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'm in! Day 1 almost complete!

Budge up on the DJ bench - I'm in! Have been reading through everyone's posts nodding along. I really need to reset my wine drinking after it's crept up over the past few months and DH likewise re spirits. First day nearly done so am looking forward to getting into bed sober for the first time in a long time tonight.

My sober tipples of choice are Gordon's 0% or a grapefruit jiuce & tonic. I hate sweet soft drinks. They do need a bit of bite to them IMO.

Day 1 has been pretty easy for me. Probably because I've drank daily for the past 2 weeks so am well ready for a rest! Had a heavy one with Dh last night, we stayed in but polished off a fair bit of wine and gin between us. So I'm happy to have a day off today but I think as the days stretch on I will find it really hard.
Especially at the weekend.

Checking in. Had a very happy Hogmanay last night, and off to a good start today.
Zero alcohol. Going to have a hot chocolate and watch some TV in bed.

Myself and others have recommended The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober. Great book, but for any of you who are not big readers, the audiobook is on Spotify. Might help someone.

Looking forward to day 2 .

Glad not to be drinking tonight. I'm shattered! Work tomorrow. DH has announced he's doing dry Jan from 6th as he has a few more days off work. We both need to cut down so I'm pleased he's doing it too

Just checking in to say that I've finished my New Year's Day dinner and despite the "wine witch" telling me that I can start again tomorrow - I managed to resist and stay on the sparkling water.

I really want to do this.

Well done everyone 👏👏
Day 1 done for me - currently in my pjs watching Grease with a cup of tea.
I told my 17 year old daughter today I was doing DJ along with my partner, they'll both definitely keep me in check. Luckily my partner isn't a big drinker and regularly goes months without so I won't have that temptation at home.

Checking in on day 1. I had a lovely New Year's Day roast and (slightly less lovely) Nozeco. I've been listening to Dopamjne Nation on audible. It's really interesting. Wishing everyone a great start on this journey!

Almost done on day 1, just finishing off a can of Diet Coke (another habit to break, but one at a time!) and then I'll brush my teeth and get into bed which will remove any further temptation.

Feeling particularly virtuous as there's still some wine open from last night and DH suggested finishing off and starting tomorrow instead, but I turned it down and left it to him! Felt I couldn't give up after less than a day...

Day 4 done for me. I had done alcohol free kopperberg and alcohol free flexinet wine. I made a nice lasagna and focaccia bread. It was absolutely lovely. We watched a film tonight. We have been inside since Christmas eve as neither me or dh have been well and the kids were shattered and burnt out (2 are nuerodivergent). Tomorrow is time for a nice walk somewhere.

Day 1 done. Played a board game with DH and DS tonight and felt the urge to have a glass of wine at the same time,but it passed and now in bed with a cup of tea.
Guinness Zero is actually pretty good for anyone looking for options and makes you feel full so not so tempted to snack. Tonic and lime is refreshing but I start thinking about gin so it can be a bit dangerous. A mug of hot chocolate makes a nice change from cold drinks.

I've been AF for four months now. I drink AF Prosecco, and that works for me. I have no intentions of drinking much in the future. The big test will be going on holiday.

I'm in bed reading The Unexpected Joy Of Being Sober. I've started following a few sober accounts on TikTok I find those quite helpful too.
Onto day 2 tomorrow

Well done @BulldogMumma , day one is in the bag for us! That was a great plan putting in your PJs before wine ethanol o’clock.

Can’t wait for the positive feelings of carrying on with this mission, and ticking off more successful days.

I have just ordered that from Amazon as there are so many positive reviews on it.

My first NYE and NYD (birthday) booze free in years. The best gift to myself.
Feeling fresh after 7days AF. The anxiety is coming down very slowly.
I've redownloaded trydry it's really helped me over the years not just to stay dry for Jan but to monitor my intake all year round xx

Hi all, I'd like to join please! Hope I'm not too late to the party :)

After a good(ish) start (dry Jan until about the 27th!), 2024 ended up being a total disaster for me in terms of sorting out my drinking.
I'm early 40s and feel like my drinking is becoming really problematic in my life - it's stopping me from doing so many things and moving forward with goals and achievements. Also feel like I have really aged over the last couple of years and drinking is a large part of this.
I need to get a handle on it for my own sanity, health and relationships.
Hoping being on this thread will help. I intend to revisit a lot of the quit lit I have read previously and also will look out for any recommendations on here.
Good luck everyone!

I'd like to join please.

I'm a definite binge drinker. I can leave it for weeks on end, but when I do go out, it's a total hit or a miss how things will pan out. Every bad decision I've made comes back to alcohol.

I thought I'd got a grip this past year or so, and I think I've been telling myself to keep going, that I can learn to control it, but I went out the other night, and despite eating well, having a few glasses of water, I still have a blank space for the end of the night. I hate it.

I also have a young adult DC and I feel like a hypocrite.

DJ itself will be easy for me. I'm joining in here to try and keep it going past that, and as a reminder that I just don't have the control I want, so it's best to stop completely.

Good luck all. And sorry for your loss, OP

Good morning all
@AuraBora welcome, it's never too late to join. We're a friendly bunch on here.
@tryforthedry welcome to the thread, I can relate to what you're saying, when I've had periods of abstinence (not often) when I drink again it's like I'm making up for missing out. Last year I think I'd had a couple of weeks off, went out with my friend and ended up absolutely paralytic and ended up falling over. It's not a good look is it.
I woke early this morning thanks to the dog but feel better for not drinking last night, when I woke up I was really thirsty and for a second had to think if I'd had a drink last night. I've come back to bed with my coffee and looking forward to day 2

Morning all would love to join, day 2 for me been a binge drinker for 20+yrs early 40’s and perimenopausal alcohol is wreaking havoc with my sleep, weight and functioning brain when it’s working!! 😂
Did manage 3 months sobriety last year then December hit and unfortunately I caved and have drunk pretty heavily especially over Christmas as was in Thailand with family lots of cocktails on the beach.
I felt amazing in the last two months of sobriety it took me about 4 weeks to detox and get my sleep rhythm back, am aiming for 100 days this time.
Feeling very bloated and puffy atm but looking to get back in the gym tomorrow I love the benefits of being sober my only problem is I get used to the great feelings get complacent with them, unfortunately I then get bored and here we go again!!
Every time I go sober I feel very alone my friends are all big drinkers so I hate to socialise when I’m not drinking as I get all the comments and digs!! so can feel very isolating for me but I’m back to it and hopefully this sober life will stick for longer this time good luck to you all xx

I'm an absolute pisshead, ex hairy assed builder and all that. I don't mind not drinking but what to do with the hours when not drinking is a major issue, anything from 4 to 8 hours - I travel locally on the trains and buses, to where the best real ale is. When not drinking I usually end up watching and reading rubbish on the internet and diving down rabbit holes. Another problem is I'm fairly deaf, my eye sight is poor and other eye related complications like I suffer from ocular migraines, i live with chronic pain, for over 12 years now, and yep, alcohol kills the pain, both mental and physical pain, whilst drinking at least.

Due to a lumbar spine that looks like a pile of builders rubble I cant exercise like i used to. I cant really do yoga anymore - at least not like i used to. Swimming is out due to the extra pain it causes me, cycling is a no no, weights are off the menu - I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than 2 or 3 kg. I'm left with walking, which i love to do but hills are an issues, and i live in a hilly town. I do meditate daily, at least 45 minutes plus, I recommend it.

I'm not actively looking to complete a full 31 day DJ but if i can equal last years 17 dry days that will be a good start, I managed a try dry yellow tea cup yesterday. Strangely the last time i (unintentionally) went on the wagon was in 2015, I had a wisdom tooth out on the 12th January, my dentist told me not to drink, vape or smoke for 24 hours. I ended up not touching a drop of alcohol until my friends 30th birthday on 24th March 2017.

My main driver to cut down/ abstain are I need to lose weight (big time), plus the financial side of things, also when I drink I socially smoke.

Oh yes, I'm quite interested in the following acronym: IWNDWYT which stands for "I Will Not Drink With You Today". It's from a subreddit called r/StopDrinking, I quite like it but can only use it retrospectively, because I never really know on any particular day if I will drink of not. I have so many triggers but then of course it's so easy to turn a trigger into an excuse to drink.

I could've written your post @TimeForNosecco! I'd like to join too for accountability, Day 2 here for me, still feel awful after getting wrecked NYE and having a very boozy December. Would like 2025 to be different as looking back, I drank so much last year

Thanks to whoever suggested the Unexpected Joy of Being Sober on Spotify. I started listening last night. It is literally sobering. I recognise some of her thoughts and behaviours from earlier in my life. Now I "just" have bad habits.

DH took all of his beers out of the fridge yesterday. He's not officially doing DJ but recognises that we could both use at minimum a break from it.

Slept very well last night 😅 Awake early, but that's normal.

Also joining please ! Started dj on 31/12 due to work commitments I’m liking the 100 day idea!! Need this year to be the year I make big changes to physical and mental health

Good Morning everyone!

Start of Day 2 for me, but I've woken up with a sore throat and banging headache, not sure I like this sober lark, it's clearly bad for your health🤣
I enjoyed my lime and soda last night and took an Options salted caramel hot chocolate to bed with me, so happy with that.
Stay strong everyone💪