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!

@BigButtons honestly unless money is not at all an issue I wouldn't bother with the 0 alcohol gin. Just get really nicely flavoured tonics. Dress it up with ice and couple of different slices.
For those watching their weight..night time nibbles are my worst enemy so some good substitutes for crisps etc ..break up rice cakes into small pieces in a bowl or sliced raw courgette with a bit of olive tapanade spread on is lovely.

I'm in too, did 6 weeks AF before Christmas, I'm aiming for 100 days AF looking forward to no hangovers again

Found you!
Thanks for the thread @HPLikecraft! I was hoping there would be one and panicking for a minute as couldn't see it.
I'm in. This will be my 3rd DJ so I know I can do it, but I also know there will be moments of tough to resist temptation along the way. My DP is in too so that's good as he is one of my main drinking buddies, and also my best supporter.
We are out tonight for dinner and staying over so there will be wine but resolve is strong for Jan 1st
So many reasons why alcohol has been bad for me this last year. I'm sure we'll get to discuss some of those over the coming month. In the meanwhile, really pleased to be here.

I am doing it for the first time. Have never felt inspired by DJ before, but have decided to see it as a bit of an experiment, see how I get on and try out some new alcohol free drinks. Don’t know yet if I will go for the whole month or not but do want a reset. We are at a party tonight, going to drink moderately and have got some cans of Trip in for tomorrow, I like those. Still some wine etc in from Christmas but it will wait a few weeks! Good luck everybody!

This will be my 6th DJI think.

Last year I lasted AF until my 50th birthday in mid April.

I'm definitely in for January and most likely February. I find after the first couple of weeks I forget I'm making a conscious effort not to drink, and it just becomes second nature.

I will however be having a few this evening to see in the NY. Been poorly with a chest infection over Christmas so it will be a lot less than usual. Have cancelled our friends coming over this evening as just not up for it.

I will be doing it for the 2nd time. My problem is that I reach for the diet coke when not drinking alcohol and end up drinking cans and cans of that. Hoping to up the water intake instead.

I'm in too! I followed the thread last year and ended up doing 60 days and found it a great way to reset and start some healthier habits.

I'm starting on 2nd Jan as we are having a family roast tomorrow and I have saved a nice bottle of wine as a final treat.

Thanks for starting the thread @HPLikecraft ☺️

I’m in. I did DJ this year and lasted until April!
I’ve drank so much over Christmas (daily) and need to get back on it.
I’m going to listen to my sober life podcasts again which I find really motivating.

Never tried to do it before but I will join you all if I may!

I had wine last night but not drinking tonight as I'm taxi for the kids and I want to wake up and enjoy my last day off before work on Tuesday.

As per usual, I'm full of self doubt and won't believe I can do it but I'm going to give it a damn good try.

AF Becks (blue) is my go to with a splash of lime when I'm not drinking wine!

What app would you recommend I use to log results?

Have been to the supermarket and stocked up on tonics and juices and alcohol free lager.

Best wishes to everyone for however you are spending new year's eve. A quiet one here as on stand by for unwell elderly friend who needs some reassurance that help is at hand.
See you all in 2024.

I'm in. I've been drinking so much these past two weeks . We are on holiday too and just totally over indulged.

Yes it's my birthday too tomorrow but I will be alc free from tomorrow.

Well, have a good evening this evening everyone, however you're spending it and whatever you're drinking.

A shiny new you starts tomorrow!

Thank you, @HPLikecraft - treated myself to some Freixnet Cava as it will, willpower permitting, be my last bottle for four weeks.

I know snacking is going to be my downfall, trying to get my diabetes under control using insulin so have just ordered a colouring book off Amazon

Hi everyone, just checking in to join you tomorrow. I have done it a few times, but didn't manage the full month this year - I can't even remember why now. But I am feeling motivated and planning to make it to 31 Jan and beyond 💪

I’m in!

I'm a big fan of Freixenet, too!

(Still don't know how to pronounce it, though)

Hi everyone, I would love to join you.
First time ever and I know that I will struggle as wine is my stress relief.
Have also not really thought about how I will actually cope instead 😫

Friday nights are my 'danger zone' - I don't normally drink on work nights but it's such a ritual on Fridays; often Saturday as well. When I did DJ last time, though, I remember getting so much more done over the weekend than when I'd been starting it mildly hung over.

I'm in, just finished my last drink of 2023. Looking forward to a new start 😀

Well, there's my last glass of wine down the hatch!

No alcohol left in the house, not even a mince pie!

Happy fresh new year all!

I'm in!
Been drinking far too much over Christmas and before that if I'm honest.
Never done dry Jan before, feeling excited but nervous not having my wine crutch on an evening.
Looking forward to posting here and getting support from everyone. We can do this!

Ooh this has come at a good time. I don't drink too much but meeting my friend for Saturday drinks has become a habit. I also need to lose 6 stone so it won't be helping my weight.

Let's see if I can do it. Hardest things will be Saturdays and also if I meet up with some other friends as we go for a meal once a month or so and I drink then too.

First time for me. Was going to enjoy a mini Baileys I got for Christmas tonight but I don't fancy it, so that'll be in the fridge til February now

I had my last drink yesterday so today marks my first day af! I've downloaded the app and looking forward to waking up feeling refreshed tomorrow. I fell asleep on the couch last night after drinking and woke up at 3am with a sore back and dry mouth 🫤