Hello all,
I've gained a it of inspiration from reading others on here and it's time to act.
Often you need that lightbulb moment to really kick start and ambition and mine has now arrived. I've found myself with a bit of spare time on my hands and there's only one place or one thing I've been doing - gambling. One bad day and I was in chase mode and hit them bloody awful FOBTs again for the first time in over two years ( a move I feel disgusted at). I've now left myself in real pickle until payday - is this really the way I want to lead the rest of my days, seeing how much money I have left over and thinking great I have x amount to gamble with. I want to visit places and buy nice things, not think I've got £50 to blow willy nilly and then chase for the remainder of the month.
I appreciate that this isn't a new tale but I want to start this to fill some time and report back on a daily basis. Any support that can be given would be hugely beneficial as I am developing a problem.
This may seem an unusual approach but my main aim is to start by absconding from the bookmakers all together (I work in various locations and therefore cannot self exclude from them all - this isn't an excuse! )
Aim 1: Not to visit a bookmaker again.
I hope you can help me in my quest!
Thanks,
Hi Decent,
You've taken the first step, and facing up to the problem and putting a target in place can help. Hope you're getting through that weekend, and that today's daily report back will be a clean bill of no gambling for Sunday.
All the best
Ryan
Sorry for the delay - work is back and at least its giving me time on my hands!
The weekend was a great success, no visits to "those"eastablishments and the start of something successful! Currently through my second day on the road and again proving to be strong to avoid "those" places.
Could it be that i lost any spare income I have to gambling and thats whats causing me not to visit at the moment...
Pay-day will be strong stand of resolution and hopefully and encouraging start to becoming free from this vice.
In terms of a new hobby - work does not constitute so I am still looking!
Day 3 - No Visits.
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Thank you all for your support!
I will check it out - what can I expect from it etc? The pay Day survival is key - Everytime for a long time it goes a long way to my downfall!
Hi decent,
I, the same as you, needed a hobby once I decided Gambling was no longer. For me, Golf was the answer. An addictive sport with a prolonged learning curve but something I see myself getting better at. Maybe importantly to me as well, this was a sport I had never gambled on so didn't connect the two. Also, spending 4 hours walking around a course is a real good time to think, reflect and relax. I work in sales so on the road a lot as well so loneliness was a major factor I had to overcome when I was away from home.
I am now 128 days gambling free. I would highly reccomend keeping in touch with your diary, it was a great help for me
Onwards and upwards mate,
Hanz
I can relate to this so much Sales too and the loneliness! Golf is a great shout and I particularly like the way that you have related the non gambling link too. So I appreciate the support too!
Well today was day 4 and another successful day has been completed. No visits were made and my thoughts were focused on much more pressing matters elsewhere, a house. This is a superb way to let the thoughts that build up in my head out and the passion and drive plus the support is always helping.
Day 4 - No visits
Another day and another dollar saved. Resilience is proving strong and the mindset is in the right place. However, it's not time to start getting complacent. Keeping strong and focused and I will win this battle.
Day 5 - no visits.
This hit the back burner for a while - I've been so busy with work and trying to sort out a house that I haven't had the chance to update (but positively no chance to think about visiting the bookmakers!)
Day 11 has come and there has still been no visits. The strength is there and slowly but surely my mindset is getting there too - where better can I spend my money, what can I do now that I am not visiting bookmakers and the answers are starting to show.
I am conscious that pay day is now a week away and this is my big challenge coming up. However, the positivities that are coming with my mindset and the idea that my "brain is busy" is really proving beneficial. The hobby issue is still there - but I have noticed that Lego now do adult sets - something I loved as a kid and a little more entertaining than Jigsaws! Joking aside again thanks for all your support and I haven't forgotten about here, instead I'm forgetting about the G word!
11 Days - No Visits
Well done Decent, 11 days is great achievement and you should be proud!!
Recovery is bespoke and never stops giving. Take it all in and enjoy your calmer and peaceful life ahead. Each day we abstain, we winning the fight. Keep it up!!!
As of LEGO for adults..great idea lol..
Take care
Day at a time
Sandra x
Apologies, apologies, apologies!
Work again has been hectic and my partner and I are midway through buying our first house!
I am delighted to say that now I have been "that establishment free for 19 Days!
I am overjoyed that payday has arrived and I havent delved in. Instead I am looking for sounder investments like savings and hobbies. Lego turned out to be a damp squid however darts is proving popular!
Take Care all and thanks for the support - taking it day by day and hopefully updated this a little more often!
Thank you!
19 Days - No visits.
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