Dry January and beyond

[BulldogMumma]

I couldn't find a dry January thread so thought I'd make one.
I've posted on the alcohol threads before but never see it through. This year I'm determined to do dry January and even beyond.
My drinking has really crept up lately and I know I need to address it. I lost my mum this year due to alcohol and I don't want to go the same way. I've been using alcohol as a crutch since losing my mum but now's the time I stop relying on the wine and take back control.
Anyone else who wants to join me are more than welcome, would be good to have some buddies along the way x

I suppose my logic on the substitutes is that deflecting isn't really a problem as it still means you're not drinking. I know what you mean, it might not fully break the habit, but I think if it means you stay AF, then does it really matter? But then again, I did a full DJ last year and didn't keep it up, so maybe that's something to consider.

That said, I think AF beers are generally better than AF wine, which really is a very different drink. I did say to DH that I needed to take up beer drinking this year, just so I have better substitutes when it comes to DJ2026!

Lurker jumping on board!

Been jumping into bed every night and catching up on how everyone's doing. So day 11 just done here and can't tell you the last time I did that, actually last Jan where I made it to day 17!

Im one that doesn't drink to the point they don't remember or worry they've said something but seemed to have forgotten how to cook dinner without a glass of wine in hand and basically drank a lifetimes share in December and think I had 2 non booze days!

No idea where I'm going with this yet as can't get my head around not having a glass of wine on holiday etc so doing a day at a time.

Anxiety greatly reduced and slowly seeing sleep improved

Well done everyone

Goodness! Day 14 done and dusted! I've been so ridiculously busy I haven't even had time to think about booze. Still bloody tired though! Well done all

Oh and happy birthday @Hedjwitch

Morning all day 15 here!!
well done to everyone who’s beaten the cravings who’s had slip ups and got back on board! And especially those who’ve had birthdays and special occasions fantastic work how amazing to enjoy AF!
Haven’t got much to say other than I’m happy and healthy 😊 sleeping like a baby and have some impressive stats on my Apple Watch compared to when I was drinking.
My moods have been a bit all over the place been feeling some rage it doesn’t last long but it’s like a red mists 😂 not sure where it’s coming from but that could be hormones!
Any how look at us half way through!! Well done to you all long may this continue I’m enjoying being AF

Morning everyone day 16 here!! Hope everyone has a good day!

Day 18 today for me. I honestly cannot remember the last time I haven't had a drink this long outwith when I was pregnant and found abstaining easy. My gallbladder was playing up when I was drinking which is one of the reasons I am doing DJ. I have had lifelong issues with it but it was definitely worse recently. I have just been trying to keep busy. That's fairly easy on the week as the kids have evening activities etc. Friday and sat night are my struggle nights. This Friday I am going to the cinema with a friend and one of the dcs has a birthday party early Sunday morning. It's a 30 minute drive away so I won't be drinking on sat night.

Morning all
Day 15 here pretty much halfway through I'm so proud of myself and all of you.
Today I've woke up with the clearest head I've had all January, I've had a few mornings where I've had to think to myself "did I drink last night" because I felt a bit groggy.
This thread is filling up fast! I'll check in later and make a thread 2 if need be.
Have a great day all ❤️

Morning😁
Day 15 and all well here. Sleeping wonderfully, not falling asleep in front of the TV every night and I'm sure my face has slimmed down.
Birthday today but not even feeling particularly challenged, got a wonderful bottle of Rioja in the wine rack and no real interest in it.
Still pondering a whole life AF though. I want to, desperately, but having a glass or two is so wrapped up in having fun😏

Halfway there ! Well done everyone

Morning all!
well done to all of us still here- great job.
i have found this much easier than last year. I don’t now feel like I want a drink at all which is astonishing. After the first weekend it stopped feeling onerous .
Last year I caved at 2 weeks and felt miserable the entire time.
this time I am enjoying the clarity I feel at work. Being without the hangover affects of alcohol has made me much. Calmer, more clear headed and engaged.
i work in a primary school.
i have been listening to the unexpected joy of being sober- it has really made me think, especially the chapter on unplugging from the alcohol matrix.
sleep is better I suppose but I am now waking to go to the loo🤔.
I wonder what I will do when this month has finished. I feel like I would like to have a drink but I also eat the way if makes me feel the next day and don’t want to have to go through another detox.
interestingly I have developed a real taste for coffee at work. I only ever used to drink tea. Seems like I need the stimulant?🤷🏻‍♀️

Happy Birthday @flicitytricity!

Day 15 and honestly no real cravings so far.

I've been doing a financial review of last year and have worked out how much I have spent on Deliveroo etc. 90% of which will have been buying more wine or food related to drinking/ hangovers. That added to wine I will have bought from the shop adds up to a massive chunk of my disposable income 😱

We have a family holiday booked in April and I've decided to try to stay AF until then.

For me abstinence is much easier than moderation.

I don't really drink on holiday anyway as there is too much to do/explore and I like to be fresh. I do like to have a couple of beers with DH in the evening but find it easy to stick to the planned amount.

I can take or leave any alcohol other than wine.

Have a great day all.

Happy Birthday @Flicitytricity hope you have a lovely day

i keep waking up all disorientated from what feels like a really deep sleep. Oh yeah I have been having drunk dreams too! I went on a reckless train holiday to a city and a gig in some skates that I lost and was falling around making a fool of myself

Day 15 here we go

Happy Birthday to those celebrating and well done for not drinking. DH bday next week. He's unexpectedly joined me on dry Jan although he's not calling it that, but hasn't had a drink since I stopped. Didn't realise he had been reading my copy of the naked mind and came back from Sunday ranting about alcohol placement in the supermarket. Said it's been a real eye opener. Although would be shocked if he did a dry birthday but will see.

Another one with the drunk dreams. Day 3 I had a dream that I got really drunk and lost the dog in the forest. I woke up and it took me a good few minutes to realise I hadn't drunk or lost the dog which was a huge relief.

Sleep was shocking last night. Where is this magical sober sleep everyone talks about?

Day 12 on its way here

Happy birthday 🥳 🎂

Happy birthday @Flicitytricity !🎂
(I automatically looked for the glasses chinking - see how ingrained it is?)

I have a challenging though hopefully fun day today as I’m travelling to meet new work colleagues for a belated Christmas do. I have worked for the company 8 months but only met the owner as I work remotely. We are doing a pottery class and then having dinner and as it’s all paid for I’m sure there will be lots of wine. I’m a bit introverted so meeting lots of new people is out of my comfort zone. Wish me luck staying on the wagon!

@Miloarmadillo2 you've got this!!

I hope all goes well and you have a fun day!

Picture how doubly proud you will feel tonight when you have had another AF free day & proved to yourself you don’t need alcohol to talk to people.

I would be feeling exactly like you are now so have my assurance you can absolutely do this 🤗

The try dry app has a little achievements/events section and I'm sure one is works Christmas party. I find it really satisfying ticking off the days but not the chance to tick off any events yet

Oh I didn't mean to imply that substitutes were wrong or bad! As you 💯 say, it's whatever gets you through DJ! I guess there are no good dry white wine substitutes so I'd be drinking something 'alien' to my usual alcohol, anyway.

Anyway, I got up 2 times in the night for a wee (when drinking, it was occasionally once or never); I slept in til 8 (from 11:30) and I don't have the low grade headache I've normally had since 1/1, so that's all good!

i’ve been dreaming lots also! Which is nice I usually don’t remember them, there not as entertaining as yours @Sammy900 😂😆 what an adventure!! Mine are a bit odd lots of faces from the past don’t know it means for us both haha!!

Yeah I am talking about breaking habits. It depends what your motivation is. If you really want to stop drinking alcoholic beer long term/frequently I am not sure it would be helpful to drink AF beer every single night because you are maintaining a habit, the expense and the taste of beer. I have done the same thing and didn’t build in any new habits so I went straight back to my old habits. Getting up off the sofa and not sitting there all night thinking about AF or alcoholic drinks was helpful to stop old habits. But if you just want to give up for Jan and you don’t overdo drinking generally and it’s occasional and helps you stop drinking alcohol then it works. It’s about context.

I think the person who posted was wondering (I might be wrong) if her DH sitting drinking lots of AF beers in Jan was helpful to break habits and I replied perhaps not.

Yes it was me that asked that. I’d say we both drink too often rather than too much - never get drunk but polish off a bottle of wine between us several times a week. If I’m not drinking DH would probably choose beer so I think by drinking a significant quantity of AF he’ll go straight back to it in Feb and for me the habit is the glass of wine and the telly at the end of a long busy day. Food for thought for what happens next …

Morning all. Well done everyone - some really inspiring success stories, especially those who have got through big events.

@Miloarmadillo2 , a work do can be challenging, especially as leaving early isn't always an option. I always found I would be tempted to drink more in social situations, and a work do has an added layer of tension. I used to find it helped to think of it like a conference rather than a party and I'd attend as my professional self rather than my real self, if that makes sense! But you might find you're not the only one doing DJ, which could make it easier.

So I have found my favourite AF treat drink 😃. The Tanqueray 0% gin with Trip Lemon & Basil was absolutely gorgeous and one of the nicest drinks I've ever had. (I do also love the 0% Guinness, so that's a close second.) I think the fact that there is a relaxing effect with the Trip means it feels like having a real drink, and I'm hoping I can incorporate it into my routine after January.

@Neptunium93 I might have to give the Trip and Tanqueray drink a go! They had Trip on offer in my local Waitrose the other day, should have got some!

I think it was you who asked about my recommendation which was the reduced 0% spirit I'd found - its Warners 0% Pink Berry distilled spirit. Really delicious- quite bitter with tonic but I like that as makes me sip it slowly. That said whereas I bought it at a reduced price of £6 , I see it's usually £16-17 so not a cheap option! I think you can make it go a long way tho!

I'm also a big fan of camomile tea - always have been - but I can only have at most one cup an evening, otherwise too many nightime toilet trips!

It's interesting reading people's of drinking /not drinking and nightime toilet trips. I think as I was drinking mostly beer, I was finding myself needing to go several times in the night and that was really affecting my sleep.
It's much better now as I will l only have either one cup of camomile and water, or maybe one of my 0% spirit drinks with tonic, and some water later.

Day 18 and I am loaded with the cold after just getting over a sinus and chest infection. Is anyone else constantly ill this winter? I had hoped stopping drinking would boost my immune system but do far that's not been the case.