6 months down!

So, 6 months down. 26 weekends booze free!

I have been asked quite alot recently about how I am finding it. To be honest, not drinking has just become normal now. I have just got back from a girly (socially distanced of course!) afternoon tea, where I spent the whole afternoon drinking nosecco, eating cake, and having a lovely time. And…. Not having to worry about how I will get home, or waking up in the morning with a stonking hangover.

Of course, I still occasionally think it would be nice to have a glass of wine, but those moments are quite rare these days. When I started this, I was focusing on the negatives; missing out on fun, being boring, not being able to relax etc. I am now focusing on the positives; increased freedom, money saving, always being in control, not waking up with a fuzzy head, without even realising I am doing it.

So how have the six months been?

Month 1: fucking awful. I could quite easily have given up if it wasn’t for this blog. It didn’t help that I started in January, which is generally miserable anyway.

What I learned: the physical effects of alcohol are massive! Especially when you remove it. All I wanted was sugar. I joked that I had replaced booze with cake. I would advise anyone thinking of doing this not to start in January.

Month 2: better, but still teetering on the edge of giving up. I was starting to settle into life sans booze, and my friends had all got used to the idea too. I had my first full on weekend ‘out out’ while not drinking and I had a lovely time.

What I learned: when heading out and everyone else is drinking, preparation is key. I was going out for a boozy lunch, so I called ahead to ask what non alcoholic drinks they had. This made me feel loads better.

Months 3 – 6: the whole world has gone to shit.

What I learned: guy and I can be in the same house together, 24 hours a day and I don’t need to reach for the wine. We also haven’t killed each other. Happy days.

Joking aside, from March, not drinking became the norm. Which makes sense, I think it’s around 8 weeks to form a habit? Now to just kick the cake habit….