re: Dry January Success

Day 25. What do people do when they go out but eat and drink?

Great thread. Great job on improving yourselves everyone.

It’s definitely not easy.

Anyone who “slipped up and had a drink or two” give yourself some grace.

I went and got some CBD sparkling waters to bring to a gathering. In a Koozie it just looked like a high noon. No one knew any better. I am figuring out that I’m having just as much fun as I would drinking. It’s sad that I’m having to relearn this, as if my life before drinking sucked. The best four years—Tigerband—I attended every LSU game sober and have the best memories of my life from those days…. 100% sober (besides the random party or night out, I wasn’t a big drinker or party girl at lsu).

Went to a Japanese place last week and instead of wine I ordered hot Jasmine tea. It was pretty fun, they brought me the entire pot and a cute little tea cup. I had way more fun drinking that than I ever would alcohol.

Edit: just bring your own drinks like you would beer. I love diet gingerale, I’m admittedly a Coke Zero and diet Dr Pepper addict so I always enjoy a very cold sonic cup with tons of ice filled with one of those. If you’re not anti diet soda/drinks, there’s a lot of good options of calorie free treats that you’ll actually look forward to drinking. Another idea is Sprite Zero with a couple Maraschino cherries and a little of the juice. Maybe squeeze a lime in there and you’ve got a nice diet limeade.

The odd thing is everyone on here, including myself, love being dry and rethink why we drink in the first place. But, two months from now......it's like I forget.

I think I'm overall happier when I don't drink, but I have more peak happiness when I do, but also lower valleys. I really think if you don't have a long reset, you get used to the new baseline and forget that things are different sober.

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Day 25. What do people do when they go out but eat and drink?

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Day 25. What do people do when they go out but eat and drink?

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Fish
Hunt
Run
Ride a bike
Walk
Lift
Play any sport
Read
Attend church services
Work in the yard
Start a hands-on hobby (woodworking, gardening, etc.)
Play video games
Watch a movie
Watch a play
Go to a sporting event
Play a board game
Spend time with your parents and grandparents
Go to a festival or farmer's market
Cook
Eat
Call up a friend

There are billions of things to do which don't require alcohol.

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f this isn’t the truth, I don’t know what is! I find that as long as I have something, anything really, that isn’t water or a soft drink when people are drinking, I’m fine. I’ve bought some canned mocktails that I can put in a koozie and some non-alcoholic wine I can bring with me to have in a wine glass around others and I am 100% ok. Don’t have to tell people I’m not drinking and don’t get the run around. It’s really been great! Worst is the few times I’ve joined friends at a typical neighborhood bar where my options are limited. I need to come up with some easy drinks that anyone can make for those instances. I just know I don’t want to go back to a couple of glasses of wine a few nights a week. So a few months off of drinking will be great for me.

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I know a few people who completed dry January who would sip soda water with a lime at the bar.

I love this thread. Had my own revelation on March 28, 2012 and hadn’t had a drink since. Life and social events are more fun and worthwhile than I ever thought possible and it keeps getting even better.
Hit me up if y’all have any questions or need any tips.

One trick I like:
If it’s a setting where all my friends are drinking, like a tailgate or crawfish boil, I just show up with my own drink in hand. Makes for a smooth transition into the social atmosphere and it takes away the shock if you were to refuse a drink someone offers.

When I was married with kids I had no reason or need to drink. Now older and single, it’s almost a requirement when going out to socialize. Otherwise I stay home.

I feel like a year would not only be challenging, but the self discovery would be most rewarding. It’ll force you to experience everything from new years, summer time activities, football, holidays, etc in a totally different way. If at the end you feel like you really did miss out on fun by not drinking, then perhaps you’ll have greater perspective on how to moderate it. But from all I’ve learned, it seems people find that they enjoyed those experiences in a different and more fulfilling way without the drink.

And also. Not drinking does save a lot of money and have many health benefits…that too.

I’m here to encourage you as I’m trying to challenge myself in the same way.

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It’s sad that I’m having to relearn this, as if my life before drinking sucked. The best four years—Tigerband—I attended every LSU game sober and have the best memories of my life from those days…. 100% sober (besides the random party or night out, I wasn’t a big drinker or party girl at lsu).

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Oh, same here! Honestly, was never really a big drinker until Covid hit. I think being home so much and the stresses of a whole day of trying to work a normal job while keeping 3 kids entertained and occupied led to just wanting a glass or two of wine at night. Prior to covid, I would open a bottle of wine and it would take 2 weeks to finish. After covid, my husband and I would go through a box of wine (equivalent to 3 or 4 bottles) in two weeks. Its crazy looking back, because prior to this, had you asked me if we were really ones to be affected by Covid, I would have told you no, but clearly that's not the case.

To help with any social events or evening cravings, I have picked up some Lyre's cocktails in a can, Mingle Mocktails and tried the Hiyo tonics. Also just placed an order for some N/A wines from Better Rhodes. I'm not a big soft drink person, so I do still get the craving for something other than water in a fancy glass. These have all helped me stay on track.