Here I sit, sipping what might be my last glass of red wine for a while, contemplating the journey ahead. Dry January is looming, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it – I’m freaking out a little. Okay, maybe a lot.

For years, 5:00 PM has meant one thing: wine o’clock. It’s been my version of “self-care,” my reward for making it through another day of maintaining my professional facade. By day, I’m the career woman who sometimes powers through meetings with a subtle hangover. By night, I’m best friends with my wine glass, often a little too friendly if we’re being honest.

But I’m tired. Tired of feeling drained. Tired of the extra pounds that won’t budge. Tired of waking up feeling worthless and lazy. Tired of the cycle that starts with “just one glass” and ends with… well, you know how it goes.

Already, my brain is trying to negotiate: “Maybe we’ll keep Fireball Fridays?” It’s amazing how quickly we try to create escape hatches when facing change. My rational mind knows this defeats the purpose, but my comfort-seeking self is desperately trying to maintain some link to my familiar coping mechanism.

In preparation, I’ve ordered some non-alcoholic alternatives from Amazon – fancy drinks with adaptogens that promise to help me unwind without the wine. When I told my husband about these, he raised an eyebrow and asked if replacing alcohol with something else that has an “effect” wasn’t just switching from the skillet to the fire.

Maybe he has a point, but here’s my take: I’m not looking for perfection. I’m looking for better choices. These alternatives have natural ingredients, significantly fewer calories, and – hallelujah – no hangovers. If they can help me relax without the downsides of alcohol, isn’t that a step in the right direction?

I know this journey won’t be easy. Years of conditioning don’t disappear just because the calendar changes. But maybe that’s okay. Maybe it’s not about being perfect but about being honest with ourselves about what we’re doing and why.

So here’s to Dry January. To facing our fears about who we are without our liquid crutches. To discovering new ways to care for ourselves that don’t leave us feeling worse the next day. To accepting that change is scary, and doing it anyway.

Who’s with me on this adventure? Drop a comment below if you’re taking on Dry January too, or if you’ve got any tips for making it through those wine o’clock cravings. We’re all in this together, and maybe that’s exactly what we need to make it work.

*P.S. If you see me posting about Fireball Friday in a few weeks, feel free to call me out. Sometimes we all need a little accountability from our friends.*