'I tried to give up drinking for a month. Here's what happened.'

I hate not being in control. 

I like remembering what I've said, knowing where I am and making informed decisions. It's just the way I am, and I'm fine with that.

Towards the end of last year, I was out almost every weekend - and all of that went out the window. 

I would wake up on Sunday morning, knowing I've probably (definitely) made a fool of myself, beat myself up about it and consider going sober constantly.

But as the year was wrapping up, and we were entering the festive season, there was always a reason to drink (even if there wasn't). So I did.

Over Christmas, I travelled to the UK with my partner for a winter holiday - drinking was a big part of it and I can't say no to a mulled wine. 

We drank a lot, and it was a hell of a time. But I came home exhausted and sluggish.

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Like many others, my partner and I jumped on Dry January.

We went full cold turkey the minute our plane hit the ground - our bar trolley was stashed away, and wine was replaced with water.

For context: besides my big weekends, I'm not much of a weeknight drinker. I don't crave alcohol after work (usually) and I rarely drink from Monday to Friday.

My partner, on the other hand, works long days and generally has a few drinks every evening. It's like his version of a camomile tea before bed.

Although January comes after the bulk of the summer festivities, it's still a month of celebration. The holidays aren't over just yet and the weather's at its best.

That meant my calendar was filled with birthdays (I'm one of three summer babies), dinners and catch-ups with friends after being away.

I slipped three times in January. I justified each of them at the time - someone's birthday, an event with an open bar and really good cocktails... Australian drinking culture makes that really easy to do. Alcohol is at the centre of almost all of our social activities. 

Have something to celebrate? Go for drinks.

In need of a catch up? Go for drinks.

It's Friday - drinks!

People get confused when you mention you're not having one. They ask questions as to why before either trying to convince you to have one or feeling guilty for having one themselves when you're not.

Each time I slipped up in January, I felt like sh*t (obviously, it's called a hangover). And between them, I was reminded how much I enjoy being sober.

Since the third and last slip, I've been completely sober. It's nothing ground-breaking, I know, but I can honestly say I've never felt better.

Here are three things that have made the transition easier and more enjoyable:

• Keep the fridge stocked with something when you get cravings. During the week, we don't have alcohol-free "drinks" (zero alcohol beers, wine or cocktails), we have Coke Zero stocked. That's just our preference though.
• Consider popping it in a wine glass. This tip was one a colleague let me in on that she does during the week with kombucha. It really does elevate the experience.
• Alcohol-free drinks are seriously good these days, try them. We've been drinking Naked Life canned cocktails and Heaps Normal beer and recommend both to everyone. We're yet to try zero-alcohol spirits and wine. It also makes you feel like you're a part of "having drinks". We had three big events on the weekend and brought them along.
• Do things with friends besides going to the pub - we've basically been eating, cooking and walking. Bliss.

If it seems like everyone is off the drinks at the moment (okay, at least more people than usual), that's because they are.

A friend of mine, who runs a general store in rural NSW, even told me recently that non-alcoholic drinks are their number one seller right now. That surprised me at first (with that country-folk-loving-a-cold-beer stereotype), then it didn't.

The sober living movement might be in response to heavy drinking over Christmas - like mine started out, or more of a lifestyle change - like mine is now.

But it's happening, and it's good.

We're saying goodbye to hangovers and "scary Sundays". We're spending our money on overpriced groceries instead of alcohol (I'm buying Meredith's Goats Cheese!).

I'm not sure when I'll next have an alcoholic drink.

It could be at an upcoming celebration (I'm getting married this year), it could be in a year's time, it could be never.

But all I know in this moment is that I love being sober, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's considering it.

Charlotte Begg is Mamamia's Senior Lifestyle Writer and Weekend Editor. For more, follow her on Instagram.

Feature image: Instagram/@charliebegg