Congratulations. You've stopped drinking. Somewhere, a pub landlord has just felt a cold breeze and cancelled his summer holiday.
The first month is when you build the new routine. Here's how to get through it with your sense of humour intact. Take it from a public health bloke who ended up selling beer. I know. I've stopped trying to explain it too.
Meet your nemesis: 6pm
Every drinker has a witching hour. For most of us, it's 6pm. Wine o'clock. The kettle goes on and some ancient part of your brain whispers “wouldn't a glass be nice?”
Don't fight it. Outsmart it. Have something good in the fridge, pour it into your favourite glass, and give your brain the ritual it's asking for. It wanted the moment, not the hangover.
Fill the evenings (or nap, both are valid)
The evenings feel longer at first. That's not a bug, it's a feature. You've been handed free time.
Cook something that takes longer than a microwave. Watch that series everyone's been banging on about. Learn the guitar badly. Go to bed at 10pm like a rebel.
Beware the running trap
Week three, you'll feel great. Full of beans. And a little voice will say “you should take up running”. Be careful. That's how it starts. Next thing, you're doing five-hour runs every Sunday and your mates think you've moved abroad. You've swapped hangovers for hamstrings. Still out the game. Just with better calves and worse toenails.
Expect a wobble
Some days will be harder. Rocky didn't win every round either. He did a lot of running up steps and shouting, and look how that turned out. Actually, he was a runner. Never mind.
A bad day doesn't undo the good ones. Be as kind to yourself as you'd be to a mate.
Notice the good stuff
Keep a little list. Saturday mornings. Money saved. Films you saw the end of. The time you were the only one who remembered where the car was parked.
Read it back on a rubbish day. It beats any motivational poster with a sunset on it.
One more thing
Stopping drinking doesn't change your personality. If you were a laugh before, you're still a laugh. If you talked about yoga mats at parties when you were drinking, I'm afraid you'll still talk about yoga mats. Sorry. That's on you.
The deal bit
Need something for the fridge before 6pm strikes? Our best-selling alcohol-free drinks are the easiest place to start. Mix any 6 drinks and save 5%, up to 15% for 24. For more, read our guide to stopping. Welcome to the club.
The serious bit
If you've been drinking heavily every day, have a chat with your GP before you stop. Stopping suddenly can be dangerous, and they'll help you do it safely. The NHS website has more on support.
