I made a lifestyle choice nearly two years ago to stop drinking and know firsthand how hard it can be. Whilst for some of you, committing to a dry month will be fairly straightforward, for others, it may be one of the hardest things that you have attempted.

One of the things I noticed when I stopped drinking was how socially odd you become. Let’s face it, there’s nothing more natural at the end of a busy day than unwinding with a drink. If you’re a sociable animal, you may head to the pub, meet up with friends and make a night of it. Alcohol is part of our society and is widely enjoyed by a majority of the population, so when you choose to pack it in, for whatever reason, some strange things happen.

Firstly, people become very interested in your decision to stop. Reactions range from incredulity, awe and wonder, to shock, disbelief and, in some cases, full on verbal abuse. I still get berated by my friends when we’re out for not matching them pint for pint in the race to eat dodgy kebabs and fall over. You see the thing is, drinking isn’t just part of our culture, it is our culture and it is attached to everything: people drink to celebrate, commiserate, when they’re happy, when they’re sad and everything in between.

Another thing you notice when you shelve the alcohol and lock away your stash of lager and wine is that you get bored easily. Some of the things that were interesting when you had a drink become very uninteresting without one; I’ll leave you to make a list. But sitting on the sofa and watching a movie or your favourite sport without your usual tipple does feel very odd indeed to start with.

It is also hard to relax, because alcohol is fabulous for flicking the soothing and relaxing switch in your body. When you first stop drinking you start to feel tense and perhaps a bit agitated and irritable.  In fact, you’ll probably struggle at one time or another with the challenge. So why bother? And what will help you get through the next few weeks?

Well, to begin with you are raising money for a fabulous cause, Autism Together, one of the country’s leading providers of services to people on the autism spectrum. Our staff help people to achieve their potential and quite simply undertake extraordinary work each and every day. Without the kind donations from our supporters and fundraisers we wouldn’t be able to continue our work and autistic individuals would be significantly disadvantaged. Set up an online fundraising page here https://www.justgiving.com/autism-together and share it across your networks, along with any updates, hints and tips and general thoughts about your own Dry January Journey.

Alternatively please contact the Fundraising Team on 01513347510 fundraising@autismtogether.co.uk who will be happy to help you. We also have some handy guides available to download from our website www.autismtogether.co.uk/join-in to help you along.

In addition to the philanthropic case for a dry January, there are also some personal reasons why you should stick at it. Not least of which is the money you’ll save; with average prices for a glass of wine or a pint of Guinness continuing to rise, taking a month’s break will undoubtedly save you some pennies, so keep a track of how much you are saving and treat yourself at the end of the month.

There is also a health benefit, I’m not a doctor, but I do know that our bodies work quite hard to process alcohol through our system, so giving our liver and kidneys a month off can’t be a bad thing, can it?  For those of us that worry about our weight think of the calories you’ll save; according to DrinkAware.com, 1 pint of 4% beer contains 182 calories, a small glass of wine 159 and a pint of cider 216. To shift those calories normally you’d need to run between 16 and 22 minutes – by not drinking you can lose them without even having to bend down and tie your laces.

In order to complete your challenge you’ll need to have a plan. First, stay focused. You are doing this to raise money for a great charity which needs your help, keep going please! Remember that January is only one month, just 31 days, I know it is a cliché, but commit to not having a drink for just one day at a time and congratulate yourself when you’ve completed that day.

Find a temporary hobby for when you get bored, change your routine, sit on a different chair when you’re watching the telly, go for a run, get a book about something you are really interested in and read it. Importantly though, try and change your mind set.  Don’t think that you are giving something up and denying yourself something, try to think that you are trying something new. You are giving your body and mind a holiday from alcohol and holidays are good things.

Lastly, enjoy the benefits and celebrate your achievements, enjoy the feeling of waking up with a clear head, enjoy having a few extra pounds in your pocket and enjoy the fact that you are doing a good thing, for yourself and for others. Good luck and thank you!

Robin Bush is CEO of Autism Together

On a serious note, alcoholism is a serious problem. If you feel that you are struggling with alcohol addiction you can phone Drinkline on 0300 123 1110 for a free, confidential conversation (weekdays 9am – 8pm, weekends 11am – 4pm).

“Enjoy the benefits and celebrate your achievements, enjoy the feeling of waking up with a clear head.”

Robin Bush is CEO of Autism Together