January is the best time to hit the reset button and the Dry January Challenge is the mechanism to make it a successful endeavor.
The group Alcohol Change UK began the challenge in 2013. It has grown from 4,000 participants in Europe to over 130,000 worldwide in 2022.
According to Alcohol Change UK, “It isn’t about giving anything up. It is about getting something back. Get your fun back. Get your energy back. Get your calm back.”
Research in 2020 from the medical journal Psychology & Health shows that abstaining from alcohol for a month will:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
- Lower risk of diabetes
- Lower cancer-related proteins in the blood
Giving up alcohol for a certain period has positive mental implications as well.
“It helps create a behavioral, mental and physical boundary between them and alcohol. This can create a reset or opportunity to re-establish a healthier relationship with drinking”, says Dr. Jayme Albin, a psychologist and cognitive behavioral therapist.
There are many more advantages to staying Dry in January. This is the month that we typically have many goals established such as losing weight, exercising more, saving more, etc. When we are not drinking, our minds tend to be clearer and more focused.
We may have a better chance at sticking with our other goals with more energy, stamina, and focus derived from a month of sobriety. It becomes less about not drinking and more about creating an environment of self-care.
So the Dry January Challenge can be a vehicle to drive better habits in all areas of your life.
Alcohol Change UK reported this about participants in the challenge:
- 86% spent less money
- 70% slept better
- 66% had more energy
Here are some ideas to preoccupy your time when you crave that afternoon cocktail or glass of wine:
- Take a walk with a neighbor or your dog.
- Take a book to the park and catch up on some reading.
- Call a friend you haven’t heard from in a while just to chat.
- Start a stretching, yoga, or meditation routine.
- Grab a healthy snack and go to the beach or the river and watch the sunset.
- Go check out the new “Avatar” movie.
Our monthly challenges are designed to identify your weaknesses so we may pinpoint the areas to address for better health. If you realize you cannot go 30 days without, you may want to seek professional help to take action steps and find solutions to the problem before it’s too late.
What’s great about the Dry January Challenge is knowing that you are never alone. There are so many of us you can turn to for support.
If you feel you need additional support, you may reach me at 904.236.5858.
And remember… we can do this, together!
Warning: If you experience extreme symptoms after discontinuing drinking alcohol such as seizures, tremors, hallucinations, depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, or excessive sweating, you may have an alcohol dependency and should not suddenly stop drinking completely which could be very dangerous. If this is the case, please speak to your healthcare professional for an appropriate treatment plan.