I’m sitting here, right in the middle of Christmas / New Year 2024/25. Today is December 29th. I’m pissed off.
I’m pissed off because this time of year sees me spending a lot of time with people who are drinking alcohol and I’m pissed off with myself for feeling negative about that.
This is my 3rd Christmas and New Year unaided by alcohol. I would have imagined I’d have it all figured out by now. But I don’t think I have.
It’s a hard time of year. Look, I do enjoy going out and spending time with people who are drinking. I love the fact I remember the whole evening (very unlike my drinking days) and – up until the final hour – it’s still pretty fun. I enjoy chatting and being daft with my mates, even some sober dancing.
But Christmas and New Year sees a number of these events all squeezed into just a few days and I suppose today I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself. Half way through and I feel as though I’ve had enough.
What I am feeling is unbalanced. I’m not getting enough of the things I really want to do. I’m not suggesting someone make New Years Eve alcohol free (imagine how weird that would be 😆). I need to get more of the things I really enjoy about my AFAF life into the Christmas period.
So more exercise, more running, booking that climbing session I keep meaning to do. More walks (that don’t end in a pub), more trips, more me stuff.
Funny really that I feel ‘boozed-out’ but without any booze. I now remember I would often feel exactly the same in years gone by at this point in the Christmas holidays when I felt I’d been drinking too much and could do with a break.
Not sure you can ever escape the booze at Christmas but at least by being AFAF I can – in theory – figure out how to balance it up. Maybe next year!
Hi there, just do it!
I’ve been alcohol free for about 7 years now, and ive never felt better!
One things that helps me is thinking back to how many events/how many Christmas/New Years I have spoilt – for myself and my family – for being drunk!!
All the best!
As my first proper sober Christmas (I just ‘had a few’ during a previous sober stint) I felt a whole range of emotions this year…and saw things very differently.
The literal obsession with alcohol that takes hold of society during December is frankly quite weird when you look at it objectively. It’s worshipped. It is the focal point of all events, and if you were a visitor from another galaxy you would genuinely believe it was the holy grail, the water of life, vital to survive.
And then. January the 1st and it’s all change. Dry January hits and the stacks of Prosecco are seamlessly swapped out for stacks of Nosecco. The reels and TikToks change overnight from sparkles and sparkly to quit lit and detoxification.
Aren’t we odd.
Don’t even get me started on the ‘last hour’ as you referenced in your post. Dear god, what a shambles. 😂