No alcohol in 2024

[Noalcohol2024]

I gave up alcohol for an entire year 10 years ago and I am going to challenge myself to do it again in 2024. Anyone want to join me? I won’t lie I found it really hard. However, it did help me reset my habitual drinking. I feel ready to do it again. If anyone else feels a year off alcohol is something they want to do then join me on January 1st. I am going to take the next few days being honest with myself and reflecting on why I feel this challenge is something I need to do. Anyone who starts on January 1st with me can include their reasons in the introduction (if they wish to). I have a big birthday this year so I know it will be a challenge on that day as-well as Christmas and New Year 2024 but I am determined.

@glindathegoodbitch Wow I resonate with the thinking of summer BBQ’s with chilled wine. Every time I think of summer, I envisage myself sitting in the garden with a large glass of Rose.

I really hope I too can stay AF past Summer.
So far it has not been too bad keeping busy at weekends to take my mind off Alcohol.
I have noticed now on week 3, I am getting spots on my face. Toxins must be slow in my body as I would have expected these to appear after week one.
Got to say loving the deep sleep I am now having. Going to bed at 10pm, I don’t see 11pm as I am already asleep.
take care everyone , we are over the half way mark for January xx

Checking in for week 4!! Well done to everyone still bumping along on the sober waggon.

@glindathegoodbitch I agree with everything you've said about alcohol! Except for having thoughts that storms are best enjoyed with a glass of wine 😊 I'm finding it tough to enjoy most things but watching a storm, or heavy rain is a definite sober pleasure for me. The feel of cool air on your skin, the smell of the rain and the grass, the subtle feel of the thunder and tension in the atmosphere, is, for me, lost if I drink.

I had my first sober meal out, ever, today. I practically left scratches in the wooden tabletop but I did do it. Hopefully it gets easier and less of an endurance test over time.

Good luck everybody, nearing one month down now, we can do this x

Checking in as well. Thank you for your kindness everyone. And thanks for the links and articles people have shared.
Keep going everybody.

Checking in at three weeks today. Very proud of this. Can't wait to make it a full month! I've done a lot of a craft project and read three books in the last few weeks, as well as assorted house jobs like reorganising. Pretty sure a few pounds are off too. Planning to keep it up :)

Checking in.

It has been a challenging week. Work is crazy and lots of deadlines and demands plus the juggling of secondary school parenting and all the things I need to do/remember/pay for.

I’ve kept plodding along and working through things. I’ve said no to a lot of things social engagements which would involve drinking as two have a free bar all night. I’m not too bothered as I’m not in the place to attend sober just yet.

skin looks brighter although I’m brewing a new batch of zits (batch two since stopping).

sugar cravings have subsided and my eating of regular meals regime is still in place. I wasn’t eating enough usually start with a glass of wine on an empty stomach in the evening and then go off the idea of food.

anxiety has remained 1/10 where before at times it was off the chart.

I do feel a bit nothingy still but haven’t had any strong urges maybe a bit of rose tinted thinking while watching tv with people drinking bubbles in the sun or a sensible glass of red with a meal.

keep going you lovely lot

@Limeandsober I totally get you regarding tv and the appeal of alcohol. It’s all rainbows and smiles on tv shows and the actors sipping their drink making it look normal, sophisticated and sexy. Non reality, lol! I remind myself that it is non reality. I think like cigarettes, in time, there will be heavier restrictions on glamourising alcohol in the media.

Checking in for week 4 and looking forwad to dry Feb too.

It's been great reading all the various posts and words of encouragement. Great to be a part of this. Keep going everyone!

So- the most F*ing irritating thing has happened in the last few days.
I was doing super well, feeling very happy and really genuinely thinking about the long term of all of this.
Yesterday and today, I spoke to several friends whom I have not seen since the Christmas period or before- including my best friend since school. Life is busy and we see each other when we can, but usually every few months- it always ends in wine.

I'm not ready to pull out the 'I think I might be sober from now on' card yet as it just raises too many questions that I can't be arsed to answer... You know the ones I mean- Are you saying you're an alcoholic, can't you just drink socially, why on earth would you do that?

Anyway, all friends (separately) suggested meeting up for drinks and I countered with I'm doing Dry Jan, lets do coffee and a walk... and every single one of them said 'Let's leave it until February!'... one of them ( a Doctor) even said, 'My god, why would you do that to yourself??'

I am slightly scared that I'm going to be "Sober Billy No Mates", but I'm more cross about the fact that I know feel very deflated.
Maybe putting a shelf life on my new found shiny sobriety gave them an out and the impression I was just being a bit of a smug twat (Yes, one of them called me a smug twat)... and that I'd be 'back to normal' soon.

But the truth is, I can't remember the last time I felt normal. Not hungover, not congratulating myself for not drinking that day, not rewarding myself for going a whole day sober, not pissed and not hungover again in an endless loop.
Not bargaining, not counting down the minutes, not sat up at 3am with shame and guilt, not worried that eventually I'm going to let all the balls drop and someone is going to get hurt.

I feel ok- not 'normal' yet, and I had a massive wobble at 7am this morning, looking at my blackboard with the chalk prison lines thinking (25 today) 'God, that's e-f*cking-nough now', I totally can handle having a drink- I've made my point'.

7am on a Tuesday fricking morning.

I'm so cross and I need a better line of defence. I'm absolutely loving feeling fresh and calm- but it all feels a little less 'shiny' now 😔

Big love to all. I'm so impressed with how strong everyone is being.
If anyone is experiencing the same dread of sober loneliness, pick up your booze-free knickers and don't let the bastards grind you down lovelies- you are funny and kind and awesome and a good enough friend without the booze (I'm going to repeat this to myself daily until I find someone that wants to hang out with me and drink tea 😂)

@glindathegoodbitch I have similar friends the difference is on a night out when they stopped drinking I continued. I am the friend everyone likes to drag out when they want to go clubbing and drinking (my husband always picks us up too so I think this helps). I have tapered off the last year and stopped going out as much choosing to come home early. I don’t have much advice other than your not their toy to fill up with booze and watch go (that’s how I felt in the depths of my alcohol despair). My friends now know it’s a spa day with afternoon tea, a long walk and a coffee or a walk up a big hill or mountain. My parents have even agreed not to drink at my big birthday meal in a restaurant as they’ve realised how much happier I am without booze ruling my moods.

Stay strong if that’s what you want don’t beat yourself up if you do slip. I’ve been honest with my friends and this year’s activities with friends and family are very different than previous years.

Ask your boys how they feel? My son has always been my biggest sober supporter.

@Noalcohol2024 sat at my desk with big fat ploppy tears running onto my paperwork reading your reply. I desperately want my boys to be my sober fans. the youngest told me to " Chill out have a glass of wine" a few days ago.
It was like being slapped across the face. Before I would have found it funny (and probably done just that) but it was so awful to hear now I can reflect on how damaging it all is.

I have the feeling I'm going to lose a lot of friends over the next year- I'm definitely the 'pissed funny one'... until I'm the boring, slurring, overbearing rude one.

I'm so determined to do this- I just hadn't been outside my little comfort zone of my husband and you guys so far. It was very.... sobering (see what I did there).

Big girl resilience pants required.

@glindathegoodbitch do you need to make an announcement? I don't plan to. I've been out with friends a couple of times since I stopped and just discreetly ordered tonic with dinner and AF beer in the bar afterwards. Honestly I don't think anyone particularly noticed. Could you do that? I don't think it has to be a big deal if you don't make it one. Or if you don't think that works just go along and say you're not drinking TODAY because you've been feeling rough.
As the child of alcoholic parents I can tell you you're definitely doing your boys a favour by not drinking. My own drinking problems were at least in part a behaviour I learned from my parents.

And sorry to say it but if your friends would drop you because you don't want to drink alcohol then they're not really your friends anyway. I know that sounds harsh.
One of DHs best mates gave up alcohol about 15 years ago. It's never really been a big deal. They either meet up and do something non-alcohol related, or he has a diet coke while the others have beer. Nobody's thought him a weirdo or anything.

Hi folks.. also checking in for week 4 :)

@glindathegoodbitch Try and focus on getting the day of sobriety under your belt. Don’t think about February. It just gets overwhelming! ‘Never drink again’ ahhhhhhhh! Not drinking is not as big of a deal to your mates as you might think. People are too busy with their own lives to care what someone else is doing. When you meet up and tell them you’re not drinking you can give whatever reason you like or FA of a reason. Either way your friends aren’t going to be thinking of you as much as you may think. If you’re good friends with these people you will meet up and do other things. If it’s all booze you may find you will gravitate towards the new people you’re going to meet being sober. There’s so much more time for new hobbies and endeavors when booze is out and that’s exciting. Chin up and remember why you’re doing this. Set a small goal today of something to work toward to keep your motivation up.

Had a good chat to DH last night and he subtly reminded me of all the friends I stopped seeing over the years because they didn't fit into my 'get as drunk as possible' plan... and also the friends I no longer see because of stupid pissed up arguments 😳

You're right @Jeffsmeffsmiff no need for a big announcement, I'm going to arm myself with some good excuses and just get on with life.

I'm taking January to eat what I want and concentrate on sleeping well. February I'm going to start concentrating on undoing some of the damage I've done to my body, my skin and hair and look at my dress sense. I'm going to use the money I've saved to buy some new work clothes 🤣

So good to see so many check ins this week ❤️

So much of what you say resonates with me @glindathegoodbitch and I would say it's likely there are many people out there like you and I.

I too have encountered having socials delayed until February. I've managed to be driver for the first social so that's good. Will I sit there while everyone else drinks and think 'sod it, I could have just one?' Totally. Would it be worth it at this stage? Totally not.

My HCP head tells me that anyone who is worried about losing friends by being sober, needs to be blunt and say they were in the alcoholic range and they have been advised to quit for health reasons.

It's funny you say one of your friends is a doctor and thinks dry January is madness. That's basically what 90% of my colleagues say, despite us knowing and seeing the damage of alcohol on patients. Would we tell them they're mad for quitting smoking? It's laughable. Fortunately one of my colleagues is a lifelong non-drinker so I choose to channel his mantra that if you think something is a problem, stop doing it.

I have to admit my husband and I are not looming for complete sobriety yet but equally are not actively planning to drink. So we are just seeing how January goes. One step at a time seems to be the key as pledging for a year or lifetime is just overwhelming.

@glindathegoodbitch I think you might find you look around at what your friends are doing and remove yourself before anyone does it for you. Sounds like a crowd that rely on booze to have a wild 'fun' night out, which it sounds like you, like me, are sick of. Don't sweat it, your people will stay and be picked up along the way.

I stayed awake the WHOLE day yesterday, first time in January 🙂 And despite max stress levels at home, I've not been tempted to drink and actually feel quite fresh this morning. Hopefully progress! Looking forward to my Goodrays on Friday 🙂 Those to me are an ideal alternative and I'm looking forward to it almost as much as I would wine.

I’ve just woken up!

Honestly, my sleep is so different. Even the dog sitter who picks up the neighbours dogs (in a van full of dogs barking) at 8 am didn’t wake me.

I prefer the gym and swimming pool early so February I’ll be trying to get up earlier. 0945 is unheard of for me 😂. Walk and swim today. Focusing on food in February.

Last week of January so pleased I made it this far.

Sleep is amazing for me too @Noalcohol2024 . I treated myself to new bedding and new pillows this week (using money that would have been previously spend on vino) and last night I had the best sleep yet!
I've also made a list of some things for the house I want to treat myself too as I go along - another incentive not to pour money away.

@TeeNoG I love the new bedding feel.

I feel like health, recovery and peace is drivng me now instead of wine o’clock and salty snacks. The money situation is good for us too as we are supporting our son by paying his rent and bills while he is at Uni and the alcohol money is covering this which is an embarrassing realisation of just how much money we spent on alcohol!

I’ve just ordered a £70 New Year Kamboucha bundle to help with February. The CBD drinks are delicious and I still have a few left but they make me dream mad things so I’ll stick to the Kamboucha drinks.

https://www.no1living.com/products/copy-of-immunity-and-gut-health-bundle

This is what I have ordered.

https://www.no1living.com/products/brewery-rose-blush?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=flow&utm_campaign=Browse%20Abandonment%3A%20Email%20%231&_kx=NLz2eFipIRGzotj2b-jGqYVW58wFzv-61nXxoCPfWts%3D.SjFkxh

Anyone tried this? Thinking about getting it.

I haven't tried it but let us know what it's like if you do

This looks great - I've dried the shots but not the drinks. I didn't realise you could order bundles, that's good to know.

Oh I love the idea of new bedding! What a treat- shame I have to share it with my snorey husband. He was so loud last night, he sounded like a warthog was doing something non-consensual to a bag of cats.

Anyway, I digress- I've saved £141 so far ( and brought back 1 day, 7.49 hours of my life apparently!) The EasyQuit Drinking app is fab, it breaks down lots of different health stats and gives you targets that will be reached as you go along. I'll try and screenshot it in a bit.

I'm sleeping so much better, and I am so grateful for that. If I only have one reason to not return to my previous habits, it's that I get more than a few hours a night sleep, and if the sleep troll does do his best to drive me mental at night, I can deal with it and most of the time, fall back to sleep.