- You might have heard us say it before, but clearing the fridge or cupboards of any open bottles of booze can really be a smart move to help you avoid temptation in these early stage Try to remember that cravings are totally normal, and to be expected, especially as you try to change something that has become routine. So, if you haven’t already jettisoned the store cupboard and fridge booze in the lead up to your challenge, this first night could be a really good time to complete this task, whilst your resolve is likely to be higher. It may also be worth getting rid of any unopened bottles by giving them away to someone else who’d appreciate them instead.
- If you’ve decided to tell loved ones about your undertaking, check in with your support crew and remind them it’s your first night and forewarn them that you might experience cravings. It’s a great way to ‘start the clock’ on your accountability, get a little encouragement to start you off on your journey and maybe even some other pearls of wisdom from them too. Who knows!
- If you prefer to keep your endeavours to yourself but still think you’d benefit from connecting with others and you’re not already a member, you could try joining the Dry January® and Beyond Facebook Community Group instead. Here you’ll find other like-minded people taking on similar challenges to yourself. Fill in the quick membership form and access a safe space for asking questions and getting encouragement on your journey. Maybe other group members are already well into their Try Dry Anytime challenge and they can give you some great advice to help combat any first-night jitters.
- Dip into your stock up of alcohol-free drinks, posh teas or other alternative drinks you enjoy. Hopefully you’ve had a little time to explore some of the many delicious alcohol-free options out there already and have found your favourites already. If you’re someone who finds themselves drinking of an evening, having a really delicious alcohol-free drink to fall back on for these first few nights can help you gain confidence as you find your feet in the challenge.
- Take another look back over your motivations list from your first task. Earlier today you received your very first Try Dry Anytime® daily email. Within your email, we introduced the series of small tasks we’ll be challenging you to complete to gain points throughout your journey and keep your inspiration high. If you’ve completed your task already – fantastic! Take a look back at your completed list to help firm up your intentions for the next month. If you’ve not managed to complete your task yet, could you spend 5 mins jotting down your motivations now instead? Jot down your list to strengthen your intentions this first night.
- Have a plan for your first night. Depending on how you usually drink, you might feel like the evening is a ‘high risk’ time for you. One technique that can help with this is some purposeful planning of your night, making sure you don’t allow boredom or old habits to creep in. You could plan to go for an evening walk with a friend, or for a strategically timed gym session? Maybe you could put a bit of extra effort into making your evening meal to keep you a little more occupied than usual? What about scheduling a phone catch-up with a loved one? Whatever you choose to go for, having some careful structure for your first night (and possibly a few more nights!), could prove really helpful. Remember, you should gain back some of the time you usually spend on drinking this month, so why not reinvest that time into something that makes you feel great?
- And finally, before the end of the day, don't forget to log your first dry day and collect your Try Dry® teacup to give you a little boost before bed. After all, you’ve earned it!
August 2024 |
8 minutes
Welcome to your Try Dry Anytime challenge. It’s brilliant that you’ve decided to commit to changing your relationship with alcohol today and didn’t put your aspirations for a reset on the backburner. Take a read of our first-night tips below and give yourself a great first evening of your challenge, as well as the best chance of reaching your Try Dry Anytime goals.
