Dry January 2022

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

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?

Drunk me also loves shopping! I once bought a violin when I was not pregnant with the idea that my (not even conceived) child would be the next Beethoven.

Mostly now when I am tipsy i peruse the local horses for sale ads. Very dangerous indeed.

We have a family birthday here so we are planning fish and chips on the beach with o.o% lager. :)

Loving the idea of a horse turning up after a bit of late night drunk shopping.....
Rubbish sleep here (too hot for January and the winter duvet) but still a better sleep than a wine sleep.

Crap nights sleep here too! Was ravenous at 4 am so had to have toast. Dosed after that till 11 am. Hopefully a better nights sleep tonight!

Hello! I'm in. I did Dry January a couple of years ago and it honestly changed my life. I hadn't realised how much or how often I drank, until I stopped.

Since then I very rarely drink at home, and only when we're entertaining, or it's a special occasion (birthday or Christmas). Not just because I've had a bad day or it's Friday or because wine would go well with the dinner.

Things I noticed after stopping: your evenings are much longer. At first that seems a bit daunting - all those hours to fill - but soon it becomes useful. You can do stuff. Work, declutter, potter, bath, read, study, craft, write, chat... You suddenly get 3-4 hours extra a day.

Getting up when you haven't drunk anything for the past few days is AMAZING. It's just so easy.

Your skin looks great eventually but it's not overnight. I'd say it takes a couple of weeks. And I never lost weight just by stopping booze. Maybe you get less puffy, but you don't drop half a stone in a week or anything.

But you feel really good. Calm, centred, poised. Like your true self. It's really lovely.

Anyone else have a DH who refuses to do this with them?

I’m starting today.

I’ve just set up a new savings account through my bank app. For every day me and hubby don’t drink, I’m going to transfer the amount we would have spent on wine, from our joint account, into the savings account. We’re going to do that throughout the year. At the end of the year we get to spend the money on something nice. Holidays are my motivation! 😀

@KatieBenz

I’m starting today.

I’ve just set up a new savings account through my bank app. For every day me and hubby don’t drink, I’m going to transfer the amount we would have spent on wine, from our joint account, into the savings account. We’re going to do that throughout the year. At the end of the year we get to spend the money on something nice. Holidays are my motivation! 😀

The 'I am Sober' app will work this out for you if you forget (it also gives great support with people who quit on the same day as you) Here's my savings page for just £3 a day

Oh that is SO inspiring!

@scurryfunger that’s brilliant! It will definitely motivate me. Now off to look at holiday brochures 😉

@Lushmetender

Crap nights sleep here too! Was ravenous at 4 am so had to have toast. Dosed after that till 11 am. Hopefully a better nights sleep tonight!

I found treating yourself to a bit of a sugary snack when you'd normally have a drink helped with the blood sugar rollercoaster

Hi all - was about to say morning all then realised the time!!! Day 2 DJ/day 7 AF for me. Unlike most others it seems, I had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years last night! I’ve no idea why as I have chronic insomnia and usually sleep around 2 hours a night unless passed out - one of the reasons I started abusing alcohol in the first place.

Also had a little bit of a tiff with DH so went to bed early. He’s just found out the reason why a colleague is off sick is a drinking problem- I said “that’s too bad - I’m feeling really good and no cravings at all” (I said a bit more in support of his colleague so this is the abbreviated version). He just snapped at me “ well yeah but we’ve been here a million times so saying that means nothing”.

It upset me - he is right but it just put me on a real downer so I went to bed. I lay in the dark quietly processing it for a bit and was a bit tearful - truth hurts. He has been so supportive overall but he’s not great at communicating - I just wished he’d said “that’s good” when I said I was feeling good but after everything I’ve put him through, I can’t really blame him.

Anyway - despite that I slept really well. I think just lying there and processing it helped. I even fell back asleep for an hour after my original up for a cup of tea - something I never do - hence the day is running away from me!

KOKO DJers and smash day 2 out of the water. ❤️💪❤️💪🍰☕️

Meant to add - great list @MyGhastIsFlabbered! Shame you had a wee blip but it’s not the end of the world. Might help to think about the reasons for (automatically???) reaching for the gin like that as it sounds like you didn’t gulp it down type thing - so was it more an automatic response/habit rather than really “needing” a drink??? ❤️

I had an awful day yesterday with hangover about as bad as I've ever had. I want to severely cut down - yesterday was easy as felt like death, today don't feel great still either but hoping I'm invested enough by the shame of having such a bad hangover in front of my children that I'll keep going

Hello all, I'm going to try and join you all even though I find January so depressing! I think I saw someone posted some good ideas for alternative drinks but can't find it now ?

Afternoon everyone. Family ended up staying with us on NYE and last night. I drank prosecco and champagne both nights, feeling rough today with a sore head and feeling a little bit sick. Today is my day one going to take down the Christmas decorations which I am feeling a little sad about and have a pamper bath later then an early night with a book.

Looking forward to a dry January 🤞

@Vivi2209

Hello all, I'm going to try and join you all even though I find January so depressing! I think I saw someone posted some good ideas for alternative drinks but can't find it now ?

I actually found last Jan less depressing without the poor sleep and anxiety I get when I drink!

Day 2 here - had a cleaning blitz yesterday and am baking for the horde today before they go back to uni. Got two more days of leave before I go back to work on Wednesday, then on Saturday it's the drive to Plymouth and back to get DD2 back to uni - she's not well enough at the moment to do the journey by train but we are hoping that will change.

I don't notice any difference in my sleep, the hot flushes are always worse at night anyway.

I seem to be the only one amongst us who slept well! But I was exhausted and usually wine has me awake around 2am, hot, dry and needing a wee, so sober me does sleep better. Thankfully I have no big plans for January, so just need to stave off the wine witch when she taps me on the shoulder around 6pm every night. Fro. Last year I know that as soon as I have a week under my belt I find it so much easier, so I'll keep myself going by reminding myself of the better sleep and the fresh mornings until then. Good luck everyone, I'm stocked up on the becks blue and gave plenty of delicious teas in too

Hi all! I'm starting today. I did DJ last year for charity, let's go!!

Aww it took me ages to get to sleep last night, but I'm thinking it's because I'd had more caffeine than usual in the day, I've had a lie in again today so I'm hoping this doesn't happen again this evening.!! This week I'm just focusing on not having a drink but once kids are back in school and we are all back to normal I'm going to start the healthy eating again as that's has also gone out of the window!! ,

I'm starting today. Thanks for the thread, I'm gonna need support.

Day 2 for me. Survived a potential danger zone when I had an argument with OH about money - which I find both things stressful! I have a feeling abstaining will really highlight to me my triggers and anxieties as I will have to overcome them in new ways.

Today my strategy was to take the dog out for a long walk, give myself a bit of a talking to that I owe it to myself to be AF, and came home refreshed and more determined.

Sharing and reading everyone's updates is helping. Don't feel so alone or stupid with it all. Thanks x

Hi everybody! I am on day 2. Still have booze in the cupboard which I've not touched. Am away out for dinner with a friend tonight but have chosen somewhere that does good non alcoholic drinks and also am working early tomorrow so should be safe.
Hopefully it will be a good week ahead for us all.
Loving the solidarity on here. I am looking forward to breaking this habit for a month and, perhaps, beyond.
Today I will not be having an alcoholic drink.

Day 2 here and wishing desperately I could have a glass of wine! I hadn’t realised quite how much of a routine it had become to have a drink anytime I am sat on the sofa after dinner. I shall find a distraction and get an early night I think.

Sober Dave is going a Dry Jan live at 7pm over on Insta which might be a distraction and motivation @TheWildRumpyPumpus or Stay Close on Netflix is pretty gripping or heard The Tourist on the BBC is alright.
Failing that lots of Quit Lit is available for 99p on Kindle.

We can do it 👍🏼

I'm on day one. I did some dry spells during the past twelve months so I'm not too daunted. Tea, coffee, sparkling water and nice orange juice for the month. I find the cravings lessen off the more you stick with it, so the first few days are the most challenging. Good luck, everyone.