Dry January Tips

Welcome to 2023. Since it’s January, let’s talk about Dry January and the gift of sobriety.

A note before we dive in - This post is aimed at people who are not dependant on alcohol. Alcohol dependence is a real issue for far too many people. If you think that this may be you, quitting cold turkey is inadvisable – you’ll want to connect with a doctor on a specific treatment plan. If you’re unsure, check out the below resources:

• UK – https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

• US – https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help

I’ve mentioned previously that I gave myself the gift of sobriety last year. It’s been a very positive change. I am currently at 260+ days and happily trucking along.

I was never a person that people would think had a “problem” with alcohol. But I drank more than I wanted to and wasn’t good at stopping at one. Ever. So I decided to re-evaluate my relationship with alcohol and, frankly, found it lacking. It didn’t deliver on the hype.

On 19 April 2022 I didn’t embark on giving up drinking forever. Like accomplishing any big, hairy goal, I focused on what I could do each day – just not drink. After a couple weeks, when I was getting the hang of it and saw the positive impacts, I landed on a goal of 100 days. Since then, I’ve just kept going.

If you’re interested in having a reset or taking some time off alcohol, Dry January is a fab way to start. It’s similar to how men, regardless of ability, grow sometimes tragic moustaches in support of men’s health as part of Movember, not drinking in January has been normalized and the lighter social calendar makes it easier. This way you can test the non-drinking waters without social weirdness.

Couple recos that I have found exceedingly helpful –

1. Mindset matters: focus on what you’re getting, not what you’re giving up. For example, by not drinking, I’ve gifted myself better sleep, less anxiety, more money and mental clarity. What will this gift give you? Weight loss? New hobbies? Fewer cringeworthy memories? So. Many. Things.

2. One thing at a time: quitting drinking, even for a month, can be a challenge. Layering on a “new year, new you” type goal is setting yourself up for disappointment. Not drinking is enough. Reward yourself for it – my sober girl treats included massages, dark chocolate and face masks.

3. All of the feels: Alcohol numbs us and triggers a dopamine release - for 20 minutes and then we feel worse. Many people, like me, use it to buffer from our emotions, including dealing with stress from work. When you stop drinking, know that you’ll start feeling all the feels - coaching can help and it gets easier with practice. Give yourself some space to deal and get moving. Movement helps complete the stress cycle – so get walking, solo kitchen dance parties or whatever is your jam.

4. Don’t die of boredom: if the prospect of giving up booze has you feeling like you’re resigning yourself to a life of boredom and social ostracism – first see #1 about mindset – then get in on the non-alcoholic beverages. There are a ton. We love LA Brewery kombucha and Fentimans Ginger Beer, which we stock at home. A lot of pubs and restaurants do NA versions of cocktails, virgin mojitos are one of my favs, and NA beers have come a long with the added bonus of not having as many calories as alcoholic versions. Check out resources like ClubSoda.com to help you find more.

Obviously, this is something I am passionate about. If you have questions about my journey or need any recos on resources feel free to comments or drop me a line.