Tip 1: Eliminate all alcohol from the house and don’t buy any. If it’s not in the immediate vicinity, you’ll be far less tempted.
Tip 2: When you leave the house, leave behind your cash/cards. This will prevent you from casually stopping at a pub or picking up alcohol.
Tip 3: Take stock of the changes you will most definitely see after only a week or so - better sleep, more energy, less anxiety, healthier looking skin. Use these as further motivation.
This is the problem most resolutionists face: you've made no working plan to get to your random goal. The above post is a decent starting point, and honestly something you should have thought about with a bit more depth and intention before the 31st. Personally, I just do a week off per month as it's much easier psychologically and actually results in less drinking through the year than a single month dry. Plus it becomes a more frequent reminder to moderate. You do you, though.
Thanyou. My wife is hiding all drink as I speak, I'm out.
Other tips are good. Fully expecting to feel like #### for a few days. Going to hit weights hard try and keep busy. Go cinema, swimming etc. Activities away from drink.
Thanyou. My wife is hiding all drink as I speak, I'm out.
Other tips are good. Fully expecting to feel like #### for a few days. Going to hit weights hard try and keep busy. Go cinema, swimming etc. Activities away from drink.
There is a yearly thread over on slowtwitch messageboard that may be of help to you. Good luck
I stopped drinking entirely a few years back. It wasn't because I had a problem but because I feel way better when I don't drink at all, not even 1. I sleep better, I feel more clear, and I run better.
Dry January sounds good but it is like someone that eats garbage all year and then does a juice cleanse a few times. There is no real health advantage to alcohol they are finding. The few historic positives have been found to be achievable without including alcohol at all.
I quit drinking 11 years ago this month. The beginning is hard especially if your life and friends all center around drinking. I constantly thought people cared and were noticing that I wasn't drinking. Like they were watching me not drinking and then, of course, you deal with the inevitable questions around your decision.
This bothered me for years until I realized that no one cares that you quit drinking. Most admire your decision. The people that are important in my life all supported me and those that left were not real friends anyway right?
Finally, find an activity to replace your drinking time. For me it was the gym. I lost 50 pounds over 4 years and found my love of running again.
Alchohol abuse has destroyed countless lives and limited vast amounts of potential but quitting takes a mindset where YOU are all in on your success.
If you are quitting drinking because your wife or someone else wants you to it's not the best reason. You have to want to change. Without that devotion you will most likely fail.
This is the problem most resolutionists face: you've made no working plan to get to your random goal. The above post is a decent starting point, and honestly something you should have thought about with a bit more depth and intention before the 31st. Personally, I just do a week off per month as it's much easier psychologically and actually results in less drinking through the year than a single month dry. Plus it becomes a more frequent reminder to moderate. You do you, though.
I think the dry months are a good way to remind yourself how good you feel without alcohol. After a while, you stop realizing just how terrible even a little bit of alcohol makes you feel. A good exercise to do during the month is to take note of how different you feel. Today, for example - slept great last night, not dehydrated, no stress/anxiety. Feeling pretty good today.
You don't really need a plan to dry out for a month. If you are just a casual/even a heavy drinker, you should be able to tough it out for a month. If you wanted to do a year, you'd need to have to make some lifestyle changes. A month really isn't that long of a time though.
I do like the idea of one week of per month. I think 2 on 2 off would be pretty manageable as well. Thanks for sharing the idea.
Anyway, I'm gonna do it as well. Too much indulgence through dec and want to get things moving in the right direction. Good luck everyone!
Thought I'd start a thread for those who are going to struggle with this, (ie me).
Anyone else doing it? Any tips?
I'm on day one as was so ruined yesterday I had to do hair of the dog and keep topped up.
Sorry to say but this has about as much chance at succeeding as.........I can't think of anything with longer odds. If serious, get help, if not, stop kidding yourself.
I have also decided to do Dry January...figured it will help shed a couple of those extra holiday pounds as well.
No grand strategy here but I think it helps to have a nice substitute drink if you find yourself craving a beer. I've got some hot chocolate and tea that should be good for the cold winter evenings.
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