Anyone want to join me for an alcohol free 2027?

[HelloSkeletonFace3]

I've made the difficult decision that I need to go alcohol free for 2027. I've taken a few breaks from alcohol before but never lasted this long. Honestly, I'm sick and tired of drinking, thinking about drinking, trying to moderate, failing, and living in a spiral of shame, self-loathing and sabotage.

If this is something you recognise in yourself, I'd be so glad and grateful for some buddies along the way. Realise we are a while off the new year yet but wanted to post now, in case anyone else feels the same, or you're on the fence and want to mull it over. Some people may say " why not now" - don't disagree, but this gives my brain the chance to adjust and prepare.

I'm in! It's great you're looking to the future and making those steps to break free of alcohol.

I can relate to a lot of what you're saying as I've had longer stretches of being sober this year and have started to see that trying to moderate is more trouble than it's worth for me. I've got a house move on the horizon and am quite excited by the idea that I could live in that house as a non drinker and start to take better care of my health.

I agree sometimes it's good to give your brain a chance to prepare and have a think about what sort of situations are likely to be difficult and make you want to drink. For me drinking mostly stems from boredom. I need to mix up my routine and do something like go to the cinema or read a book rather than sitting on my laptop scrolling. I also think I'd benefit from building my social life as I don't really have anyone nearby I can call to go for a coffee etc with.

That's great @bigfoot40 ! Looking forward to getting to know you and being sober buddies. That really is exciting about the house move and knowing you will be a non drinker.

I'm using these next few months to prepare so will keep checking in and I'm hopeful we will recruit a few more along the way :-)

Hey. I'm in too! I completely resonate with your comment about living in a cycle of shame and self sabotage. It's exhausting isn't it. I started September sober and positive, but it all went to pot only 2 weeks in. Then I've been in the shame cycle since. I don't know why I do it because otherwise I have a really great life. The only bad things about it (looking rough, being short of cash, not sleeping) directly come from booze.

I'm going to keep doing my sober stints and hopefully manage longer stretches each time in preparation for 2027. Good luck to you both. We can do this.

I’m in, this year has been a year of moderation for me, or attempts to, and honestly it’s not really working for me. I feel and I am much better without it at all. I don’t even mind going out and not drinking, it’s the quiet evenings that I find difficult.

Great news @Accidentaladult @Skibididoo , the more the merrier!
I think having each other and this thread as support will really help, in the preparation stages but also throughout 2027.

The thought of an entire year does sound daunting, not gonna lie, but it's also quite exciting? We will get so many wins under our belts, some easy, some hard fought. To know that we have done every single day sober in 2027 will be so so powerful.

this resonates so much with me, I’d love to do a dry year. had meant to do 100 days from sept 1st but it’s not gone to plan. I also need a lot of time to think changes through…the new year seems doable from here.
been in a vicious cycle with alcohol for years…almost 30 really. wish i’d never started. want to show my kids that there’s another path.

Great news @justkeeptrying40
Yes, I wish I'd never started. It just lights up something inside me and I don't want to go through life relying on it or thinking about it so much.

Don’t wait until 2027…start now!