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.

Afternoon all,
Former, part time penguin over here too.
Would be nice if we could come up with a new analogy for 2026, if anyone has any ideas?

I had an absolutely dreadful nights sleep last night. Took me ages to drift off without being ko'd by booze. Also woke up loads too.

Interestingly, when I very first woke up this morning I was trying to figure out for a split second how hungover or not a felt, until my brain caught up and I remembered I hadn't drank last night.. that was a good feeling! 🥳

@Fundays12 I am not sure. He says that alcohol on going is what concerns him more than dry Jan. I agree completely BUT I rather suspect he is using this as a reason not to go completely AF because he will struggle/
we are going to the pub tonight for a friends birthday I suspect he will drink.

I’m in! I had a party yesterday so did drink but managed to stop before I went too mad but Xmas day I went way overboard. I am
starting to see how alcohol is affecting my face and that has been the biggest kick up the arse. I tried dry January last year and managed all of 8 days which is pathetic. I have been using the app all year though to keep tabs on my drinking and it has gone up in the last few months so really need to reset. Luckily have very little planned socially this month so am hoping that will help.

How wrong is it wrong to feel so jubilant after resisting for one night?!!
Slept badly though.
Starting my 31 days from 4th Jan as Christmas parties still planned.
Good luck tonight everyone.

Any tips for getting through Friday night? Usually I’d open a bottle whilst cooking and drink several more throughout the evening with DH, I think I need a new routine maybe?

Certainly the wake up call some of us are needing isnt it!

I suppose it depends it you want to replace, or make a total change. I have always done a change, so no AF free drinks, just sparkling juices etc out of a normal glass.
I always fail though so im going down the replace route this time. Heading out to buy some AF wine which i will have out my proper wine glasses this eve.

Awful sleep but I know this happens at first so not surprised. It will get better.

Thats tricky as he has to want to stop drinking or even stop for January or it won't work. Is he at home drinker or only when he is out? I dont tend to avoid pubs when I am dry but only go for meals and drive but in general try so things like the cinema, coffee or hike with friends.

@Crocodocodile I tend to get myself some af free fizz and lager . I have never found an af wine that was remotely drinkable. Stupidly I have not for anything in yet. Will do that tomorrow

@Fundays12 he drinks at home and at the pub. I have noticed that more frequently he drinks until he falls asleep on the sofa. He then cannot get up then next morning.

i had a tiny flash through my head just now that I could have drink soon. Huge disappointment when I remembered. I find changing that mind set to something positive really difficult. The weekends are really really hard.

Previous DJs I have listened to a lot of quit podcast- often This naked mind. They have interviews with people who have quit but I have yet to find anyone talk about how it was in the initial stages.
most people seem to find it easy.

I’m going to try dj for the first time. I will find it hard.

Thats a really bad habit to get into if he is doing it frequently.

I have decided to purchase some bits from temu to finish my bathroom and downstairs toilet. I am setting myself some jobs for this month like painting the downstairs toilet skirting boards and repainting the walls. It will keep me busy. I am currently having a trip drink which isnt as nice as I had hoped.

Got some non alcoholic rose prosecco and it is actually hitting the spot!

Some good advice here from @TammyOne i.e. learning to sit with the (hopefully temporary) emotional discomfort.

I’ll join! I don’t drink too heavily but it annoys me that I seem to drink every Friday and Saturday night out of habit, even if I don’t really fancy it I’ll still end up having a glass. My plan is completely dry jan, dry Feb at home and only drinking on social occasions and hopefully carrying that habit through. Ideally for the rest of the year I’d like to have the occasional drink or two at home, when I really fancied one, and on social occasions. But I feel that’s difficult as I slip into habitual drinking so I will see how Jan and Feb go first before thinking about what’s after that.

If you tell yourself it will be hard, it will be. Try 'interesting' instead. We think the words we use about ourselves don't matter, but they do.

I'll join please. I've been drinking a bottle or more of wine a day for the past year. Last time was NYE. Feeling better already.

Everyone okay last night?

I think it’s straight into the headlights as it’s a weekend which is GOOD. Crossing weekends off feels like a bigger deal for most. I was a bit ‘meh’ last night because it was the first night without a drink in weeks (months?) but usually being a Friday would be worse, but the days are all muddled at the min anyway! Tonight…we shall see.

DH very unsupportive poured himself a large red. But he only has one or two easily. I can’t leave the bottle open. I have rid the fridge of all temptations - I only really drink wine and g&t, so nothing cold in the fridge helps. I also hate that DH irritates me more than ever when I can’t calm down the internal dialogue about HOW annoying he is with a large Pinot G.

didn’t sleep well at all, but I do recall that comes after a few days. I struggle to get to sleep without wine, my brain is so noisy and chattery. I do all the tips and tricks - magnesium, pillow sprays, no blue light, Epsom baths, milky drink, the lot. But it’s still often 1am before I finally drop off without alcohol.

seriously considering a hypnotherapy download!!!

I'm in! I know I can do it, as I have before. This year I'm trying to get to 12th February, which is my next holiday. I'm mainly a weekend drinker, but my weekends are quite long and sometimes heavy and after Christmas/New Year I really need a break and re-set. I'm also obese and am starting on a pre-diabetic health programme next week, so I've got plenty of motivation! Didn't feel the need to drink last night, even though it was Friday, but it didn't really feel like Friday because it wasn't the end of a working week - next week will be much harder! I think I'm going to try to develop some new end of week habits - perhaps curling up with a book by the woodburner with a nice scented candle??

Can I join?
I haven't had a drink since Xmas eve. My husband was admitted to hospital and long story short we can no longer drink. Him due to liver disease and me due to supporting him and a new sober life.
So far, sleep has been up and down. But more recently been hitting 10 or 11 hours a night which is starting to feel amazing!

Welcome to all- lovely to have you here!😍
I went to the pub last night and stuck with af lager which I don’t mind. It felt a bit strange as pretty well everyone else was drinking including my oh. Managed to stay for an hour or so though.
Had a much better nights sleep last night .
i am so hungry all the time though and just want to eat bread.
How is everyone else doing with food cravings?

I’m in! I woke up with a bit of a hangover after NYE shenanigans and, although not the worst I’ve ever felt, now’s the right time to take a break and reset. I know I drink more than I should - probably 3-4 bottles of fizz a week. It’s got to stop. Anyway, onto day 3 now and I’ve not felt the urge as yet. I do have some non-alcoholic beer in the fridge to have with the curry I’m cooking tonight - just in case. DH is joining me this month as well, which helps. Stay strong everyone! x

Gosh that must have been a shock for you both. I hope he is doing ok and that the prognosis is good x

I’m dealing with the cravings by giving in to them (mainly) 😂

we’ve got a fair amount of Christmas chocolate left so I’m doing the worthy job of ‘dealing with it’.

In the past I’ve found the cravings do get better fairly quickly but you will also probably find you do need to eat more as you are down the calories form alcohol and you might also be more active (I certainly am) so more calories needed anyway. Obviously this would ideally not be consumed in the form of chocolate but I’m choosing to focus on one thing at a time.