I’m not going to lie, Dry July has been bloody tough.

I’ve joined thousands of other Aussies this month in giving up booze for a good cause, after being asked by Cancer Council WA to give it a go. I accepted because I love a good challenge, and also because I genuinely thought it would be easy. 

Let me point out, it’s very, VERY rare for me to drink Monday to Thursday, and I enjoy running to the point where I will avoid alcohol leading up to a race or event. So why has this month been so hard?!

I don’t actually have the answer to that, so instead I thought I would share 10 things I learned during the past 28 days. 

1. Friday night footy is less appealing without a beer in my hand. Hello Better Homes and Gardens.

2. I clearly use alcohol to reward myself for making it through the week without having retaliated to trolls online, for getting up early five days a week, for basically being an adult.

3. If you read the comments (as I do) you need a drink to calm down. If you can’t drink, you really, REALLY shouldn’t read the comments.

4. I used to think I clocked up the km’s in my sneakers because it ‘clears my head’. Turns out I run because then I can reward myself with a beer.

5. The thought of going to the pub for a quiet cup of tea is not enough to get me off the couch.

6. Eating your way through the fridge/cupboard is not a substitute for a calming glass of wine.

7. I am incredibly high-strung when I go for weeks on end without a drink. 

8. Drinking water from a wine glass doesn’t trick myself into thinking I’m having a drink. 

9. I think my dog likes me better when I’ve had a beer.

10. There are five weekends in July this year, which I think is a personal conspiracy against me.

I’m pretty surprised at how irritable I’ve found myself at certain points in this past month, and I can honestly say I’ve taken myself off to bed like a grumpy toddler on more than one Friday night. In fact, I’d like to see some stats on how many divorces/break-ups occur during the month of July.

In all seriousness though, taking up the challenge has certainly been tougher than I originally gave it credit for, and I take my hat off to people who do this on the regular.

I will confess I’ve had TWO beers, all within the rules with the purchase of a Golden Ticket for a special occasion. But, I also turned down several other very generous Golden Ticket purchases.

Yes, I’m mentioning this because I want a pat on the back (I’m much less self-indulgent when I drink, I promise).

I will say a huge thank you to all who have donated to my cause, because it’s allowed me to raise almost $600, which helps make life a little bit easier for cancer patients coming from regional areas to Perth for treatment.

I point out that my month of discomfort is nothing compared to what those people are going through. 

Now, I wanted to end this with something witty and funny, but every ounce of my energy is going into not being a cranky cow to the people I interact with on a day to day basis, so I can’t.

August 1 is fast approaching, and let me tell you, a Monday has never looked so damn good!