Dry Jan 2026- anyone care to join in?

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Since there doesn’t seem to be a dedicated dry Jam thread I thought I would start one and see if I get any company.
I so need this. Drinking has made me feel sluggish, anxiety ridden and awful. I remembered how great I felt doing it last year but slipped back into old habits far too easily.

Well done all! Another dry weekend here, I was tempted at our favourite cosy restaurant but I had an AF beer which kills of all cravings for wine as they just don’t mix!! I am missing wine but I like the feeling of not drinking!

Checking in, it's been OK, and I want newbies to know that it definitely gets a lot easier over time if you keep doing it.

I do find the Try Dry app quite good with the updates. You now get to log mood, energy, cravings, and I'm finding it really interesting to look at the cravings and see that they've been either weak or very weak throughout, not even hit moderate. Thats 5 years in, last year would have been very different and the first year a shit show. So persistence with DJ is a good thing.

Now I've just got to remember come Feb that I can live craving free and don't need to do this to myself. My goal is to only drink one or two nights of the week, starting to feel more achievable.

@Nothungrycat how awful for you, sending you much love. If that's not an excuse for a whisky then I don't know what is.

I also fell off the wagon this weekend. I had (and enjoyed) a couple of wines on Saturday and it has made me think of how I want to approach this after January is over. I don't want to give up completely, however I will be setting myself some rules moving forward eg: wine ONLY at the weekend/special events, no more than 2 glasses per night, ask myself if I actual want to have a drink rather than automatically have one because its Friday, etc, have a decent selection of no-alcoholic drinks in the fridge.

Back on the wagon now - I won't want one all week. We have a party at the weekend but I'll probably drive and take some AF gins with me.

Spent last night having dinner with bestie and staying over at her house. Really pleased with myself for not cracking and staying AF. That was a test.

@Nothungrycat sorry for the loss of your kitty.
Day 20 - definitely better sleep but also going to bed earlier because the evenings just feel boring! I went to a weightlifting class last night and felt like She-Ra even though I was bench pressing a bar with no weights on the end! DJ made me question how we spend our evenings - we are a bit stuck at home because of not leaving the children and needing to ferry them around but we could do better than collapse in front of the telly with a bottle of wine. DH is also doing DJ and has restarted his weekly yoga class.

That is a great result @Hedjwitch , well done.
I'm yet to be socially challenged, and just don't know if I can do it, I so equate sociable events with a glass or 6- therein lies the problem- of wine.

Facing a huge hurdle this weekend. I have real one off social occasion. Away overnight in a lovely place with a meal, dancing with a lovely group of friends who will all be enjoying a drink.
What to do? Do I treat myself to a night off DJ?

I'm still going, no wine at all for nearly 3 weeks now - very pleased with myself. I have tried a Trip canned drink this week which made a change. I don't like any sweet drinks, but I'm enjoying trying new things. I mentioned to a friend of mine who is a lifelong heavy drinker (age 87, not going to change now) that I was doing Dry January and he looked aghast and said 'WHY??' I would have thought that was obvious, but maybe not!

You have all been amazing. Well done to all of you x

So sorry about your cat @Nothungrycat I can totally understand why you had a few drinks 💐

Well that's day 20 pretty much Ticked off 🥳 is anyone thinking about carrying on after January? I am thinking about keeping on going to 100 days.

I have had 2 alcohol free weekends in a row. Complexion has improved as has 😴. Onwards and upwards.

Personally I wouldn't... for me if I gave myself a night off I would totally abuse it and take it too far. I would tell myself im not drinking and see how i went, with the view that it could end up a pleasant surprise or... if i did fall off the wagon, at least I had initially tried.

Not sure if the same applies to you, whether you are normally a moderate drinker anyway?

I’ve been drinking sweet sleep tea with Baldrian and lavender. I’m now used to it.

On another note, 3 weeks in today, thought I would weigh as I was feeling despondent and was probably looking for a reason to have a glass of wine. I’ve lost 5.5 lbs! The only difference is no booze. I’m now wondering whether my weight gain in the last year was alcohol not just hormones. Hmmmm. But I’m delighted.

That's three weeks free for me - just the last 10 days to go
well done everyone

3 weeks today AF woo hoo

Well done all - keep going.

P.s tried the brewdog af last night was nice!

I managed a social occasion last night and found it okay. I have to say, my sleep is worse than ever though. Really fed up about that.

Mine too! And my headache persists.

Day 21 for me today, 3 weeks since my last drink wow!! Feeling so much clearer headed and less anxious. I got this really nice AF wine but too expensive to buy regularly. I've also noticed my heart rate drop since stopping drinking, madness!

Yep - headaches have not decreased in frequency and sleep is no better - can’t blame everything on alcohol (although they try to)

Currently sat in the pub nursing a blackcurrant and soda whilst everyone around me is getting pissed. Its not much fun tbh. Designated driver so feel a bit of a killjoy wanting to go home 😂 I'm determined to finish this challenge and won't be swayed by people telling me to 'just have one'. Feel irritable today for the first time and had a crap sleep last night too. Roll on February 😉

I hate the “just have one” people, you’d think people would respect your right to say no, I always find myself feeling very angry with them and avoid them till Match because I’m so fuming!😂

I also went to pub tonight with colleagues, but didn't drink. Just af beers! Wasn't as bad as I feared it might be, but not great fun either. So I feel for you!

Hope you're getting home soon :)

When does this headache go?!!!!! 😡
on the upside I did sleep last night. All the way through. Yes I’m up early but I still slept!

We're getting there now! Not long to go. Although I haven't found it too bad, I don't think I could give up forever.

Weekdays are fine but at the weekend I just feel like there's something missing in my life!! Obviously I know what it is but it leaves me feeling glass half full (literally!) and down. AF nights out aren't really for me either!

That says a lot about my relationship with alcohol ha! But the reset has definitely helped me to see the benefits of reigning it in a bit. Fresh Saturday and Sunday mornings are actually quite lovely! Who knew!

I’m feeling great, and I’ve lost a few pounds.

Planning on “only” drinking one bottle of wine per week (weekends only) when this is over, and I think I’ll probably continue on for a couple of weeks, rather than start immediately in February