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!

Just checking in again - going okay. I must admit I will look forward to having a drink on my birthday which is the very end of the month, but I think that won't be the end of being alcohol free, I will do maybe AF through the week in February, I've enjoyed the anxiety free sleep and being able to go back to sleep when I wake in the night.

Well I'm sorry to say I have not been dry this weekend. Had a couple of gins Friday night and then got the 'fuck it' mentality and polished off a bottle of wine over Saturday and Sunday. I can't say it wasn't expected. Had a stressful week and the dc were at their dads this weekend which meant I was bored and knew I didn't have any commitments.

Did notice that I felt particularly rough after the gin. Not hungover as such, just tired and a bit anxious.

I'm confident that I can now get back on the wagon and remain dry throughout the week and weekend as the dc will be with me and we have stuff to do.

I do feel disappointed in myself but 10 days was an achievement. Well done to everyone who is still going.

Hugs @chippytea33 glad you feel confident about getting on the wagon again. Try not to beat yourself up, life happens!

Went out for Sunday lunch today and they had a huge range of alcohol free spirits - I went for rhubarb+ginger and Sevilla orange. I don't even like gin 😂

Exactly what Im doing

Cant see the point of doing DJ and spending the whole month looking to the end of the month so I can go back drinking. Whats the point of DJ if thats all "you" are doing?

If I was feeling like that every day Id say fuck it and have a bloody drink, life is too short. Im enjoying my days as they come

Actually Im not posting on here anymore because it seems like everyone cant wait for the month to be over rather then actually experience what life is like without a drink

@suki1964 everyone has different motives and reasons for doing it. I've failed already but I've still altered my habits and will continue to do so.

Agree it's best you step away from the thread if you expect everyone's experience and reasons to be the same as yours.

@suki1964, yes, this possibly isn't the right thread to motivate you; everyone is different with different motivators. Many of us are grinding their way through their first period of abstinence in years. Of course we're doing what gets us through, which may well be counting days. I'd expect that towards the 31st we will all be considering our options, with 4+ weeks under our belts.

Some will revert back to a couple of drinks a weekend, some will decide to push for 100 days, some will go teetotal, some will be back to their square one in a month.

But at this early stage, most of us are finding our feet and need an 'end point' to work towards.

Hi I’m plugging away and still AF. I am counting down a bit to February but from previous years I know I find it easier as January continues and I will drink less afterwards. Plus my body will have had a decent break. Which is all good I reckon.

Schloer white grape and elderflower with my very late Sunday lunch today - it’s nice, as in, I’d choose it! May swap in some of this months discoveries going forwards to the rest of the year.

Still sleeping so heavily and waking up from what is obviously very deep sleep. It must be doing me lots of good but it’s so strange. Slept in this morning until almost 10, which is unheard of!

Another weekend done - well done folks.

We had friends over for lunch and as expected it was a boozy affair, with lots of wine and beer on the go. I managed to stay dry and am extremely proud of myself for that. BUT I struggled and felt very flat throughout, whilst others were merry and happy. Worried I was boring company in comparison.

100%!

Very relieved to be nearly through the weekend - day 14 for me as I was ill over New Year and so unintentionally started earlier! Finally feeling better, clearer-headed and the out of sorts- ness is lifting. Someone posted earlier that it takes 21 days to change a habit and that is keeping me going.

I’ve started knitting yesterday to distract myself, which I have been meaning to pick up again for years. That has been very good because I can’t drink and knit, and its made me think about what else I might have time for, not drinking. Its really helpful to read how everyone is doing and get some tips on how to ignore the urges to just have one and also for all the nice drinks.

Still buggering on too. Doubt I've had this long a break in over a decade. Thanking the board for the afternoon martini suggestion - the one that's like approx. It's lovely with tonic over ice. I also like sour cherry juice for red wine.

Bloody autocorrect. Mean like aperol.

@TeaRose29
It's a UK company called Organic Herbal Remedies.
Delivery was super quick and free as I ordered some Lemon Balm tea too (which is lovely).

I usually find dry Jan easy peasy. But I was bored and seduced today by a bottle of Cloudy Bay languishing in fridge since Christmas. I’ve had 2 delicious glasses. So for the first time, I’ve fallen off the wagon after 11 days. It was worth it.

Back on it tomorrow 🥱

Day 7 for me and I had an excellent nights sleep finally!

Have had so much energy today I even ventured into the loft (up a ladder) to check out my insulation! Cleaned and mopped the whole house and went for a long walk.

I'm sure I'm less achey - I don't think alcohol is doing me any favours regarding my post menopausal joints.

@BurntBroccoli I have noticed not drinking leads to less random aches too. I was surprised as alcohol is not something that is ever mentioned in the same breath as achey joints.

Yes interesting- I can only imagine it's something to do with being more hydrated and perhaps getting more quality sleep.

Now that I think about it, my burgeoning plantar fasciitis AND my aching joints are all less at the moment. I put it down to a cycle within perimenopause, but who knows.

I also can’t get over the lack of puffiness around my eyes and the lack of bloat in my belly. It’s quite shocking.

Yes my face is much less puffy too! Skin looks quite luminous too though it may be the Astral (newly rediscovered) I've been slathering on as the cold makes my skin feel so dry!

@BurntBroccoli Oh my god, Astral! I used this all through my teens, fabulous stuff, just added some to my basket! Thanks for the reminder 🙌🏻

Yes I did too and remember upgrading to Oil of Ulay which I used for the next 30 years or so!
The Astral is exactly the same - smell, consistency, everything and very moisturising. I use as handcream too.

Another weekend done, yaaas. It was odd walking straight past the wine bit of Aldi yesterday but wasn't tempted. I've had a couple of Trip drinks in a nice glass this week but generally I've not fancied boozing, which has been nice. Probably as it's so cold I'd rather a cup of something warm!
Sugar is another story though... flippin' heck, I need a chocolate free Feb after this month .

'I also like sour cherry juice for red wine.'
@Eatinpeachesonthebeaches I do this too.

Where do you get sour cherry juice from?