Hi all,
I am going to be running a 3 month challenge. I think challenges and goals can really help keep us focused, keep us checking in on gamcare and overall just help us on our non gambling journeys.
This one as titled is the Christmas challenge. I found that I needed to do something around Christmas and other "trigger dates" to make sure I didn't fall back into gambling. Although I am a big kid and love Christmas, it is also a high pressure time, particularly financially and that is going to present urges and just speaking from my own experience when the urges get extra strong you need a to get a stronger defence to make sure you get through it.
This challenge should only be a part of your defence but I hope its a helpful and enjoyable part.
So my thinking is starting the challenge on November 1st as this gives us a little bit of a head start, gets us in a good place, hopefully one month+ gamble free once December hits and we run the challenge until 31st January, which takes us through Christmas and New year and hopefully past the panic stages financial linking to Christmas.
Also what I really like about running it through to the end of Jan is, what a great way to start the new year!! The first month of the year gamble free and all being well those completing the challenge in full would have 90+ gamble free days, sets up 2023 perfectly. Wow 2023 that's scary to type!
I will do a weekly update every Monday/Tuesday, highlighting any milestones and to list who is involved in the challenge.
This challenge will be kept open throughout, you do not have to have started from day one, joining half way through (or at any point) and completing the remainder of the challenge will always be a big achievement and I think more importantly a great commitment in yourself, in you saying - I WANT TO DO THIS!
Anyone that slips during the challenge, please let us know straight away, it will stop the slip become anything more and of course you'll have all our support and we'll help to get you through the remainder of the challenge.
I ran a 30 day challenge recently and @cerrry93 suggested for the new challenge, to have a talking point or question for each week that we could all post and comment on. I really like that idea so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know and I'll use them in the weekly updates, I think it would be good if we could all be involved, so comment away...
So to sum up, 1st Nov to 31st Jan, 3 month, 92 day challenge. A great way to start the new year. I wish everyone the best on this journey and challenge. I'm excited, not sure if it's for the challenge or for Christmas maybe 50/50 haha.
Comment below to join and I'll list all names on day 1 and the on the weekly update.
I'd like to join this
I’ll join this please. This is my first post, I’m currently 25 days GF, but anything to keep me focused.. great idea and thank you
Im in cheers, 3 months takes me nicely to my 1 year, so a no brainer.
As for xmas just like all holidays, birthdays and special occasions used to be a time to gamble.
Just a few possible subjects to comment on
triggers
moods
distractions
aims
and positivity.
Good luck all.
I would like to join this. As I feel gambling is starting to consume me once again.
I would like to join!
I would like to join. Thank you for challenge
Yeah count me in
Hi all,
Great to see such a positive response to the challenge.
@rock123 @jobbo @simonsmyork19 your in thanks for joining the challenge.
@nyaba great to see you again.
@ssc180922 soon be 1 month gamble free well played to you. Keep it going and make sure you treat yourself on that day, doesn't have to be big but something to mark the day.
@lids19635 love the fact the challenge will bring you to a year gamble free, that's awesome and thanks for the suggestions.
@steve13 well done for noticing that's a big step for long term recovery, noticing how gambling makes you feel, noticing when you want to gamble, working out what your triggers are and what's needed to overcome them and also strategies to avoid the triggers in the first place!
The 8 (and hopefully more to come!) on this journey...
Just signed up to GamCare today.
This seems like a perfect way to start my recovery journey.
Count me in
Hello, this is day 1 of joining here. Was 2 years clean until around 4 months ago. Lost all my savings as of Friday night. To say I’m ashamed of myself is an understatement. However I’ve been scrolling through posts and reading others stories, whilst very sad also gave me comfort I am not alone.
count me in on this challenge, let’s do this together !
I'd like to join love Xmas and seeing in a new years and making objectives for a fresh year
@mendoza you've made a great decision, great to have you on board.
@brigitte85 well done for making the right choice to come back on here and start rebuilding once more, the great thing is this time you have so much more knowledge of how to stay stopped, you've done it before so you know you can do it again.
Thinking about it I did the same I was about 2 years gamble free before my relapse, I'm now 3 years gamble free and not looking back so @brigitte85 it may feel a bit rubbish now but you'll soon be smashing it once more and anymore gambling you know will only make things worse and be proud that your back on the recovery journey.
@adam123 great to have you with us and massive congrats on the 1000+ days gamble free!!
4 days to go! The 3 month challenge. I can't wait! It's not that we're giving up or quiting on something, as that implies it's something we like, something we need or something we'll miss, no we're stopping something that hurts us, brings us down, hurts those around us.
Don't just choose to stop gambling make the choice to be a new person. My name is David and I don't gamble. That's part of my identity, part of who I am.
Who are you and who do you you want to become?
11 of us so far have signed up for this, congratulations all, we have all made a great decision to stop gambling and improve our lifes.
@d122010 Thanks for sorting this David, it’s gives us all extra focus and more determination to succeed.
im 40 days today, so hopefully this challenge will help me reach 100+ days, but of course one day at a time.
the 11 doing the challenge, and hopefully more to follow - good luck.. we can do this.
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