Have reached a regular rhythm, during the week I don't drink, Saturday and Sunday I do, Friday is a toss up. It's mainly sport that distracts me although I do some freelance writing and that occasionally takes over a free evening so that it becomes alcohol free.
Fridays more often than not slide into the mix of a non-drinking day which is a bit odd. I can't figure out if I'm exhausted from the workweek or the 4 nights alcohol free are reaching a tipping point of detox making me flat out or the relief that I have two full days next without work just makes me not need to reach for the bottle.
I've been following this pattern for a two months, which has been a vast improvement over my previous regular two bottles of wine on Monday because I hate my job. Then the other weekdays had a habit of being wine heavy as Monday broke the seal. So I've in general been pleased with progress and toyed with the idea of stepping it up.
I am off on Tuesday to the Continent for a work trip. For whatever reason, I tend not to drink while on work trips, even when I'm by myself for an evening, I'm not at all tempted by a beer in the hotel bar or from the supermarket. I think it's because I have other things to distract me, I tend to go for walks or watch foreign television.
On Friday I will travel to another location where I will be volunteering for the following week. I have Friday, Sat, and Sunday daytime to myself in a city I've always wanted to visit, so I won't be distracted or slowed down by alcohol.
I take the volunteer gig seriously, so again won't be drinking as it's long days, although I may try one local beer of an evening, if there is a social event as there is on the Sunday evening.
You plan your work, you work your plan.
So here is the overview:
Mon 5th - day before flying (No drinking)
Tues 6th - arrive in, ND
Wed, Thurs - work, ND
Fri - off and train to another country. May buy one to take on the train as it's a safe country where that is done (I've previously lived there.)
Sat - run around like a tourist. ND
Sun - take a two hour train to another city. The volunteer hosts are doing a dinner so I may have a local drink with that.
Mon - Thurs - busy days, ND
Fri - arrive back around 5 PM ish to another city that I want to explore and I leave at 2 PM the following day so ND
Sat - will have a local beer or two or three as I have a two hour flight back to the UK and I'm not a great flyer anymore.
So overall this should be an increase of non-drinking days as it will run over the weekends. Actually looking forward to it.
