The Daily Check-In for Sunday, December 24th: Just for today, I am NOT drinking!
We may be anonymous strangers on the internet, but we have one thing in common. We may be a world apart, but we're here together!
Welcome to the 24 hour pledge!
I'm pledging myself to not drinking today, and invite you to do the same.
Maybe you're new to /r/stopdrinking and have a hard time deciding what to do next. Maybe you're like me and feel you need a daily commitment or maybe you've been sober for a long time and want to inspire others.
It doesn't matter if you're still hung over from a three day bender or been sober for years, if you just woke up or have already completed a sober day. For the next 24 hours, lets not drink alcohol!
This pledge is a statement of intent. Today we don't set out trying not to drink, we make a conscious decision not to drink. It sounds simple, but all of us know it can be hard and sometimes impossible. The group can support and inspire us, yet only one person can decide if we drink today. Give that person the right mindset!
What happens if we can't keep to our pledge? We give up or try again. And since we're here in /r/stopdrinking, we're not ready to give up.
What this is: A simple thread where we commit to not drinking alcohol for the next 24 hours, posting to show others that they're not alone and making a pledge to ourselves. Anybody can join and participate at any time, you do not have to be a regular at /r/stopdrinking or have followed the pledges from the beginning.
What this isn't: A good place for a detailed introduction of yourself, directly seek advice or share lengthy stories. You'll get a more personal response in your own thread.
This post goes up at:
- US - Night/Early Morning
- Europe - Morning
- Asia and Australia - Evening/Night
A link to the current Daily Check-In post can always be found near the top of the sidebar.
Morning friends!
“What are you willing to give up in order to have the life you keep saying you want?” a wise older woman once said to me. I said “You’re right – I really need to start learning how to say no to things I don’t want to do.” She corrected me, “No, it’s much harder than that. You need to start saying no to things you want to do, with the recognition that you have only one life, and you don’t have the time and energy for everything.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
If you celebrate Christmas, you might be surrounded by temptation today and tomorrow. And then with New Year’s right around the corner, it’s a virtual minefield of temptation and triggers.
Celebrating holidays sober can be fun, but they’re often different, especially if you are used to big, boozy celebrations. And getting your head around “different” can be the hardest thing.
If this is your first sober holiday, keep it simple. Remember that your only goal is to hit the pillow sober. One party, one dinner, one celebration at a time. If you are worried about explaining why you’re not drinking and don’t want to get into it, here are some things that have worked for me:
“No” is a full sentence. “Nah, I’m okay for now, but do you have <<insert alcohol-free option here>>” is also an option.
Pack your own alcohol-free drinks. I keep my cup topped up with my alcohol-free beverage of choice so if anyone asks if they can get me a drink, I can hold it up and say “I’m good thanks!”
Eat. I find eating helps quell cravings.
Have an exit strategy. A headache, tired, work tomorrow, sick pet, all excuses that you can use if you need to leave early.
If you get overwhelmed, hit the bathroom and check in here! There are thousands of us who are on the same path so you’re not alone, and the bathroom is one spot you can almost always expect a bit of privacy.
Are there any tips you have that have worked for you that you can share? Post them below!
You can do this, friends. I will not drink with you today!