slept well again last night and when I woke up I had a bit of an epiphany.

As we all know, DJ is about more than just getting to the end of the month then reverting to old habits. It's about re-evaluating our relationship with alcohol for the long term, learning how to manage cravings when they do arise and lots more.

My physical cravings didn't last that long after 1st Jan, but it's the mental side that I found very difficult and continue to struggle with. At certain times my mind seems to scream and shout for a drink and it's a huge battle of will power to ignore those thoughts.

This morning though I think I came up with a solution. Up until now, whenever I think about alcohol I almost always focus on the good things that come with it - escapism, a warm fuzzy feeling, confidence in social situations and a nice taste.

But what I need to do is start focusing equally (if not more) on the negatives. I need to remember that after having a few drinks, I will feel lethargic, tired, like I can't be bothered and like everything (cooking dinner for example) is more of a struggle. I'll also be far more likely to row with DH.

Then if I carry on drinking, the next morning I can expect to feel hot, sweaty, tired, light-headed and anxious, with a banging headache, dry mouth, memory loss, paranoia about what I might have said the night before, racing heart and nausea. I can also expect the day to be a write-off because I'm too hungover to do anything beyond going through the motions.

I think reframing my thoughts around drinking to focus on the negatives that alcohol brings (which actually far outweigh the positives from my list above!) could really help me.

I think of it in terms of what it's like for my children to live with drinkers - the empty bottles, the unpredictability, the low motivation, the smell of someone who's been drinking the night before. Money that could be spent on things for all of us pissed down the toilet. It's how I grew up and it's not good enough, my kids deserve better than that.

Findyourneutralspace · 10/01/2023 10:14

Another night of insomnia for me last night. Didn’t get to sleep till 4am. My brain just won’t switch off sometimes. This is one reason I drink historically, so I’m struggling with it. I’m fine once I fall asleep but getting go that stage is a problem.
I won’t drink today - it won’t even be on my radar with it being Tuesday, but I wish there was a way I could tackle this. It’s a major trigger.