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.

I haven’t lost weight but I feel and look less bloated, my face in particular.

Day 26 today for me. Genuinely thinking of staying alcohol free long term. My sleep is so much better. I wake up but fall back to sleep so much more quickly.

I will definitely stay dry until my holiday on 7th Feb and that will be the real test. I’m unsure how I will navigate holiday alcohol free but I’d really like to try.

Well done everyone👏

That's going to be tricky for sure going on holiday AF but I'm sure you will navigate it well knowing how much better it's making you feel with regards to sleeping better. I'm away on an all inclusive at the end of February but not sure i have the willpower to abstain till then. It's definitely made me realise I don't need a drink to relax and unwind in the evening. I just feel something is missing if that makes sense. I tried an AF gin and tonic last night. In truth it was bloody awful 😖
We are all so close. Another two weekends for me as I'm working Feb 1sr so won't have a wine till 7th. Not sure how it'll taste after all this time 😂.
Positives for me : sleep mainly improved enormously
Lost a little weight
Heart rate dropped by 10
So far saved 140 quid
More energy/got more stuff done
No nasty hangoversl

Negatives : bit boring
Bit irritated at times
Social situations seem a bit dull
Skin not glowing as id hoped
Eyes no clearer

Ive enjoyed doing it purely to see if I could manage it and in ten days time I can say I have. Matters to nobody else but me. (And everyone on this thread as we are all trying to succeed)

Well done to everyone 👏

Fell off the wagon big time last night - had to meet up with my elderly parent to tell them that other parent has passed away and drank about 6 cocktails to get through it. Feel absolutely bloody awful today so straight back on the wagon for me! and actually how dreadful I feel has inspired me to make this a long term thing - it’s proved once again that once I start drinking I find it almost impossible to stop

So sorry to hear that @namechangeformeeee 💖

My OH has been doing DJ with me, but is breaking it tonight to go out for a mates birthday.
which predictably newns he’ll get completely bladdered and be utterly useless all day Saturday and really grouchy with everyone 🙄

can’t wait.

I had two glasses of red last night as I got to the end of a big milestone at work:

I was awake from 12.30-3.30 and now feel utterly awful and dehydrated. Until now I had felt so much better, sleeping well and softer skin:

for anyone on the fence, you will regret it.

@namechangeformeeee- that sounds like a very difficult conversation, I hope you’re ok, be kind to yourself.

I’ve been doing dry Jan for 20 years - some years I have had a night off for a celebration with a friend and I haven’t regretted it - I got back on it the next day - occasionally I ended it early because I refused to do 5 weekends of alcohol free and I’ve even kept it up to end March once. We’re all different - don’t believe that one night ruins everything- that only happens if you believe it and you let it.

Not sure if it’s jyst my OH, but he could never even entertain going to a pub and not having a non alcoholic drink!
i’ve been out with friends and am fine to have a non-a beer or lime and soda, but no.. he would not be able to cope in a pub environment with other drinkers without drinking too!

I can manage going out and not having a drink, it’s drinking at home or friends homes I struggle with. When I’m out I like to be in control/ be able to get home, so being sober is fine. At home I can properly relax and that’s when I drink too much.

Dh went out to a pub last night to catch up with an old work colleague - he stuck to alcohol free. I think it's becoming more common and putting pressure on people to drink is increasingly seen as poor manners - I unfortunately have one person who I socialise with who doesn't respect someone's right to decide to have an alcohol free night - I definitely see her in a different light as a consequence.

I’m so sorry @namechangeformeeee

I totally understand the need for cocktails. I would have done the same. Much strength to you.

I’ve lost half a stone!!!

Very sorry to hear @namechangeformeeee - entirely understandable in the circumstances. Look after yourself.

I went out for supper in a pub last night and was AF throughout, because I was driving. Back in the day I'd have had a drink (or two) when I got home, but I had a hot ribena while watching the Traitors final on catch-up. And a much better night of sleep as a result!

Just checking in. Been dry all week, no temptation mid-week to have a wine at all. After a particularly stressful/busy work week I had two glasses of wine last night and to my surprise that was enough, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would and I wasn’t tempted to pour another glass, and the rest is still in the fridge.

We are out at a family party tonight and usually i’d be looking for lifts/arranging a taxi but i’m happy to drive and take a few AF drinks with me, and then get up in the morning and go to the gym.

So despite the fact that the last three weeks haven’t been as dry as I intended it’s definitely changing my habits and mindset.

Well done everyone 👏🏻

Yes I had a few glasses of wine last night but stopped and switched to water instead of keeping going until the bottle was empty, which is a win for me. And according to the Try Dry App I have reduced my units by 41%.
So although I haven’t been dry O am pleased with being drier! I’m in awe of those of you who have stayed dry completely.

I've been trying the Trip drinks - they have CBD in them which I didn't know about. I slept so well last night and today I feel in an amazing mood. It could be because the sun is out for the first time in what feels like months, went for a lovely walk this morning, saw some snowdrops...or it could be the effects of CBD / being alcohol free. I'm very pleased anyway!

Still on course here. Have lost 4kg and sleeping like a log! Out tonight to a Burns night and ceilidh but I'm.driving so will be AF.

Struggled today - social event for a group my DH (mainly) volunteers with. Could def have done with a few drinks to lubricate having to spend an evening chatting politely!

Still dry. Not feeling any sleep/skin benefits. But not thinking about booze either.

Had a slip up last Saturday and drank three glasses of Prosecco. It was very ‘meh’ and didn’t live up to my expectations. I had an awful nights sleep afterwards. I’ve been dry ever since and actually playing with the idea of continuing this beyond January. It feels liberating not to be so focused on wine all the time. I sleep so much better, that alone is making me wonder whether to ditch the booze for good. I’ve been listening to the occasional podcast about alcohol on YouTube to keep me going.

24 days dry here. Keep going y'all !

Morning all day 25 and isn't it nice to wake up fresh and optimistic! No awful headache or puffy eyes.

Hope everyone has a happy af Sunday 🙏

Day 25 for me and it’s been no hardship. I do DJ every year and somehow my brain just clicks into sober mode and I really don’t miss it. It’s when I start again that the cravings come back. Aiming for at least 3 montgs dry this year as feeling mentally so much better.

OH broke his DJ on Friday and went out for a mates birthday drinks. He looked and felt shocking yesterday. Mood was crap, grouchy and short tempered with everyone, claiming his has a cold that was making him feel rotten, not tge 5 pints he drank in the pub after 3 weeks of sobriety 🙄

6 hours of a Burns night with free booze flowing...and I remained AF. There has to be some sort of endurance medal available for that!