Preparing for Christmas often means cracking out the sparkles and enjoying the festivities with friends, family and colleagues.
However, for some, like those in recovery, Christmas can be an especially challenging time of year with varying degrees of stress.
The pressure not to overspend on expensive gifts, see family you may not want and being pressured to take part in celebrations involving alcohol can be tough. Here are some advice and tips to get you through the holiday season.
In the run up
In the UK, we have a strong culture of drinking associated with celebrations and this couldn't be more true for Christmas. Being invited to parties, seeing offers on alcohol in your local supermarket and being offered a drink with your Christmas dinner can be especially challenging.
In the run up to Christmas it can be useful to remind yourself why you are stopping/stopped drinking in the first place and things that drinking over Christmas would cost you.
Another great tool is to plan beyond the 25th. Christmas will soon be gone and you don't want to be left with frustration and regrets. Make a list of five things you want to do or achieve in January.
Instead of focusing on the immediate, think to the future. Remember for you, the association with alcohol isn't happy joyful celebrations, it is stress, strained relationships and painful memories.
So don't let the over-produced adverts selling happiness, associates offering to pour you a drink or discounted supermarkets offers take you away from your goal.
Top tips
1. Put the money you would have spent on alcohol away for a treat at the end of the month. If you buy three bottles of wine a week, you're set to save £84.
2. Get sponsored so you can raise money for a local charity. You can also get friends and family involved for extra support. This means you're doing good while feeling good.
3. Use a diary to record how you're feeling each day. Alcohol is a depressant so a month without it will significantly improve your mental health.
4. Pair Dry January with a gym subscription to really see and feel the benefits. Exercising will further improve your mental and physical health.
Getting active
Getting active seems like the opposite of the resting and overindulging we usually do around Christmas, but it is no secret that being active is great for your physical and mental health. Nobody is expecting you to run a marathon (unless that's your thing) but even starting as small as a 10-minute walk a day is beneficial. Here are a few ideas you can start with...
A winter walk - get the scarf and woolly hat out and explore some of the beautiful walks around Derbyshire. There's no better time for a walk than Christmas morning.
Fitness at home - if you're not a fan of this winter weather, stay nice and warm with a home workout. From cardio to yoga, there are loads of workout routines online, including a 12 days of Christmas challenge.
Try a new hobby - ever wanted to try skiing? Snowboarding? Ice skating? Why not! Get fit, have fun and gain a new skill to take into next year.