Dry January is the challenge of not drinking alcohol during January. In recent years it has grown in popularity, like intermittent fasting or running, and the trend now is to take care of yourself inside and out. Here is the ultimate guide to Dry January: what it consists of, how to overcome this challenge and the benefits for your health.
With the non-alcoholic drinks from The Blue Dolphin Store, it is easier to overcome this challenge. Are you up for the Dry January challenge?
What is Dry January?
Dry January is the challenge of not drinking alcohol for a month created by the British organization Alcohol Change UK in 2013 to reduce alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom.
Its origin dates back to 2011 when Emily Robinson signed up for her first half marathon, which was scheduled for February. She then decided to stop drinking alcohol in January to facilitate her training. The result was that she lost weight, slept better and felt more energetic to run. The following year, Emily joined Alcohol Change UK. She decided to stop drinking again in January and this sparked many conversations about the benefits of quitting alcohol. This is how the Dry January campaign was born in 2013.
Benefits of not drinking alcohol for 1 month
Although it may not seem like a long time, giving up alcohol for 1 month has positive effects on your health. The most immediate effects are that you will sleep better, as it has been proven that alcohol alters sleep patterns, and you will have more energy. It will be easier for you to exercise and get better results. In addition, by not ingesting the empty calories of alcohol you will notice that you lose weight. If we talk about mental factors, your mood will improve and you will notice a reduction in stress.
If all these benefits of stopping drinking alcohol that we have mentioned help you to introduce small changes in your life, which will be maintained in the following months, Dry January will be worth it.
Tips for a Successful Dry January
1. Eliminate temptations
Before you start your alcohol-free month, it’s vital to avoid temptations to drink alcohol. This means:
- Throw away (or finding a trusty friend to save it temporarily) any alcohol currently in your home.
- Avoid gatherings or occasions where everyone around you will be drinking.
- Temporarily mute or unfollow people and brands on social media that regularly post about alcohol.
2. Try with alcohol-free drinks
Abstaining from alcohol doesn’t mean giving up fun drinks. Non-alcoholic drinks allow you to have as close to an alcoholic experience as possible. Have you tried a good craft non-alcoholic beer or non-alcoholic wine? You can also try alcohol-free cocktail recipes. If you add alcohol-free spirits to the mix, you’ll have a drink that’s as close to an alcoholic cocktail experience as possible.
3. Tell your family and friends
Your community is important when you face a new challenge. Be clear and honest with your loved ones that you are taking time out from alcohol for a month. Ask them for encouragement and moral support. They might joke around, but it is with the best of intentions, so don’t be picky, deep down they are proud of you. Above all, be direct and firm when asking your friends and family to please not offer you alcohol during the challenge.
4. Keep a diary
It’s helpful to keep a journal (this can be your phone’s notes app) to track how you’re doing during your Dry January. We recommend keeping track of how you feel throughout the challenge to identify areas where you may be struggling with alcohol abuse. Also, writing down a good day can be just what you need to keep you going. For example, reading how great it was to wake up hangover-free is a good motivation.
5. Tell the world
All these challenges that represent a personal achievement have an exhibitionist part, yes, but that is not a bad thing, the contrary. Bragging about it, for example on social media, is a way to fight against the social convention that if you don’t drink alcohol something happens to you. In this case, by normalizing not drinking as something voluntary, you help destroy the myth that not drinking alcohol is strange.
We recommend the 0.0 alcohol drinks page in case you want to find 0.0% alcohol options. If you want a slightly less restrictive challenge, try Damp January.
