As soon as New Year’s Day rolls around, countless people commit to staying sober throughout the month of January. If you’re one of the many participants in Dry January, you might be both nervous and excited about the month ahead.
Choosing sobriety can change the way you socialize and spend your free time, but you’ll also experience numerous benefits for your physical and mental health.
No matter your reasons for choosing sobriety in January, there are plenty of benefits to eschewing alcohol for a full month. Plus, turning to the right tools can help you stick with your commitment throughout all of January. Here are a few points of encouragement and suggested resources to help you navigate Dry January.
Experience the Benefits of Sobriety
Dry January can give you a taste of sobriety’s many benefits. Even if you’re not sure whether you want to give up alcohol entirely, or whether you’d simply like to moderate your drinking in the future, it’s a good way to experience the perks of sobriety.
You might find that you have an easier time sleeping at night or staying productive on the weekends. Maybe you’ll notice that you feel happier and less anxious. It doesn’t hurt to keep a journal reflecting on the changes you see in your life!
Discover Alternatives to Drinking
Throughout Dry January, you’ll be able to experiment with alternatives to drinking. This could mean finding social outlets other than going to bars. You may discover a new coffee shop or a great restaurant where your friends can get together without drinking. In addition, you could learn a few fun recipes for tasty, non-alcoholic drinks!
Achieve Other Goals
Perhaps you’ve made a few other New Year’s resolutions in addition to Dry January. For instance, you might want to save more money, lose weight, move up in your career, or tackle a number of other goals related to your health, finances, or hobbies. By giving up drinking for a month, you can get a head start on these other resolutions.
When you’re not spending money on alcohol, you’ll be able to boost your savings rate. And if you’re not drinking, you won’t be consuming excess sugar and calories with no nutritional value. If you’re not hungover on the weekends, you can dedicate your time to learning new skills that could help you earn a promotion.
Read Helpful Books
What resources can you turn to in order to find guidance during Dry January? You might want to check out your local library or bookstore for a copy of Can I Keep Drinking? by Cyndi Turner.
This book will help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for drinking in moderation, or if you should commit to giving up alcohol altogether. You can apply the information in this book to make decisions about consuming alcohol after Dry January is over.
Join a Support Group
What if you feel a bit lonely during Dry January? Maybe your friends tend to spend a lot of time going out to bars, or perhaps you feel you don’t have anyone to reflect on your current sobriety with. If you want to connect with other people who are also exploring sobriety, you could consider joining our support group “Me, My Body, and Alcohol.”
In this group, you’ll be able to meet with other women who are also considering sobriety or cutting back on drinking. You’ll be able to share the challenges and joys of this process together.
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Are you interested in pursuing sobriety beyond Dry January? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.