Taking part in Dry January is your opportunity to abstain from alcohol for the entirety of the first month of the year.
For many, drinking alcohol during the holiday season is commonplace. Social drinking is widely accepted. Unfortunately, many people find themselves drinking much more than usual.
Dry January is an opportunity to give your mind and body time to recover and even reevaluate your drinking habits if you feel they have become problematic. Most people would agree there are significant stressors during the holiday season. It’s a complex time of year for many, and alcohol is often used as a crutch.
The benefits of Dry January are significant. Abstaining from alcohol leads to better sleep, mental clarity, more energy, clearer skin, weight loss, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and less stress, depression and anxiety.
Most importantly, you are removing the risk of drinking and driving. Abstinence from alcohol is the backbone of drunk driving prevention. University of Victoria found that alcohol consumption in British Columbia returned to pre-COVID levels in 2023. ICBC estimates that 21 per cent of car crash fatalities are related to impaired driving.
Dry January can also be a time to reevaluate your drinking habits.
Ask yourself if you are using alcohol as a tool to cope with stressful situations. Do you find yourself stressed without alcohol, and is alcohol use impacting your professional or personal relationships? If the answer is yes, it’s a good time to give yourself a break from alcohol.
While this can be challenging, there are practical tips you can use to make Dry January a success. Create a supporting environment where you know you will succeed. Thoroughly purge all the booze around you; either dump it, hide it, or give it away. Moreover, find a suitable non-alcoholic drink for social situations.
Recruit a friend or family member to participate and help avoid temptations. Not only will you support one another, but you can also plan activities that do not involve alcohol, and you can speak about the successes and challenges of abstaining from alcohol.
Stay busy and active and take this time to focus on your mental and physical well-being; take advantage of having more energy and sleeping better. Utilize Dry January apps that will help you track your progress and find practical ways to hold yourself accountable.
Ideally, this can be optimal to reflect on your drinking habits. During the month, you will begin to lose alcohol cravings, and you may realize alcohol does not need to take up such ample space in your life. If the benefits make you feel great physically and mentally, consider continuing for another 30 days. Embrace your new attitude to alcohol use.
Nickolaus Hayes is a health-care professional in the field of substance use and addiction recovery and is part of the editorial team at DRS (Drug Rehab Services). His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance use.
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