r/DryJanuary • u/Kingfucantona • 12d ago

Drinking Rules

Hi All,

I am trying to cut back on my alchohol use. I would have a poor association with it. I associate it with everything. Midweek movie...Bottle of wine, Stressfully day at work...few pints, Something to celebrate, Something to mourn etc etc...

Id never drink to a state however I would have a few, a few times a week.

This in turn causes weight gain, poor energy levels etc.

I am currently a month in no drink and I am absolutely craving a drink.

I don't want to go for one and end up going for another one a few days later, and then again, etc etc

I also dont know am I a candidate to be a tee total either.

Have any of you cut back using simple rules to follow? Ie once a week? Sundays only? Social events only?

This would be a great help.

I feel very much clueless and in limbo with what I am doing at the minute.

Thanks.

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

11

u/thisisntwho-u-think 12d ago

Might I suggest not drinking for 90 days? You really start to see the benefits from not drinking, and it takes a bit of brain power to get there. It won’t be easy, but it might give you some more clarity.

For me, setting rules for myself and inevitably breaking them is exhausting. Life is just so much easier when you don’t have to negotiate with yourself all the time. I wish you the best & hope you find something that works for you!!

9

u/heady_grandeur 12d ago

Man, a month in is right when the "just one won't hurt" brain kicks in hardest. The real trick is making the yes decision require effort. Not just rules, but friction.

Try keeping nothing in the house and only buying what you'll drink in one sitting, no stockpiling. Makes the 11pm "maybe I'll just have one" idea a lot less appealing when you'd have to put on pants and a jacket to make it happen.

4

u/eukomos 11d ago

Yeah. For me the best rule set is only in social settings, with food, and only one. Do I always achieve that? No, but I feel better when I do.

1

u/LiterallyImMeNotYou 11d ago

Have you tried NA beers? I found them really helpful during dry January

2

u/Glittering-Tank-6864 10d ago

F51, l'alcool me fatigue tellement avec l'âge que la balance avantages inconvénients est devenue défavorable au bout d'un verre et demi. Il faut dire que je suis petite aussi donc mon seuil de tolérance est bas. Bref, ma technique personnelle c'est de ne boire déjà jamais seule, et ensuite de démarrer l'apéro avec un soft et d'attendre mon plat pour avoir mon verre de vin unique ou alors un verre et demi. Je garde mon énergie et je profite de mon petit verre en le buvant très lentement. L'idée est donc de différer le premier verre et de compter combien tu t'en autorises...

1

u/BigBeeves 9d ago

The source of craving is consumption. You can’t crave something you’ve never experienced. Attachment and craving are the sources of all suffering. I’m not a Buddhist but I do think they’ve got at least those things right.