“Dry January” May Be The Perfect Antidote For A Holiday Season Of Overindulgence, So Here Are Some Tips For Success When It Comes To Cutting Out Alcohol
I have always admired the brave people who decided to participate in “Dry January” after New Year’s Eve.
The holidays are a very popular time for drinking and over-indulging in general. After tumultuous years, people begin to feel super run down and ready for a reset in honor of the new year.
Dry January may be the perfect challenge if you’ve been drinking more than usual throughout 2023 or feel like you were overdoing it on the cocktails during the holidays.
The concept is simple. Those who want to participate in Dry January give up drinking from January 1st to February 1st. January becomes a booze-free month and an opportunity for you to clear your head and evaluate just how much or how little drinking impacts your life.
Dry January also gives people the chance to take a break from heavy socializing and put the money they’d spend on alcohol toward something else. Then, once the month is over, people can choose to slowly incorporate drinking back into their lives, return right to normal, or keep things “dry.”
If you’re interested in participating in Dry January, here are some tips on successfully getting through the sober month!
Let your friends and family know what you’re doing
One of the best ways to avoid temptation during the month is to let those you usually drink with, like friends and family, know in advance that you’ll be participating in Dry January.
Let them know you’ll need a support system and suggest some drink-free activities you can do together over the month.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Don’t do it to lose weight or go on a “cleanse.”
Many people enter Dry January for the wrong reasons, thinking it’s a life hack for losing weight or becoming healthier.
While there are many health benefits to cutting out drinking, you should be doing it to re-evaluate your drinking habits instead of doing it to change your body. Dry January shouldn’t be used as a way to punish yourself; it should be something positive.
Fuel your body along the way
If you were more reliant on drinking than you had thought before beginning Dry January, you might start to feel some withdrawals and be tempted to replace drinking with a lot of processed foods. Remember to eat those foods in moderation and fuel yourself with nutritious, balanced meals that will keep you full and satisfied.
Do it with a partner
Having a friend, partner, or family member participate in Dry January with you will make things much easier. If you can get your roommate or someone you live with to do it, too, the experience will be a lot better. You can share your struggles, and you won’t feel as alone.
Take it one day at a time
A lot of people tend to get overly excited about Dry January and set all sorts of other goals to accomplish during the month. The secret to a successful Dry January is taking it one day at a time. If your lack of drinking is bringing you down, go easy on yourself and focus on getting through each day. It’s a learning experience, and it shouldn’t be rushed.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself during Dry January; if you struggle with it, seek support from a loved one. Remember, it’s not supposed to be a punishment. It’s an opportunity to re-evaluate your drinking patterns and habits. You’ve got this!
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