[jamierumbelow]

Something practical that helped me – I'm taking a year off drinking, and am 328 days through – was getting my friends and family to take bets heavily skewed against me. If I don't drink for a year, for instance, my friend is giving me $50; if I fail, I am giving her $150.

When I've really wanted a drink, I have to ask myself: is this drink worth ~$3,000? It never is.

I've also been doing lots of gym workouts and going for runs. Seeing my progress after a few months of sobriety has been extremely helpful. I didn't realise I could be athletic – and it was always _much_ harder with a hangover.

Finally, there are now lots of decent alcohol-free drinks available that make sobriety less boring. Athletic Brewery and Lucky Saint are particularly good facsimiles. And a tonic water with a splash of cocktail bitters is delicious!