Calling time on wine: 100 days sober - starting 01/01/26

[reset100]

My wine drinking has slowly spiralled into a daily habit and I’m calling time on it. No drama, no rock bottom - just the realisation that it’s become a crutch and I want out of the swirl.

From 1st January, I’m committing to 100 days sober and I’d love others to join me. This isn’t about moderation or “just weekends” - it’s about a clean break and supporting each other to go completely alcohol-free for the full 100 days.

If alcohol has crept in as a daily default, if you’re tired of negotiating with yourself every evening, or if you simply want a proper reset with people who get it, you’re very welcome here.

No judgement. No pressure. Just accountability, honesty, and support.

Good idea @freshstart2026! And Traitors, if its on tonight !!

I'm in, been doing 5 or 6months alcohol free for the last 3 years... the savings basically pay for my heating bill for the winter easily plus i feel/sleep better.... i don't know why i start drinking again in july... maybe this year will be different.

Morning all - day 3.

@chatgptsbestmate my DC both left home to move into their own flats within the last year. I love the quietness of them not being here but it also gave me an excuse to drink more. They hated me drinking owing to my past problems so when the last one went, I was “free” to drink wine in the evenings, which just escalated. Fortunately they are fairly close by so I am able to meet up for lunch, cinema etc. I will not drink with you tonight though, so stay positive 💐

@freshstart2026 my DH is a snorer too and I often go to the spare room but last night was the first night I’ve slept since before Christmas Day. I suffer with terrible insomnia at times but last night was a good night. I’m also doing a bit of clearing out today - a big kitchen cupboard which is just rammed with 💩. Then I’m doing my knicker drawer which has way too many items I will never wear again but everyday I’ve to wade through them to find a bra and pants that actually fit me lol.

I’m going to the gym in about half an hour for the first time in forever - not because of drinking, just due to working extra and getting out of the habit. I know it will be full of the “new year you me” peeps who will likely only last a few weeks, but it will do me good to see that not everyone is drinking wine at night and suffering the next morning.

How’s everyone else doinng?

I just want to add that if anyone has “broken” the 100 days, still keep posting here, or on another thread, for support ❤️

Thank you, @Youdontseehow! Let's not drink together! I'm thinking of trying pomegranate juice (read about it upthread) with perhaps some ginger and lemon juice. And ice ❤️

Morning.
Day 1 ✅
@chatgptsbestmate I understand why today is challenging because habit is what we're trying to break. It was a habit for you to drink when the kids went home.
I'd make a plan today - a list of things I need to do. Good and bad ! From having a clear out to having a nice bath.
@jasflowers I find winter easier. Yet last year I was alcohol free from June til November - sheer willpower really. I substituted wine in the garden, watching tennis, etc with some lovely af drinks. This year can be different 💪

Interestingly @jasflowers I hardly ever think about the cost benefits of not buying wine. I don't know why! AND I often worry about my heating bills in the winter! Thank you! ❤️

@chatgptsbestmate if you like ginger, ginger beer is great. Especially poured into a 'new' wine glass.
Voila ! Your new habit ❤️

Morning all. Slightly disappointed I had a dreadful nights sleep. It’s taking me hours to drop off then I was wide awake at three! Was like the Olden Days except I wasn’t sweating and promising myself I wouldn’t drink tonight.
I remember my last 105 days when the good sleep started it was bloody epic! I’m thinking it will take a few weeks to change the neurological pathways or whatever?
When I was sleeping I had crazy dreams and I know that’s a sign of more REM and this will continue for a while too.
Whilst awake last night I thought of a few things re drinking ( and me)
• I drink because I’m bored but will slugging back a drink make me less bored? Certainly it takes your mind off it for a while but can drinking a liquid suddenly give you a thrilling night ( sat on one’s own?) I think not..

• With the amount I spend on wine (tracking in the Dry Days app) I am going to treat myself to some serious beauty treatments in a couple of months
•I’ve realised I don’t need alcohol to socialise or have a good time. I really don’t. Some people hsve said that they have social anxiety or feel dull without the drink, it’s actually the drunk people who are dull and repetitive. And I was one of them. If you feel anxious when out just stand back and say nothing- there’s always someone else who loves to hear themselves speak lol ( I’m being harsh but only to bang home my point)
I could go on but my plan over the weekend is to stop thinking about wine at all. Just stop - it’s ridiculous how much I do and as someone said upthread, try to think of all the positives and what I am gaining rather than losing out on!

I am posting a lot I know ( sorry) but it is really helping me and I’m looking forward to reading over my posts in a few weeks or months and seeing how I have progressed
Happy Saturday folks.

@SwiftyFifty no need to apologise - ❤️
Well done on last night, that's a brilliant result.
I don't sleep too great either, but much better than when I'm drinking.
At least when I wake a little tired / jaded, I'm not feeling sick, headachy, anxious, poor (£££s).

Friday (last night) and Saturday nights are my trigger days, where it's the end of an always stressful week, i don't need to be up in the morning so time to reward myself.

I live in a rural area so if there's no wine in the house I have to get in the car and go out (and its cold) so last night was my first test to not go to the shop on my way home, promised myself a large af g and t if i got desperate but once it got to 9pm I was fine.

Off food shopping today so will try and swerve the wine aisle x

Please post away @SwiftyFifty - reading other people’s posts on this thread is literally keeping me going!

I’ve only ever done Dry January before, and on every occasion I’ve been obsessed with counting down days to the “finish line”. 100 days feels different because it’s a much longer period. I feel I can focus more on why I drink, and how I can change habits long term, without simply counting down days and fixating on February 1st.

I realized that because I had started drinking at 14 and was shy, I had never actually learned how to socialize. Instead I just drank alcohol and went where it took me. For me that's where the mindset of being curious rather than judging helped me navigate it. First work Christmas party - I learned that as soon as the slurring starts it's time to leave. Class Mum's night out where I already feel a bit awkward - I learned I can skip these occasions altogether. Weddings - I learned I can do lovely one on one chats and dance the night away sober. So I have learned what I like and where I bloom and where it's horrible. And I give myself permission to leave!

Yes the same started at 15 and have very rarely socialised without alcohol. The odd times I have , I have surprised myself!
I sm so much more productive today! Enjoyed walking the dog ( usually a chore with a hangover in a Saturday) and I’m off to return sone clothes after. I have booked the cinema for tomorrow and I know I will actually go!

Morning all
Hope you managed some sleep 😴

I won’t lie - getting to sleep feels harder right now. I stayed up far too late and was awake again at 5.30am, but eventually crashed back out till 10. Early days I’m riding this phase out 🙃

BUT… here’s the win! I woke up with zero fuzzy, grim, cotton-wool head. I bloody love that feeling. No dread, no headache, no replaying last night in my head. That alone feels worth pushing through.

Heading into the weekend feels like the real test, so I thought it might help to share some alcohol-free tools. Add yours too - we’re building a survival kit after all.

Weekend Toolkit

Decide before 5pm
Don’t negotiate with yourself at witching hour. Decide now: I’m not drinking today. End of debate.

Replace the ritual
Same glass. Same time. Different liquid.
Sparkling water, ice, lime, AF beer, fancy cordial — trick your brain.

Early nights are allowed
This isn’t failure, it’s strategy. Netflix, book, bed. Boring is better than hungover.

One-hour rule
If a craving hits, promise yourself you won’t decide for one hour. Cravings peak and pass.

Have an exit plan
If you’re out and it’s getting edgy - leave. You owe nobody a performance.

Morning-you matters more than evening-you
Picture tomorrow morning. Clear head, no shame, no headache.

keep on trucking people, we’ve got this!

What is with this not sleeping?! I thought I’d sleep like a baby, that’s supposed to be one of the benefits! My mind was whirring away again till 1 last night, and then I kept waking up. It’s like I’m super-energised - almost to a bit of a hyper point - in the evening now - was the booze just dampening this? Hopefully just a short-term thing. Anybody else finding this?

Hi can I join please? Probably do 3 bottles a week not to get drunk but to help relax. Ds doesn't sleep well and wine makes it 100 times worse. Also makes me feel lower on low days

@reset100 yes to it all.

• being hangover free is the best thing about not drinking. Possibly joint first with the Not Texting Shite to people😣 *playing it forward is a strategy that has worked for me. It's not easy if the seed has been planted, but mostly it works.
• telling yourself Just For Today ( I won't drink) and No Matter What ( I won't drink) work for me, too. @OnewaytoRio I must admit I sleep better when af. Not perfectly, but better. I hear people say this a lot though that it takes time. Keep on keeping On. It should get better. @Helplessandheartbroke hallo and welcome. I think a lot of people are the same - 3 bottles a week was what I used to have. I drank to get drunk and relax. Lots of reasons really - boredom, reward, escapism. Is today your Day 1? And yes, it's a depressant. We think it'll make us feel better, or cope better, but it never does. Nothing good comes from drinking really. I suppose we're led to believe it's a fun thing to do - it lies to us.

It takes quite a while for your body to reset.

Everyone knows about the effect of alcohol on the liver, and maybe the brain too, but the effects on the kidneys are less well thought of.

If you like to understand the science behind the effect of alcohol on the body, take a listen to Huberman lab episode from 22 August 2022 - what alcohol does to the body, brain and health.

He’s a bona fide Harvard professor who explains things really well (and for free). He was actually recommended to me to listen to the podcasts about sleep (or lack of!) and I stumbled on the alcohol one.

Basically there is a pathway between your brain and kidneys which alcohol disrupts. This leads to our adrenal glands (on the kidneys) producing too much cortisol aka the stress hormone. Even if you drink small amounts often, you produce extra cortisol and, importantly, you will therefore feel more anxious even when you are not drinking.

That and the disruption to brain chemical transmitters takes around 2 to 6 months to reset.

I recommend listening to this free podcast. It shocked me to hear the deep dive into just what alcohol does to our bodies - it’s both fascinating and frightening!

I find the same - if I've had a drink then I'm shorter and snappier with the kids for at least three days after and just don't have much tolerance for non issues. It doesn't help any of us, and makes me feels shit about it.

By day 4-5 is when REM sleep starts coming back properly. Falling asleep is still annoying, but you’re less wired.. takes a little time but we ride it out!

Welcome! 🤗 This is how it starts so you doing good to quit at the early stage. Initially it does help you relax but before you know it - it’s the emotional crutch you reach for every night!

Possibly joint first with the Not Texting Shite to people😣

OMG this is the worst for me. I send messages to people when I’m drunk, thinking I’m being witty, then read them back the next morning and cringe 🙈 😬 Same also with social media posts. It’s so good to be in control and NOT do that!

I’ve had a productive morning - I’ve done a big clean of the kitchen, which is now spotless, including the fridge, which I discovered had some horrible sticky spillage behind the bottom drawers. Something must have leaked ages ago and I hadn’t noticed. I’ve also put a big load of laundry on and have got more waiting to go 💪 This feels good! Not going to lie, I am thinking a lot about wine, but I’m just trying to ignore those thoughts and keep myself busy.

I slept a little better than usual last night - that's not saying much, as I'm a terrible sleeper and often awake for the day at 4.30! Hoping that abstaining might fix this. Resisting cravings at 5pmish is my downfall - I live alone and evenings can be long, so I think that's why the alcohol is calling.

@Onlymeandyou do you have it in ?
I never do. If it's in, I drink it.
If I've not started drinking by lunchtime, I'm winning, as I never started in the evening.
Hope you manage to not drink Just For Today.❤️
@freshstart2026 I think it's common to think about it. When I first started trying to give up, I'd have a thought about it, and cave. Then I gradually started telling myself just because I'm having a thought it doesn't mean I have to act on it.
I've just had a thought that the shed needs a good clear out, but I managed to ignore that thought.
I'm now in bed drinking diet coke and eating chocolate coins 🤣