DID THE FEAR get a bit too much in December?
Are you going to be rooting down the side of the sofa for pennies for the rest of the month? Have you been feeling a bit down or anxious? Are you hoping to get back in shape in 2019? Trying to start eating healthy again? Or are you just sick at the sight of drink?
There are plenty of very good reasons to partake in Dry January, and if you’ve made it this far into this article, chances are you’ve found one and don’t need much more convincing. It’s still early days, but you’ve just hit your first challenge: it’s the weekend.
If your dedication is beginning to waver, maybe your phone might be able to help you out a little bit. There are plenty of different apps on both the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store, but today we’re gonna look at one of the most popular ones.
I Am Sober
Available on both Apple and Android devices, I Am Sober sends you a notification every day asking you to pledge to remain sober. Might seem a bit pointless, but there are plenty of people who’ll tell you they drank by accident without even realising (see: people who are very fond of going for brunch). This little reminder in the middle of the afternoon might be the difference between whether you order a Bellini or an OJ.
Every time you open the app, you’ll be met with an overview of your progress and any milestones you’ve hit.
I Am Sober isn’t just for keeping track of your progress re: quitting alcohol, but basically every other substance that’s commonly deemed addictive – like nicotine, sugar and illegal drugs.
You can log multiple addictions at once, so if this whole no alcohol thing works out and you like the app, you could try and use it to quit smoking next month. Under each addiction, it’ll offer you an estimate of how much time and money you have saved from abstaining.
Besides from offering you statistics and a record of how you’ve been doing, I Am Sober has some other nice little features that set it apart from other sobriety apps. There’s a different motivational quote on the app every day (if that’s your thing), and there’s a feature that allows you to take a photo at each milestone so you can look back over the new memories you’re making without alcohol (or whatever substance you’re trying to quit).
On top of all that, every day the app will ask you how you got on. If you had a particularly difficult day and were gasping for a drink, there’s an option to input that and acknowledge that it’s not always easy. Maybe this will help you notice a pattern and certain situations that are worth avoiding. If staying off the booze was a breeze? There’s an option for that too, and it may motivate you to keep on going.
Good luck!
