Replacing the wine with something else to pass the time..what can you recommend? Im clean out of inspiration....

[RZX44]

Just that really. I need to cut down, Im on a bottle a day, but I find dry evenings deeply tedious...not saying pissed ones are wildly exciting, but I guess the time just seems to pass quicker. Im single parent to tweens so need to be home most but not all evenings so going out not always easy....please inspire me with hobbies, new interests, anything at all that might get me away from the bottle! Feel pathetic asking...booze has taken my motivation and I have zero ideas

Do the 30 day alcohol experiment- it sounds hideous but it truly works if you're serious about kicking the booze habit

Where will I find it Awks? Is it a mumsnet thing?

I gave up alcohol last March. I found the first few evenings really tough. I had to break up the evening because just sitting there was a killer.
I went to Pilates, Tescos, took a bath. Anything to change my routine. I love crime thrillers so it was great to actually be able to read them (without having to reread them). The good news is that the tedium does pass really quickly. Within a month I was relishing all the extra hours the day seemed to have.
Try reading alcohol Explained by William Porter and Alcohol Lied to me by Craig Beck. They really help you see alcohol as the poison it is.
My life is brilliant now. I wouldn't go back to drinking even if someone said I could magically manage to stop at two drinks once a week. I don't need it and I don't want it. Good luck.

I was a single mum when mine were that age. I went on a huge self-improvement mission so I gave up booze. In the evenings I would:

• Watch TV and movies
• Do exercise DVDs
• Bake stuff (for the kids or neighbours/relatives/PTA)
• Work (I'm freelance)
• Write a blog (not for long, but it was therapeutic)
• Watch beauty youtube videos
• Paint pictures
• Read
• Just crash out early
• Bath, beauty stuff (fake tan, dye hair, do eyebrows and lashes, pedicure)
• Hang our with friends or my cousin who'd come to stay a lot
• Do online dating

I have very very VERY fond memories of those years, and my young DC and my evenings.

I'm into week three of 'no wine on a week day' I didn't want to give up alcohol entirely but was having far too much (a couple of big glasses a night) and realised how many units I was having!
Week 1 was tedious
Week 2 was slightly less so
Week 3 so far.. seems surprisingly easy! I went to have my usual wine on friday night..and didnt enjoy it! So tried a crisp gin instead and one was enough. It seems to be resetting my 'need' as it were.
Meantime in the evening I am now either playing my guitar or knitting to keep myself busy.
Also drinking a lot of blackcurrent and lemonade!

@RZX44 it's www.alcoholexperiment.com

It sounds a bit naff but I missed something to drink in the evening as I cooked tea, relaxed etc.. so I went and bought a load of new herbal teas and I've really got into them. I find them delicious and refreshing and I sleep soooo much better.
There's a night time one and when I drink it I really feel sleepy....
There are so manh flavours out there now there must be one or two for you, just watch out they don't contain black or green tea as they kept me up. Good luck !

I know what you mean about the time passing slowly when you’re sober. I try to do some yoga so I feel all healthy and zen to trick myself into not wanting to undo the good work with wine (I’m not always successful). I also try to distract myself by crocheting mandalas, learning Spanish with the duolingo app and learning to sketch. I bought a book to teach me and some pencils from amazon - I’m rubbish but I have to super concentrate to do it and forget all about wine.