DRY JANUARY 2025! Join us for a healthier start to the year! All welcome 🥤☕️🧋

[HPLikecraft]

It’s that time of year again!
If you need a detox, to lose weight, to be healthier, to undo some seasonal overindulgence, to sleep better, to look better, to have healthier skin, to save money, boost liver function, improve your memory, or to decrease your likelihood of dying earlier of various nasty illnesses (sorry for the sudden hard ball!) then you’ve come to the right place!

The MN DJ2025 Chat thread is for anyone who wants to reset their relationship with alcohol; whether you’re a weekend tippler or a problem heavier drinker.
This is a friendly, non-judgmental thread where we support and encourage each other, exchange ideas and information, share alcohol-free drinks recommendations etc.

Hopefully we’ll have some fun along the way. Please hop aboard the good ship DJ 2025, everyone welcome!

Day 4 for me. So far so good but it’s been a crazy day at work and I’m meeting my mum later for dinner so would definitely be a temptation to have a glass of wine to “unwind”. So I’m going to drive to forgo the risk!

Struggling this evening. I’m slap bang in the middle of the danger zone (4-6pm) so I just need to ride it out. If I make it til 6pm I’m in the clear.

Out this evening at an activity so won’t be home till later- then dinner, shower, and. Very little time to miss wine. To be fair we have been dry Mon-Thurs inc since September, so I don’t anticipate this bit to be be any harder than that was- it’s Friday that will be the moment (or Saturday afternoon after a busy morning, I quite like a pint then!).

I smiled at that! if I were AF Mon-Thurs every week (but didn't binge on the others...🤣) I wouldn't be doing DJ!

For all struggling with sleep - this is possibly because you were being "knocked out" by alcohol before. I know I get incredibly sleepy when I drink which is great in some ways because it helps me put the brakes on if I'm out socialising, and if I'm at home I just go to bed when I start yawning.

When AF I generally stay up later but don't get to sleep quite so quickly, but the compensation is not waking up thirsty and a bit anxious at 4am ...

But, to anyone struggling, I do urge you to try magnesium supplements. There's various types of magnesium so you'd need to google which is the right one for insomnia, but I think it's worth trying. In the short term, the best otc medicine for insomnia (I have 25 years experience!) is Sominex.

Cheers all <<raises cup of tea>>

Phew! Through the danger zone and relaxing with a cup of tea.
I may have indulged in some crisps and chocolate though.

Still indulging 🤣 but no alcohol! Weekdays aren't as challenging, but I still had a lovely hot chocolate with marshmallows piled upon the top!

Going well here but then don't drink Mondays generally.

I'm in a Travelodge in London, and I've managed to go into M&S to get some supper without visiting the section with all those lovely cans of g&t. Go me!

Well done @Nothungrycat that's impressive!

On a work trip in a very remote area so DJ is currently quite easy as it’s impossible to get any alcohol!
however, does anyone have bad wind?? No idea if it’s DJ related 🤔

It’s really great reading the updates, well done everyone. We’re on day 5 and alright so far though my husband has been munching my very special Lakrids liquorice which I have been savouring as a treat. He’s buying me some more apparently!

@LindorDoubleChoc I suspect you're right about sleep, that the alcohol was helping to knock me out. I think my sleep is starting to improve, last night was a little better.

I also think that if the effects of alcohol can be felt within minutes, and the effects of overindulgence can definitely be felt the next day, then it's not unreasonable to think that some positive effects of stopping could be felt pretty quickly. Perhaps things like skin and hair might take longer to improve, but clear-headedness, and waking up easier are pretty immediate.

I got some of the Goodrays CBD drinks yesterday. Not to replace the "buzz" of alcohol (although I'm not sure I really feel a buzz) - but to tick that box that says "I've done all my responsible adult duties for the day, I don't have to go out or drive anywhere, the kids are in bed, now I can sit down and relax."

Unfortunately I forgot I had bought them, and had a cup of tea.

Yes, I know… but I was still drinking too much, just packing it into fewer evenings. I need to completely reset- lockdown put me into very bad habits, I used to make a bottle of wine last the whole weekend but that’s been vanishingly rare since 2020. I am feeling better and I think my eyes are less puffy. I’m grappling with wondering whether to keep going after the 31st…I do think I would be better off.

My auntie died today. She was very poorly and it wasn’t a complete shock. But she was only 62 and my cousins who are younger than me have lost their mum. It’s very sad and the type of thing I would have a glass of wine for.

I hope you are ok love xx

Sorry for your loss @Theremedy x

I’m on day 1 today :( have done dry January few times before and always got through it but caved yesterday- my partner the day before me which I think influenced my decision. Had a bad nights sleep full of guilt and anxiety from getting drunk last night. Feel like part of it was I didn’t really drink for most of 2024 as was pregnant for most of it so don’t really want to do dry jan but also really do on other hand. Eurgh just feel a bit rubbish. Nice cbd drink and burgers hit the spot tonight tho

I’m sorry for your loss @Theremedy

Another day done here. Work for me and one child back to school. Now in front of the fire, watching Silent Witness. Feeling relaxed.

@Theremedy I’m sorry for your loss x

Thank you all

“Also a big advantage of DJ for me compared to when I decide to have a sober stint later in the year is that it's an acceptable excuse for not drinking (you don't need to explain yourself) plus there's less social stuff going on so I can bunker down and stick to it.”

Completely agree. You don’t need an excuse to or drink in Jan because of DJ.

@Theremedy Sorry for your loss. Can completely understand that’s the type of thing that would make you want a drink. There is no right or wrong, thoughts with you and your family, especially your cousins.

@Fordian Tbisnis me - but I was a big drinking in the past and every so often (mainly Christmas and holidays) I notice the units and frequency of drinking increase, it’s a slippery slope so I find dry Jan a good pause / reset to help keep me to being dry mon - Thurs and then just a few drinks of the weekend.

Day 6 done. Can't believe it will be a full week tomorrow.