For many, Dry January is a commonplace post-holiday season, yet you can start anytime, even in February. The goal is to abstain from alcohol for a month, giving yourself a mental and physical reset.
Excessive drinking is widely accepted during the festive season. Even casual and social drinkers find themselves drinking more than usual during the holidays. A month of sobriety has numerous health and social benefits and helps you re-evaluate your drinking habits. Fortunately, there are practical ways you can accomplish this and make it a success.
The health benefits are significant and noticeable relatively quickly. You will find yourself sleeping better, having more energy, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and more money. You’ll notice you may lose weight, have clearer skin, and feel less depressed, anxious, and stressed. Overall, your mental and physical well-being will significantly improve.
Moreover, it helps you re-evaluate your drinking habits if you feel it got out of hand over the holidays. Consider asking yourself if alcohol is used as a tool to cope with stressful situations. Do you find yourself feeling stressed without alcohol, or have your drinking habits impacted your relationships or your professional life? If the answer is yes, consider a month of not drinking alcohol.
Finally, and most importantly, there is a social benefit. You remove any chance of driving while impaired. Abstaining from alcohol is the backbone of effective drunk driving prevention. Oklahoma is committed to combatting impaired driving and has stepped up its efforts. Alcohol- related crashes injure nearly 2,500 and kill approximately 220 Oklahomans each year.
If you want to reap the benefits of an alcohol-free month, consider some of the following tips to help you out along the way.
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 or sobriety apps that will help you track your progress and find practical ways to hold yourself accountable.
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.
Editor’s Note: Nickolaus Hayes is a healthcare professional in the field of substance use and addiction recovery and is part of the editorial team at DRS. His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance use.
