In just 11 years, Dry January has become fashionable, like intermittent fasting or running, and the trend now is to take care of yourself inside and out. In the United Kingdom, the Dry January campaign has been running for years and has spread throughout the world.
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 a campaign created by the British organization Alcohol Change UK in 2013 to reduce alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom during this month.
Its origin dates back to 2011 when Emily Robinson signed up for her first half marathon that 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 stopping drinking alcohol. This is how the Dry January campaign was born in 2013.
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:
- Throwing away (or finding a trusty friend to temporarily hang onto) any alcohol currently in your home
- Avoiding gatherings or occasions where everyone around you will be drinking
- Temporarily muting or unfollowing people and brands on social media that regularly post about alcohol and drinking
2. Try new combinations and non-alcoholic cocktails
Abstaining from alcohol doesn’t mean giving up fun drinks. There are countless recipes for delicious alcohol-free cocktails. You can liven them up with a few drops of your favorite alcohol-free spirits. All kinds of cocktails with alcohol-free vodka are in fashion. If you want more classic drinks, you can accompany your favorite food with non-alcoholic wines and non-alcoholic beers, ideal for all tastes.
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, especially if you don’t want to give up. You know they are going to make all kinds of jokes, but it is with the best of intentions, so don’t be picky, deep down they are supportive and proud of you. Above all, be direct and firm when asking your friends and family to please not offer or provide you with alcohol during the challenge.
4. Keep a diary
It is very useful to keep a diary (this can be the notes app on your phone) to keep track of how you are doing during your Dry January. This can be very useful, especially if you are a first-time drinker. Keeping track of your progress has some important advantages:
- If you slip up, writing down your slip can prevent it from happening again. Even your diary is a form of accountability.
- Keeping track of how you feel throughout the challenge can highlight areas where you may be having problems with alcohol abuse.
- When you are going through a bad time, a record of a good day may be what you need to move forward. Reading how good you felt after a week, or how wonderful it was to wake up without a hangover last Saturday is 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. It’s as rare as drinking it, only not drinking always feels good.
We recommend the 0.0 alcohol drinks page in case you want to find 0.0% alcohol options. You can always contact us and we will help you with the challenge.
