The 3 day solo winter hike that changed my life for the better
Added 2026-03-14 06:48:55 +0000 UTC
Comments
Never is such a long time. And a promise of 'never' is one fraught with difficulty and may end up broken. A broken promise leads to self-criticism and low self-esteem. Don't make a promise to never drink. Instead, my advice is to promise yourself that you can have a pint tomorrow. If I'm having a bad/good/indifferent day (all valid reasons to have a pint!), I'll tell myself that if I feel the same way tomorrow, I'll have one then. I haven't once felt the same way the following day.
Kieron C
2026-03-17 21:27:18 +0000 UTCTom - you've got to invite Louis Theroux to join for a "weird weekend" revival on your next adventure. Moving away from smartphones, not being afraid of avoiding alcohol when you want to, a normal family, cheeky adventures exploring the outdoors - this would be a great follow-up to the manosphere doc that he just released.
Alex P
2026-03-17 07:35:05 +0000 UTCGreat little adventure that, mate. Thank you for sharing. I gave up heavy boozing during lockdown. I haven't given up drinking altogether, but I only do it now if there's a reason - like a birthday or Xmas etc. I don't miss it at all. I used to live for my weekend binges. I'd played rugby since I was 13 (I'm now 53) and drinking every, single Friday and Saturday, to get falling down drunk, had been my life for over 30 years But now I only get pissed maybe 2 or 3 times a year. What I've realised is that I really don't need to get twatted to enjoy myself. Plus, since I've stopped drinking heavily I've noticed that I can appreciate just, very occasionally, having one quiet, sociable pint, without it being the start of a session. My life has improved massively since I made this choice, and I don't think I'll ever go back to how I used to be because now that I've discovered life away from binge-drinking, I greatly appreciate the everyday even keel. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, dude. Btw - as a Welshman I have to say that I prefer the Lake District over Snowdonia, too. They're both aching beautiful places, but I find the Lake District to be a more enjoyable place to hike.
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsShitLord
2026-03-17 07:16:47 +0000 UTC🫂 Proud of you, stranger. Keep going
Nadja
2026-03-17 02:50:20 +0000 UTCwell done on the 3 weeks smartphone free. me and my partner are hoping to make the same change in our lives
amber
2026-03-16 23:25:33 +0000 UTCGreat stuff Tom, thank you! I love that Perfect Day cover as well.
Dustin Geddes
2026-03-16 21:43:58 +0000 UTCNormally I’m just a viewer rather than a commenter, but it’s great to see someone being so open and honest about alcohol and their journey toward having a healthier relationship with it. Drinking is such a big part of the culture. When I was younger, I actually took pride in having a “local” and walking in to find my pint already on the bar because my routine was so predictable. They knew when I’d be there and what I’d be drinking. At the time, I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I never thought I had a problem with drink, but looking back I can see that I definitely relied on it to maintain some sort of social life. I never felt a particular need to drink, but I do wonder now how much of that was because I rarely went more than a few days without one anyway. And when it was time to drink, I was drinking. By that I mean I wasn’t stopping until I was basically nodding off in the pub. Over time I moved from beers to spirits, and eventually that excess led to a particularly nasty night where I got so drunk that I ended up sleeping with my head in the toilet because every time I tried to move I would start vomiting. The next day I was so ill I couldn’t even look at food. That was the moment I realised I had to stop. For whatever reason, probably because with most things in life I tend to go all in, I told myself I wasn’t going to drink for a year. At first it was incredibly easy. The memory of that night was still so fresh that even thinking about alcohol was enough to turn my stomach. But about 6 months in, once that feeling had faded, the “one won’t hurt” mentality started creeping in. I kept holding off though. This was before the whole 0% boom, and I’ve no doubt I would have taken full advantage of that if it had existed back then. After 9ish months I had become so used to being around drunk people while sober that I started to feel glad I wasn’t acting like that anymore. Being around people who had gone past the fun, tipsy stage actually started to feel a bit grating. It was like someone had held up a mirror to my old behaviour. I realised that once you cross that line into being properly drunk, it really isn’t that fun. You just don’t notice it until the next morning. Then come the feelings of regret and shame. Checking my bank balance and realising I’d overspent again. The headaches. Knowing I’d annoyed my partner yet again. In the past I would have brushed all that off and told myself it was just the price of a “good night”. But was it really a good night when everything that followed was actually pretty miserable? I eventually made it to about 18 months before I had another alcoholic drink. It felt strange, and to be honest I didn’t even like the taste anymore. All the drinks I used to enjoy just tasted off. Since 2011 I’ve probably been properly drunk three times, and each time has just reminded me why I stopped. These days I still have the occasional beer, but there can be months between them. More often than not I actually prefer the 0% options, so if I do end up in a pub it’s usually a bit of a toss up which one I’ll get. My partner still drinks, usually a glass of wine with dinner at least once a week, and it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t feel the urge to join her and I don’t resent her for it either. She knows her limits and that’s absolutely fine by me. I don’t judge anyone who enjoys drinking. These days if someone is down the pub multiple times a week my main thought is how they can afford it, but beyond that it’s their choice. If people want to drink then that’s entirely up to them. It’s just not for me anymore. Life without drink being at the centre of things has been genuinely liberating. The things I’ve been able to do because I’m not lying in bed hungover, or spending my wages on something that ultimately always seems to become a potion for puking and pissing, far outweigh the occasional moments where I’ve felt a bit left out on a night out. Great video highlighting a lot of the benefits. Whatever you decide to do going forward with alcohol, I’m sure it will be more balanced for having taken a step back from it for a while.
lboutside
2026-03-16 13:11:14 +0000 UTCJust stop for a good few months (6-7), then the next time you drink your hangover will be so bad you'll be unlikely to do it again for more months. Never had a problem with any of that stuff but not using these things as habitual crutches can only ever be a positive thing. You don't have to not ever drink again, just break it as a habit.
Don Barbour - Supreme Leader
2026-03-16 00:43:43 +0000 UTCGenuinely feels like peak living watching this video. Hypes us all up for our next adventure as well. Thankyou for doing what you do Tom
Hazza
2026-03-16 00:37:25 +0000 UTCAll the best in your recovery, Martin. Do it for yourself, Tom and all of us. I believe in you
Hannah Samuels-Lyons
2026-03-15 22:00:38 +0000 UTCI currently have mental health issues and I'm struggling with alcohol addiction. So much so that I'm currently going through therapy, and have just finished a course of group sessions to try and help with my alcohol issues. As good as those sessions were, this video given me more of a mental jolt than those meetings ever did. I'm making positive steps. I've joined a gym. I went on a 16 mile hike the other day. But this video has given even more determination to make changes for the better. Cheers Tom. I raise my glass of 0% Guinness to you. 🍺
Martin Willetts
2026-03-15 21:14:34 +0000 UTCdoes anyone know what watch tom is wearing in this video?
Charlie Webber
2026-03-15 18:15:11 +0000 UTC
