Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Alcohol support

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Dry January 2022

999 replies

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 12/12/2021 09:25

Did Dry January this year and we had an amazing little support group going on here and I wondered if anyone cared to join me next year? This time I'm hoping to stay dry longer - 100 days - but will see how January goes first. I don't want to set myself up to fail.

Who's with me?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
SarahJessicaParker1 · 02/01/2022 07:36

I started early, but then did have a very small Wine on NYE, so I'm back to day 2 today!

Feel OK. I had done Monday to Friday last week AF anyway and didn't especially miss it. However, I know I tend to start to crack about 2-3 weeks in, so have to think of something to combat that. I've set up a Dry Jan Pinterest board actually, which should help. Things like beautiful, cool slebs who are sober, before and after pics of people who stopped drinking and articles on what alcohol does to you (weight gain an anxiety being the main ones I'm hoping to get rid of)!

angorarabbit · 02/01/2022 08:06

Day one ok. The test will be when I go shopping, where I often just pop a bottle in the trolley just in case....I must find the willpower to resist.

Pentiumgold · 02/01/2022 08:27

Day one fine for me too but slept terribly which has made me wake up feeling grouchy. Not a good start to not wanting a glass (bottle) of wine to look forward to later Sad

Cantdoitallperfectly · 02/01/2022 08:33

Hello, joining in too! Managed a good alcohol free period last year but bad habits slid back in and I have been drinking daily for the past while. I’m ready to stop drinking completely. This thread will be useful to check in when resolve is low.

Cantdoitallperfectly · 02/01/2022 08:44

Good luck, this is what I do - especially on a Friday! Get some nice AF alternatives x

Bu2014 · 02/01/2022 08:46

@Pentiumgold

Day one fine for me too but slept terribly which has made me wake up feeling grouchy. Not a good start to not wanting a glass (bottle) of wine to look forward to later Sad
Hi, Same here. Night sweat, lots of turning and tossing and weird dreams. Despite this have woken up with clearer head then in months. Oh and 8 year old has come down with chicken pox and need to keep him apart from 8month old. This will be testing
SantaMonicaPier · 02/01/2022 08:53

I slept badly too which I'm not sure is down to being dry as I usually have 4 or 5 dry days a week and haven't noticed that my sleep is affected when I don't drink

notanothertakeaway · 02/01/2022 09:04

@angorarabbit

Day one ok. The test will be when I go shopping, where I often just pop a bottle in the trolley just in case....I must find the willpower to resist.
@angorarabbit

If you go shopping eg 8am before alcohol can be sold, that removes the temptation

Original poster
MyGhastIsFlabbered · 02/01/2022 09:12

Day 1 today. I WILL do this. I posted this last year and it still rings true

Ok so reasons to stay sober:

  1. Physical health - undeniable
  2. Mental health - again undeniable
  3. Money - not only is alcohol expensive but drunk me likes to shop for things sober me knows I can't afford
  4. Weight loss - drunk me loves snacking
  5. Sex - my husband and I can’t begin to count the number of times one of us has fallen asleep/passed out due to alcohol and missed the opportunity to have sex. We’re still in the honeymoon phase & want to have sex a lot. Sorry to lower the tone but it's a fact.
  6. No more beer fear - we've all been there
  7. No more hangovers - they get worse as I get older
  8. No more risk of driving over the limit - either the next day or whenever
  9. No more worrying about getting home from a night out
10. Setting a good example to my children

I'm sure there are more but phew that was cathartic.

Feel free to add more if it helps. We can do this. Daffodil

OP posts:
JaquiRussell · 02/01/2022 09:27

Morning everyone, day 2.
Slept terribly last night, but it was 12c at gone 1am so suppose that didn't help bearing in mind I have my winter duvet on.
So to say I'm starting the day fresh is sadly not true but hey at least it's the first Saturday night done.
Still in bed with a brew watching Stay Close on Netflix, letting my dog snore away next to me as my tossing and turning kept him awake most of last night too.
Happy Sunday everyone 🙂

MakeUsACuppa · 02/01/2022 09:38

Another one with an horrendous night sleep, I feel bloody awful. In fact I've just done a LFT which is thankfully negative.

Is it bad that I feel better that I am not alone?

singlemum43 · 02/01/2022 09:56

I’m in started yesterday. 😊

StrawberryFizz26 · 02/01/2022 10:13

I also had an awful night's sleep but at least I'm not back in work until Wednesday so should feel better by then!

Well done everyone and here's to day 2.

StrawberryFizz26 · 02/01/2022 10:14

myghastisflabbered

I love that list!!

trydry22 · 02/01/2022 10:14

Morning all! Another one checking in after a god awful nights sleep..! Hot sweaty, tossing and turning and woken with a rotten headache 🤕 hey ho.. I know this will pass so it won't deter me. Looking forward to a productive day distracting myself from the wine witch at 5pm. Have a great day all x

trydry22 · 02/01/2022 10:16

@MyGhastIsFlabbered adding to the list..

Able to remember what happened last night

Not frightened to look at my phone the next day

FoxglovesandBees · 02/01/2022 10:21

Also joining the rotten sleep club! Woke at 3.30 after a nightmare and couldn't get back. Still feels better than being hungover though. Have a great AF day everyone Brew

enoughisenough100 · 02/01/2022 10:30

Here we go day 2!!!!

Brackenandbramble · 02/01/2022 10:52

@MyGhastIsFlabbered and try dry I'm loving the list and all ring true to me, especially the setting a good example to my kids one. My boys are 15 and 17 and my OH and I drink most nights if I'm honest and I've begun to feel guilty when we're having a drink (again) in front of the tv and one of them walks in. I then try to slip the empties into the garage before they see them but who am I kidding. I never really thought about it previously but I feel guilty every time now as I know we're drinking far too much, too often and always justifying it with a 'it's Saturday/Friday/Bank Holiday, its been a hard/great day'. Basically any excuse.
Im sick of being a slave to wine o'clock.
The try dry app is good for my progress, I used it last year, as I like to tick off the days.
I really want to do this!

angorarabbit · 02/01/2022 10:57

Notanother takeaway, thanks, that's so simple but sensible. I will break the habit of shopping on the way home, when it always happens, and go early before work. Determined to succeed.

angorarabbit · 02/01/2022 10:58

Sorry, thought I'd quoted but hasn't worked!

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 02/01/2022 10:59

My Day 1 today. I have drunk much more moderately over Christmas than usual but it's still good to give the liver a proper rest.

Youngatheart00 · 02/01/2022 11:09

I slept really badly too - took me ages to get off to sleep and then there was a raging storm outside about 3am so I was awake again. Had vivid / not very nice dreams but expect it’s my body processing the very last of the NYE alcohol. May the cleansing start today.

OverByYer · 02/01/2022 11:14

I’m starting today as day 1, as we did ‘ Xmas ‘ yesterday so knew I’d drink. I did quite well and only had about 3/4 of a bottle of red but then had a brandy. Feel a bit rough today but making a mental note of it to remind me why I want to go AF.
This week should be ok as I’m on call for 7 days so wouldn’t be drinking anyway.
It will be the days off work where I will struggle.
Good luck everyone

H1Drangea · 02/01/2022 11:23

I slept really well ! Went to bed at 9 pm ( maybe a bit later , but not much ) woke at 6ish to go to the loo and then woke up properly at 8-30 am !

Feeling great , loads of washing in machine / tumble dryer ready to be put away
Then 2 beds to change ( DD gone to her flat ready for work tomorrow and the spare room where our friends stayed on NYE )
Then to the beach for a long walk and blowing the cobwebs away
Sparkling water in fridge ready for tonight , and there are some J20 left , so might try one of those for a treat

Great list @MyGhastIsFlabbered
Drunk me loves shopping too , just stopped myself buying a bell tent last summer ……