January is the month where everyone sets goals and makes New Year’s resolutions. While we don’t do exactly that, per se, we do try to reset ourselves after the craziness of the holidays.
You may have heard of Dry January, a sober curious movement that has become more popular over the last several years. Dry January is when people pledge to not drink alcohol at all during the month (31 days of being sober).
What is Dry January?
Everyone’s journey is different; not all people have the same reasons for drinking less alcohol, whether it’s for Dry January, Sober Spring, or Sober October. It’s not just because you have an addiction to alcohol that you might be sober curious, there are so many reasons to cut down on drinking.
Just like we would never recommend a diet, we also don’t recommend doing Dry January cold turkey without intention or understanding WHY you would want to limit alcohol. You know when you decide to go low carb and then eat a cookie and end up eating the entire package? The same will happen if you go into a month of no alcohol – the second February 1 hits you’ll binge drink your way back to where you were before.
That’s why we started Dry-ish January (and beyond) – because it’s really about seeing how you feel and deciding your goals around alcohol – maybe it’s to never drink again, or maybe it’s to just drink socially in moderation outside the house. Whatever your goal is, it’s personal and yours to decide, without shame.
For the month of January we’ll be sharing our favorite mocktail recipes (old and new) on social media and via email, along with tips and tricks for why you should try it.
Table of Contents
Dorothy’s Approach
I cut down on drinking daily a few years back. During the pandemic I found myself drinking a lot each day and decided I wanted to lose weight and feel better about myself, so in 2021 I cut out alcohol for several months. Over that time I noticed so many changes in myself: less inflammation and better sleep were two of the best benefits. Since then I usually only drink socially or when we’re out to dinner, which isn’t super often. Occasionally I’ll drink a glass of wine after dinner at home, but I often want to and decide not to because I know I’ll sleep like trash, and, well, sleep is my religion.
Mel’s approach
Early on in 2023 Mel decided to cut out alcohol all together and found he preferred it. It was hard to get through the first few weeks, but after that initial period, once he had a new routine down, he found that his mood was much better, his sleep improved, and he lost weight. He’s now been alcohol-free for over 18 months and he doesn’t miss it. The first few social situations were weird and difficult but since then it’s been easy for him. And bonus: we always have a designated driver.
Why Dry-Ish January
We recommend not putting the pressure on yourself to give up alcohol completely from the get-go. Most people who decide to cut down are just trying to do that – cut down on drinking. (Now, if you have an alcohol use disorder or addiction, this is a different story and we urge you to talk to a doctor before quitting as withdrawal symptoms can be serious).
If you’re looking to reduce your alcohol consumption, reduce the temptations of alcohol, and just feel better, make your January goal to be dry-ish. Let’s just change your drinking habits: instead of drinking every night, set some new goals for yourself, that you’ll have abstinence at home and just drink when you’re out to dinner, etc.
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Benefits of Not Drinking
It takes 2 weeks without any alcohol intake to notice the real results of not drinking. But you’ll notice a few things right away and after 2 weeks here are some of the health benefits you’ll notice:
- You will sleep much better (after the first week or so).
- Your memory gets a whole lot better.
- Your skin gets healthier.
- You will probably lose weight.
- Your energy levels will be higher
- Medically, cutting down on or cutting out drinking can help your blood pressure, blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, cut down the risk of liver disease, reduce depression and anxiety and so many more (source).
What’s next
Luckily now that sober curiosity is on trend, there are so many alcohol-free beverages and non-alcoholic cocktails out there, whether you want to do zero proof or just make up your own non-alcoholic drinks. We have an entire category of mocktail recipes to help you get used to not having your nightly drink. Grab a non-alcoholic beer or try one of our non-alcoholic beverages instead!
Sign up for our free email series and follow along on social media for more tips, benefits, and recipes for your dry January challenge (well, dry-ish, that is).