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?

@Itonlytakesonetree I know what you mean. I have no energy in the evenings, so just want to sit down and relax. I also associate box sets and evening tele with wine. One thing I have found useful (and relaxing) is to create Pinterest boards and lists. The money I’m saving by not drinking everyday is going towards a winter sunny holiday. My Pinterest boards are centred around holidays, outfits and losing weight/ toning up.
It’s just an idea. I know it’s helping me get through the boring, no-wine evenings.

A whole year AF for me well 8 full days

Finally a decent nights sleep and I feel so much better, not missing it at all, let's hope it continues.

My Sunday is almost over. Nearly 8pm and tucked up n bed with a book having survived the weekend. Am desperately tired.

You people are awesome. When I feel like a drink I tell myself I’d be letting the team down 😃

I’ll just add, I love waking up at 3 am thinking “How much did I drink?” Eh…..nothing! 😆

@IJustLovePirates 100%! It almost feels like the brain is resetting thinking patterns that have become so habituated...

I also had the same sense of accountability which is really helping

Thank you everyone and well done.

On the boredom thing, I'm trying to look at it in the mindset of exploring/trying new things to see what can stick as a new routine. I don't want to go back to old ways.

@Itonlytakesonetree I know what you mean - that first glass of wine in the evening was like hitting the “off” button. But have you tried challenging your assumption that alcohol helps you relax? I mean, yes, that first glass … but I never stopped there. How did the rest of the night play out for you? For me, it would involve a lot more wine, not following the plot on TV, falling asleep on the sofa, getting to bed at 1am and waking up feeling awful. And repeat.

I have rediscovered the joy of reading. My focus now is in getting to bed by 10pm so I can read with a cup of camomile tea.

This is why weekends are so hard for me!

I survived last night by spending almost 3 hours catching up on my mountain of ironing! Not the most relaxing evening but at least the job is done! I really do need a substitute for that '& relax' feeling that comes from sitting down & putting your feet up after a long day/week. A book & a cup of tea sadly won't do it for me - not sure what will

Morning everyone - didn't we do well last night? No drinking here but I still feel like crap. Hoping everyone else is doing better.

Absolutely! It's OK for me during the week, but the feeling at 5pm on a Friday of "...and now for a G&T" or the Saturday 5pm of " ...now we've done the food shop/park/buying loo brushes/cleaning the kitchen/going to the museum/having kids' friends round/cleaning out the rats/baking etc etc and now for a G&T".
To be honest, I'm not sure anything will, but it's a matter of it not being every Fri/Sat/Sun, mixing drinks with AF ones, etc. The break of DJ is hopefully changing the 'must' to a 'may' in my brain... that's my aim.

And yes @MyGhastIsFlabbered we bloody did! You feeling crap because of health or OH? And Amy more thoughts on new hair?

Any, not Amy ffs! No idea who she is

I slept bad because of my sore neck and was dreaming that I had three glasses of wine. I was a bit confused if I had drunken anything or not when I woke up.

Good morning. Well done everybody. I am very proud of myself, my husband and you guys.

I'm the same as pp, I don't want to fill my evenings, I want to just learn to relax without booze. I am finding that easier.

Last night DH and I drove to a local town, had dinner in a restaurant surrounded by tables of people drinking, ate a delicious Thai meal, I drank an AF beer, DH had water, paid and drove home. Chatted, laughed, and basically astonished ourselves we could/could do it!! Isn't that ridiculous?

Have smashed out a mile in the pool this morning, feel pleasantly tired now, and am going to practice my piano, read, watch TV, little bit of housework, have a lovely family meal cooked by dh this evening and not drink red wine.

We got this.

(ran with a friend yesterday who is also doing DJ , "well let's face it if Iamblossom can do it anyone can". Bit annoyed/embarrassed/hurt by that?)

@NorthernChinchilla we are seeing January as a reset too. And then to aim for no drinking during the week. A surprising amount of our friends don't drink during the week I have discovered.

Reading sober diaries and dh said something she says in her book last night "I wish a police car would pull me over so I can say I've had no booze"

@MyGhastIsFlabbered

Morning everyone - didn't we do well last night? No drinking here but I still feel like crap. Hoping everyone else is doing better.

Yes we did!!!! Amazing that it's day 9. Feel the stress is off until Thursday now. Sleep not so good last night but my eyes and skin looking much brighter.

My sleep is finally improved. Sleeping 8 hours straight through which is just amazing. Can’t say I’m leaping out of bed on waking, but I’m booze free, not a different person!! Definitely enjoying not having that nagging hangover.

Weighed myself and I’m 3lb down, pleased with that as I’ve not been especially healthy

Well done all - keep it up

I didn't realise we had so many new joiners! Welcome everyone!

Isn't it funny how so many of us feel we're letting the rest of you down if we have a drink? It does help having some accountability and also just chatting with her there who are in the same boat. It's an internal battle but being here does make me feel less alone.

I think I'm going to go short - I can't do anything until the end of the month anyway as I'm skint now so am browsing lots of pixie cuts for inspiration!

Part of our issue is that we can't go out to do nice AF things together. I'd love to do cinema/meal/just a bloody walk, but with two young children, one/both ND, no local family, v v v limited childcare, its a rare, rare treat.
DH and I worked out we'd had about 6ish- definitely less than 10- nights alone in 10 years, and two of those were our honeymoon . Just an evening out together is something that happens once or twice a year.
So default is having a drink together at the weekend when the kids are finally asleep....

Here here to the waking up and remembering you didn't drink the night before, its a brilliant feeling, I give myself an imaginary pat on the back each morning. We'll done you guys who are managing a night out in pubs and meals out, not sure I'm there yet. I'm lucky my dh rarely drinks do there's no home temptation, if he did it wouldnt be my preferred tipple, he drinks white which I do not like. There's a bottle of white in the fridge which is very safe, however if there was a bottle of red in the house I wouldn't be so confident. I'm really pleased we're keeping this thread lovely and active through the second weekend of January. Off to the cinema shortly to see house of gucci. My sils birthday today and she's coming here for tea afterwards. She doesn't drink at all so is a very safe companion.

Unexpected benefits continue making me realise how much after 5 a drink affected stuff

• extra snacks from supermarket could be driven for
• take out could be collected rather than waiting 1.5 hours
• energy to choose to snooze this morning rather than feeling I couldn't actually get up

Keep at it folks. DH talking about going through to February now

My waist is going in! For months I've been trying to work out why it won't and it must be the wine.

Day 9’yay - but was asleep till 2 pm. That has to stop! But back to routine tomorrow - full time work and kids back to school. I have been give a new job offer and I’d love to take it but as I mentioned my father is terminally ill and will get sick at some point so I need an understanding workplace. I have more rights in current workplace but I’d love the pay rise and new start … gah but think I’m going to have to turn it down

@Lushmetender I'm sure he'd want you to go for it. If you look at the facts (even though it may be painful) , do you think it could work ? Only some people at your new place may find themselves in the same position at short notice. It's life. I'd hate to see you miss out.

[quote polkadotpjs]@Lushmetender I'm sure he'd want you to go for it. If you look at the facts (even though it may be painful) , do you think it could work ? Only some people at your new place may find themselves in the same position at short notice. It's life. I'd hate to see you miss out. [/quote]
I agree with this...

There is half a bottle of white wine in fridge that I could murder right now. We are having a roast dinner tonight. I'm having a mint tea but it's not the same. This is the worst bit of day for craving.