To just be very bored of Dry January

[Resurgam2016]

I do it every year. I've given up making 'fun' mocktails and just stick to tea and water. Pretending it is anything other than not drinking wine is a waste of time.

I don't have to do it but I do and having decided I stick to it. But it's sooooo boring. I actually like large glass of wine on a Friday me. I dance and make jokes. In Jan DH and I talk and do efficient things. It's all so....functional

AIBU to think that sober Resurgam is boring Resurgam?

I'm doing dry January for the first time because I felt I had drunk too much over the Christmas period and wanted to give myself a chance 'dry out'.

Once February starts I will resume my normal, very tame, intake.

I'm doing it for me and only me. It hasnt been too bad but I'm starting to realise how much I drink out of habit.

I’m sure shops sell lots of health related crap in Jan that they don’t shift nearly as much of the rest the year - not drinking is usually part of a general health kick and that usually leads to spending money on health related items.

Ah yes, I’m totally perfect...

I've read the thread through a second time and i can only see a couple of posters who have given the reason they are doing dry jan.

One has admitted a drink problem. I think two (or three?) others have said they're doing it to prove to themselves they can do it or prove they don't need it. Everyone has said they are finding it hard and are gagging for the 1st of Feb. Surely this proves that in fact they can't not drink?

I'm asking not judging btw.

Well I for one haven’t spent anywhere near £70 (or anything actually) on health related products.

I genuinely don’t see why people care so much. Don’t want to do it? Don’t do it. It’s a positive thing for a lot of people, why would you resent that? Yeah it might be a bit boring hearing someone talking about it (no one IRL knows I’m doing it except DH, he also knows my reasons for doing it and is supportive), but so what? I get bored of people talking about the latest diet they’re on. Just ignore it.

Does anyone doing Dry January have their birthday in January?

Let's not kid ourselves into thinking everyone who does it, and subsequently harps on about it, is battling demons and using alcohol to self medicate.

For a lot, probably the majority, it's a gimmick. It still astounds me that people expect sponsorship when they do it.

If you only have a glass of wine on a Friday I’d question the need to participate in Dry January at all. What’s your reason for participating? And why January?

I think my reasons are similar to the OP's. I've watched someone close to me go from only drinking at the weekends, to using alcohol as a stress relief, to drinking "just the one" several times a week, to full blown alcohol dependence. He's now had a series of TIAs so seems to be succeeding in his bid to drink himself to death. Unfortunately in the process he's affecting the life and health of everyone close to him. All family life over the last 20 years seems to have revolved around his drinking habits.

And temperamentally, I'm very like him. I'm coming up to the age when his drinking became problematic. So each January for the last 3 years I've stopped drinking, so I can assess where I'm at. I'm not asking anybody else to do it, though I'd be supportive if they were. I suspect January was chosen because people make new year's resolutions and often want a fresh start after the over indulgence of Christmas. I do it that month, along with others doing Dry January because it's just easier when I'm down the pub. Instead of "are you on antibiotics? Shit, are you pregnant?" I just say "dry January" and they just say "oh, fair enough". And we all carry on.

Laiste well here are my reasons...

I have a functioning alcoholic father. He became that way after my brother died young. I have a tendency to relieve stress with alcohol or to drink when particularly upset. So although my alcohol intake isn’t very high, I know it has the potential to be. I am doing it to prove to myself I can, and also to ‘reset’ my habits (I was starting to have a glass of wine 4 nights a week instead me 3 and I didn’t want it to creep up).
I’m not gagging for a drink and am planning to continue into February and beyond.

But why do peoples reasons matter to you? They’re their reasons. It doesn’t impact you.

I never understand why people do this! If you want to have a drink, have one... unless you have a drinking problem in which case trying to not drink for a month will do you some good I'm sure.

For a lot, probably the majority, it's a gimmick

Again, why do you care? Let them have their gimmick. I’ve never known anyone to ask for sponsorship (although have read on here that people do), but if people are asking you then just say no.

I’ve never been fat. I’ve never had food issues. Does that mean I’m entitled to think people who go on a diet and find it difficult to lose weigh are ‘pathetic’?
This. And what hippychick said.
Alchohol is a highly addictive drug that many many people use a little too much. You don't? Great! Yay for you and all your amazingness. But don't call people who are trying to assess how they deal with abstinence, or reset, or just take a break "pathetic".
Personally I find lack of empathy pathetic.

I do tend to agree chien it mildly bothers me but I can’t say it keeps me up at night. I wouldn’t begrudge anyone something that makes them feel good about themselves.

I’m bored of people constantly talking about dry January tbh. It’s not that serious

@Chienrouge I wasn't trying to be helpful.

A lot of what other people talk about bores me to be honest. I just switch off.

It’s not just boring it’s bloody annoying people talking about it IRL. On a diet? Hey I get that we all need to eat and sometimes it’s hard to draw the line right. Sympathies. Giving up an addiction? Wow all power to you, great work. Drastically cut your alcohol intake because pregnant? Been there sister, it sucks.

ONE dry month with every intention to continue drinking after? Total non event, stop whinging about it to friends and colleagues and don’t bloody expect sponsorship!!

I'm doing it as I realised that over the last couple of years my consumption of alcohol has crept up and I was concerned that I might have an issue. I'm not shouting it from the rooftops or pushing it down others throats. I have found so far that I have had one evening where I wanted a drink but I didn't give into the urge. My sleep has improved after the first 2 weeks, I have more energy and lost a few pounds (as well as save a few £). I am reassured that I don't appear to have an addiction. I'm not counting the days down to 1st Feb and I think I will therefore become a much more occasional drinker, I'm not even sure I will have a drink on the 1st Feb.
For those who have done dry January and find they do have an issue it's the opportunity to seek help. I think some people think those doing dry January are passing judgement on those who don't, I'm not - do it, don't do it.

Batteriesallgone I think you just know annoying people to be honest. I haven’t whinged about it to anyone. I haven’t even mentioned it to anyone beyond DH. No one has talked about it to me, beyond a friend in the pub last week saying ‘I’m not drinking because I’m doing dry January’ and I said ‘ok’.
Maybe get some new friends/acquaintances!

I’m bored of people constantly talking about dry January tbh. It’s not that serious

This might not be the thread for you then.

In the nicest way possible, no one cares that you’re doing it. Good for you and whatever your reasoning may be, but I’m sick of seeing a lame dry January reference in every snapchat/Instagram post, fund raising links, how much they’re suffering on ‘day 21’, people babbling on about it in real life, can’t wait for February etc. It’s not necessary to shove it down everyone’s throat - some people don’t actually drink much so dry January isn’t a life changing event for them, and others have given up alcohol themselves without ‘dry January’. It’s like a vegan constantly dropping in that they are a vegan or someone that gives food to a homeless person but just had to film it and post it online.

I did Dry January last year. I fucking hated it. But then I formulated a theory, and have tested it this year.

I really don't eat all that much chocolate (a bar of Dairy Milk once a fortnight at most), but I decided to give up chocolate this January. Right now, all I really want is some chocolate. Knowing that it's forbidden, I just really want some. I keep on finding opportunities in my life where I think "oooh, some chocolate would be nice right now", where beforehand I would never have done so.

Next January I've decided that I'm going to give up going to the gym in the hope that it gives me a really compulsive urge to get down there.

Chienrouge people's reasons for doing it are of interest to me. I'm responding to a thread started by someone doing dry january about doing dry january. Alcohol impacts me because i have a close family member who struggles with alcohol addiction.

Yeah you’re right Embarrassingbodies, a lot of people don’t give a shit. Like I said, I haven’t mentioned it to anyone IRL.
However, there are probably some things you say that people inwardly think ‘in the nicest possible way, I don’t give a shit’ too.

@Embarrassingbodies well said, and this constant need to brag and overshare the mundane is exactly why I deactivated my Facebook recently.

I'm doing it, it is dull yes.totally agree op. i like wine at the weekends when going out to dinner or whatever.. or even after a tough day at work. I'm doing it as I put on some weight and want to lose it, so for me the diet adds to the boredom...😂

Very surprised some folks out there live such restricted lives they can't understand why anyone would do it. Id Have to assume very limited to no social circle.