To be a quite worried at how hard I think I'm going to find this?

[LittleRobinRed]

I've made a firm commitment to give up alcohol for a month at least and then significantly cut down thereafter. I've noticed over the past six months or so that I often/always reach for a glass of wine in the evening as a method of signalling the hard work of the day is over and I can relax. I have a very full on, full time job and two very adventurous, boisterous and often challenging (but equally wonderful) little boys (aged 3 and 5). My days are so full on - I get up, I get them ready, we do the school run, I dash to work, I work hard all day, I come home (Dh does pick ups), I referee/ entertain/ transport to various clubs all evening, we get them to bed, I then catch up on emails and work, and then around 9 or 10pm I get a glass of wine. It has become my reward and my emotional crutch and thinking back over the last six months there is probably rarely a night I haven't drank. I rarely have more than a glass and never have more than two at most but I am really feeling anxious about not drinking in the evenings! I will do it as I can be as stubborn as they come when I commit to something - but it has really struck me how worried I am about changing this habit and how reliant I am on having a drink!

[flumpybear]

I feel a bit the same, I'm cutting out week day drinking in January and hoping to extend for a year - I did this a few years ago wth cherry coke (it helped keep me awake when the kids were small and not sleeping well) and I found that easy - completely gave up for a whole year and rarely have it these days 4 years later!
With alcohol I'm like pp said, it's a switch off mechanism for me
Find a suitable alternative drink - mine is fuzzy water and fresh lime juice

[Notinmybackyard]

I have had a glass of wine most nights for the past 40 years. I have enjoyed excellent health and was actually recommended to do this by my consultant to help to lower my cholesterol level and to help keep it low. Some red wines are more beneficial than others. As long as you stick to just one glass I can't see the problem. Or you could replace what you drink now with a lower strength of alcohol or a different drink. In the hot summer months I might have an organic cider or a similar drink.

[ZouBisou]

Like you I used to have a glass or two of wine every single evening to wind down after work, and got to the point where I couldn't remember the last day I didn't have a drink.

I decided to stop drinking Mon - Thurs indefinitely rather than doing a dry month. I was actually surprised by how easy it was. Diet 7 Up is my replacement drink of choice, or sometimes tonic without the gin.

I'm not so strict thought that if I'm going out for a dinner for a friend's birthday mid week though that I won't allow myself a drink in those circumstances. And the last 2 weeks has just been a free for all what with Xmas and NY. But I know I can go back to dry Mon - Thurs now and it'll be fine. Good luck!

[DorotheaBeale]

I agree that perhaps you could make the evenings less stressful by encouraging the children to entertain themselves and dropping some or all of the activities. Then as the evenings get lighter, maybe relax by having a walk together, rather than going places in the car.

But I also agree with pp that one small to medium glass of wine most evenings isn't harmful.

[Benedikte2]

OP I think your instincts are right in wanting to cut down on your dependence on alcohol as a relaxant. Try to find some other "habit" to replace it with. Once you feel confident that you can easily do without the wine then you can reintroduce the odd glass of an evening.
Although you are very busy you seem to be managing well and to be able to meet your DCs needs re school, time spent with them etc and it would be a shame to come to rely on a crutch which could affect your health.
Good luck.

[DarthMother]

I bought a bottle of posh (ie far more expensive than I would normally consider) cordial and have it in a wine glass with sparkling water instead of a glass of wine when I'm laying off the booze. It feels like a "grown up" drink.

[MrsMeeseeks]

It might not be as hard as you think it will be. I quit 6 years ago and found it very easy. I was a right piss artist as well

I can recommend the book Allan Carr's Easy Way To Control Alcohol. It helped to get me in the right mindset. Now, I enjoy sobriety so much that it's no effort not to drink.

Good luck!

[MrsMeeseeks]

I would also recommend stocking up on sweets or pop. If you're a regular drinker, your body may well crave the sugar if you stop suddenly.

[milkmoustache]

When I was pregnant I discovered a great tomato juice, Big Tom, which definitely felt like a proper drink. I added plenty of ice, lime and Worcester sauce and it's got such a big flavour you have to drink it slowly.
But I would also have a careful think about the number of activities you do every week, life doesn't have to be quite so hectic to be enjoyable for all of you, does it?

[iveabigsecret]

I'm pregnant and spent Christmas happily sober. Non alcoholic wine for me wasn't super.

However lidls sparking deluxe juice is superb. Apple looks like champagne and in the right glass feels like a grown up drink. They also do a fabulous silician lemonade in a nice flippy lid bottle.

One last thing, try pomegranate juice lime juice and lemonade. Superb!

Well done on stopping the daily wine! And yes to starting your hobbies again. Good luck!

[CabbagesOnFire]

LittleRobinRed, I did this recently, for very similar reasons. I went a month without drinking, just because it had become a crutch, even though the quantities weren't excessive.
It was hard, but it wasn't that hard. Eating earlier than usual was good for me, because it's before eating that I really want to drink. Sometimes I even "gave in" - got a wine glass out saying "fine, I'll have one!" then distracted myself until the feeling passed and I put the glass away again.
Seeing friends was hard, but they did understand, and were fine with me drinking lemonade or tea.
After a couple of weeks, I started to feel really healthy, and pleased with myself!........ I almost didn't want to go back to the booze. I do drink now, but it is reassuring to know that I can stop.

[wineusuallyhelps]

Littlerobinred I have a similar relationship with wine as you do. I haven't been drunk for about 12 years but I do use a glass of wine or two as a 'reward' and for quick relaxation. It's just a habit, a bit like comfort eating maybe.

I'm doing dry January too and my plan is to replace the wine with nice cordials and soda water. I might even put it in a fancy glass 😂! DH and I are also trying to become ultra-organised this year as we have realised that not being 100% on top of things is resulting in us getting ratty, overtired and reaching for the Pinot too many nights of the week....

Ideally I would like to have a tipple on Fridays and Saturdays only from February onwards!

Two days down and 29 to go!

Good luck!