Dry January 2026 (The Sober Thread)

Five years or so ago I started taking XMAS to Easter off booze, as years progressed I started adding August or July off as well as I missed the “dry life”. Last summer I went dry for the season as I was tending to my dying father. I have been dry since the beginning of July, including a two week trip to the Florida Keys without it.

The time off lead to new, more productive habits / hobbies. I do not miss booze at all.

It is a nice social lubricant, beyond that I see no benefits.

I think turning breweries into daycares was the final nail in the coffin for me.

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Johnny Utah said:
Five years or so ago I started taking XMAS to Easter off booze, as years progressed I started adding August or July off as well as I missed the “dry life”. Last summer I went dry for the season as I was tending to my dying father. I have been dry since the beginning of July, including a two week trip to the Florida Keys without it.

The time off lead to new, more productive habits / hobbies. I do not miss booze at all.

It is a nice social lubricant, beyond that I see no benefits.

I think turning breweries into daycares was the final nail in the coffin for me.

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I rode my bike down to Key West also... from Key Largo 8 years ago.
 

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Soundguy said:
give it a couple weeks and you will reeeaally notice the sleep difference!

I will have 1 year on the 19th. I will never bash anyone for drinking…it’s normal and fun for most people…but if anyone is on the fence and thinks it’s becoming a problem please reach out to someone before you get where I was!
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This so true. If you think you need help, or are feeling desperate please ask. There people right here that will help you.
 
Johnny Utah said:
That is a ride! I cheated and brought my bike to Key West and rode between Key West and Boca Chica most mornings, BUT I do want to do that ride at some point! Nice work!
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You should. We started at MM104 and rode down to MM0. That's 104 miles not including some riding around before finally stopping at the resort. It's long but easy. The only significant climb is 3.5 miles up the 7-Mile bridge and some smaller bridges. Picture was taken before I stopped drinking which explains the beers in our hands that were handed to us when we got there and then we headed to the Green Parrot for more.
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Day 1 here. Was watching a podcast which suggests dry january is really sort of evil as it just has you look forward to feb for your next beer. I slept like a baby last night(it did take longer to fall asleep). I actually woke up and an hour later still feel half asleep. I was basically drinking two 9% + IPAs every night in under an hour just to fall asleep. I never kept it in the house, would go out and get it every night. No cravings at all during the day but once the last daily activity was over my brain seeked it. For the record 2 of thise beers is not 2 beers, it’s more like a 6 pack of regular beer. Don’t fool yourself. Hoping today is a new start. Fingers crossed.
 
Dave Taylor said:
Was watching a podcast which suggests dry january is really sort of evil as it just has you look forward to feb for your next beer.
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Was certainly that way for me. Whenever I reached the end of the arbitrary period, I absolutely rebounded twice as hard and forgot all the benefits of sobriety super fast. One day at a time mantra works super well for most people. Don't have to be sober forever, just today.
 
Dave brings up a good point. Once I started seeking out only 9+ abv I knew I had serious problem. But then I did keto so had to switch things up and went straight to titos.
Once I did not care anymore this was my daily evening driver:
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Add a few bong hits just because.

I drank for the blackout and that got me there. Early sobriety sucks, probably one of the hardest things I've ever done but it sure beats feeling like I did the next mornings of every past day hungover. So grateful to actually be enjoying life alcohol free and I owe the support people and friends in AA for getting over my obsession alcohol. Anybody that wants long term sobriety can pm me and I can share how it worked for me.
 
Johnny Utah said:
Five years or so ago I started taking XMAS to Easter off booze, as years progressed I started adding August or July off as well as I missed the “dry life”. Last summer I went dry for the season as I was tending to my dying father. I have been dry since the beginning of July, including a two week trip to the Florida Keys without it.

The time off lead to new, more productive habits / hobbies. I do not miss booze at all.

It is a nice social lubricant, beyond that I see no benefits.

I think turning breweries into daycares was the final nail in the coffin for me.

View attachment 272883
Click to expand...
I also gave it up caring for my dad last year. After getting a post midnight call that he was in the ER. I stayed up a few hours downing coffee till I was wired. Probably still shouldn't have driven into Manhattan but would have been devastated if I he was gone without me there. We did this on and off for a few months till he passed in May '24. But each time I was ready and never doubted if I should be behind the wheel. I'm going to the Xmas party tonight and have no issues anymore that I might slip.
 
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