DRY JANUARY 2024! 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!

DJ threads are 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 7th year of DJ and I swear it has made all the difference to me. It was so hard first time, but it has definitely 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 DJ2024 Wagon creaks to a start in just 5 days! Join us!

Now brushing your teeth is a good way to stave off cravings for wine - tastes foul.

I have eaten so much this evening. I'm not missing have a glass of wine but I know my body is. Hoping I sleep well. Day 2 down. Key going everyone

@Morelinesadded admittedly nowhere near the same, but hot ribena/vimto (or cold) is the closest thing in colour I can think of for red wine.

Would have enjoyed a drink tonight, back at work on Thursday. I've bought some Trip (£5 nectar price in Sainsbury's) but held fast for lemon in hot water instead.

Day 2 done- well done to all.

Almost time for bed and day two done, it’s probably only about the third time I have had two consecutive dry days in the last year!

Well as most of you seem to be off to bed, then I'll give you today's progress report.
At the end of today (midnight, to be precise) we will have completed.....

6.45%

Of Dry January 2024

That's excellent. I knew you could do it.
And I know you can do it again tomorrow 💪

I’ve just joined, and this has already motivated me 😄! Would like to do my best to do DJ as well, I know I’m at risk of slipping into “damp January” especially over the first week so will be good to share.

Checking in just to say that last night was my first night without a glass of wine that I can remember !
Had lemonade and squash instead. Took me a bit longer to go to sleep (which I am worried about as insomnia is a problem for me and the wine helps!) but reminded myself that it doesn't matter if I'm tired the next day.

I've ordered myself a paint by numbers to keep myself busy in the evening.
One day down... one day of rest for my liver...:)

Day 1 done. Work tomorrow and normally Wine Wednesday 🤞

I'm in! My friend and I are doing a health challenge so I'm aiming to go until the middle weekend of march at least!

Day 2 done here

Trying to avoid eating instead , did have tea and toast, but resisted dessert

Thanks @HPLikecraft and others for the encouragement!

I too was a member of the 'rubbish sleep club' last night and woke feeling groggy and restless. I think it can take a while for good quality sleep to actually happen although I'm hoping for a better night tonight. On a positive note, I have already noticed that I felt less sleepy eyed today overall. It has helped being back at work today (school based job), I'm someone who thrives on routine and can find lack of it quite disorientating.

Distracted this evening by attempting to help uni student DS1 cut down his word count on an essay - managed not to reward myself with wine afterwards so that's a win. Ending the evening with a glass of cold milk and a handful of leftover Christmas mint matchmakers instead. Fingers crossed for better sleep tonight. Day two is done!

Day 2 check in and all good so far. I was back at work today (WFH) and resisted the urge for a 6pm reward glass of wine. Did a YouTube yoga session instead.
Went out with a friend for food at 7pm.and offered to drive so no alcohol for me.
Day off tomorrow and will be going to my morning gym session with a clear head.
Well done on 6.45% everyone.

Checking in.

Day 1 and Day 2 both dry 🥳

Day 1 was tough, as we were at Brother-in-laws and was offered prosecco, but said I was doing DJ and powered through on Shloer instead, so felt chuffed I managed when it would have been easy to have a drink. Day 2 back to work and nearly caved after dinner as DH was having a beer, but stuck with an apple and ginger juice with a lime soda water, bought in especially to assist with the cravings. Tucked up in bed with a water.

That's brilliant @Sonolanona - you've got this!
And me too @FlyingPandas hoovering up leftover Christmas chocolate and crisps including all the orange quality streets I don't even like. Ideally I want DJ to be a total body and mind reset but one thing at a time.
Well done everyone for getting through day 2.

Waving hello. I’ve joined these threads variously through the years (hello to any penguins who remember way back to the threads with Pollyanna, Epsom Salts, Haiku nights and the big debates over angostura bitters!)

day 2 done. In the last 6 years I’ve done 2 and completed, done 2 and failed and not even attempted 2 (a house move and a bereavement). The 2 I completed I could not have done without the support on here.

I’m such a self sabotager. I don’t think I found tonight too hard but I’m such a misery. I feel so hard done by, and use it as such a crutch it’s ridiculous. It’s got to stop. I’m sick of it owning me and probably making me sick in turn.

Things that have helped in previous years:
Epsom Salts baths. That stuff is incredible. Draws out crap and relaxes you. I’ve just ordered a big bag on Amazon.
Decent drinks. I like lucky saint beer. It’s the best by a long way. The ocean spray sparkling cranberry is also pretty good. And Aldi do a mint and lemon drink which is grown up tasting.

Things I’m going to try:
magnesium - getting to sleep is an issue for me. I also have an eyelid twitch so I think I must be low in it somewhere.
CBD drinks or oils? I really do need to learn to switch off and relax without wine.

Things I’m going to do:
Read more - I’m basically usually slightly pissed at bedtime and can’t be bothered.
Be calmer and not let this month make me an unbearable person (not working so far)

and lastly, ironically, stop being on my phone late as it clearly stops me sleeping!!

so sorry for the massive post 🙄

Hey @Mykittensmittens I’ve been taking ionic magnesium and CBD for the past couple of months and I’ve been sleeping sooo much better. It may well also be that HRT is helping, to be fair. Anyway, all the above and earplugs have saved my sanity.
I take liquid ionic magnesium and CBD tablets.

I had a better sleep last night - I woke at 4.30am but went to sleep at 9.30pm, so got seven solid hours. Woke feeling a little groggy and instantly thought it was due to drink, but then remembered I’m sober!

I’m such a self sabotager. I don’t think I found tonight too hard but I’m such a misery. I feel so hard done by, and use it as such a crutch it’s ridiculous. It’s got to stop. I’m sick of it owning me and probably making me sick in turn.

This resonated with me - I feel exactly the same. I’m really hoping those feelings start to ease as the month goes on.

Good luck with day 3 everyone - I read that alcohol fully leaves your system 72 hours after your last drink, so for anyone like myself who had their last on NYE, that will happen for you today. A nice thought.

Ooooh, magnesium, good shout! I'm sure I have some somewhere.

DH is away tomorrow night so I might plan a pamper session with facepack, epsom footbath etc.

AF drinks are tricky. I cannot stand AF wine because there is no way it tastes like wine and just makes me sad. But even though I don't normally drink beer, an AF beer is quite pleasant, though one is enough. The range of AF gins is very good, and added to a big glass with ice and a slice and a nice tonic does make for a refreshing satisfying tipple. But they aren't cheap. I have a couple of cans of ready mixed ones in the fridge.

My own invention is cold herbal tea, especially the non fruity types. I keep a large mugful in the fridge, and glass of that in a wine glass has the nice mildly astringent quality I crave, but is non fizzy and non sweet.

Morning all
Slightly better sleep last night, wild dreams though
Noticed that my urine is a nice healthy colour (random) but did drink 2 litres of water yesterday
Have woken with a headache which is unusual

Day 3. Woke up super early (4.30am ) but we're just back from hols and I'm still an hour ahead,I wake up early anyway (peri-menopause so usually in bed by 9.30pm).

Had a sweet craving last night so I had some hot custard which was nice and comforting. Could become my treat for Jan

Morning! Vivid dreams here as well- what is that all about?! Slept ok-ish apart from that. Good idea on the earplugs @HPLikecraft, I'm usually out like a light, but was aware of the teenager stomping around as I was trying to get to sleep last night 😂
Hope everyone has a good day 3, we've got this!

Morning all! Day 5 for me, up early again today but no hangover (woop) and managed to finish my book and start another. Still v. Groggy but suspect that's my antidepressants rather than anything alcohol related.

I find my danger time is 6pm after I've finished work. I've joined a running group, which starts today at that time so I'm hoping the prospect of socialising without alcohol will do me good. Fingers crossed.

Hope you all have a great day

Awake and feeling brighter this morning, also two weirdly vivid dreams… how interesting! Woke up a few times in the night but that’s normal for me, went back to sleep easier than usual.

highly recommend magnesium sleep butter / cream for those looking to add some. It’s meant to be more easily absorbed and I’ve noticed muscles much more relaxed in the morning. I use on lower legs and feet, also on neck and shoulders

Today will not be the day I cave in 💪🏻