It's time for a reset!
The holiday hustle is finally behind us – we made it through the traveling to visit loved ones, the sparkling clutter around the house has been removed and packed away, new gifts have been opened and put away, and the weekly routine has been restored. However, for many of us, we are left feeling tired, bloated, stressed, and burned out.
Dry January or “dry-uary” was started in the UK in 2013 as a public health initiative by the non-profit Alcohol Change UK. Since then, it has catapulted in popularity as many find the new year the perfect opportunity to start fresh and clean – for the 8.8 million people that participated in 2023 alone, that means avoiding alcohol for 31 days. After all of the overindulgence over the holiday season, it is nice to hold yourself accountable with some restraint and allow the body to rid itself of the toxins alcohol consumption can leave behind.
Tips to Stay on Track 
Dry January can be the most challenging when it comes to social situations as alcohol consumption has become so ingrained in American society. The best way to ensure you stay dry all month long is to have a plan for those situations. Here are a few tips that can help:
- Let your friends and family know about your participation in Dry January – most will be more than supportive, and some may even want to join you!
- Ensure there are non-alcoholic beverages available at any parties or gatherings – having a fruity mocktail or a frosty NA beer in your hand feels just as celebratory
- Identify why you choose to drink alcohol in the first place and think of ways you can accomplish the same goals with another activity. Is the goal to catch up with a friend after work? Instead of happy hour with a glass of wine, meet at the gym for a yoga class or work on a crafting project together instead.
- If you start to notice changes in your health and wellness throughout the month, write it down. You may realize you are sleeping better, thus you have more energy – that will help keep the momentum going.
- Get comfortable answering with a polite, but assertive, “No, thanks!” when offered a drink
- Increase your physical activity level to help reduce stress and increase endorphins that will naturally lift your spirits and reduce anxiety – with needing a drink.
Mocktail Recipes
Need some mocktail inspiration? A quick google search provides a number of tasty testers, but here are few ideas:
- Mango Mule: 1.5 oz. mango puree, fresh lime juice, ginger “beer” poured over muddled cucumber slices, honey syrup, and ice
- Hot Apple Cider: make it fancy with a cinnamon stick to stir
- Baby Bellini: 2 oz peach nectar with 4-5 oz sparkling cider topped with a peach wedge
- Virgin Mary: all of your favorite Bloody Mary ingredients, the vodka just vanishes
For some, Dry January can also lead to “sober curiosity” where more and more people are ditching the drinks altogether after realizing they never really missed them to begin with.
For more information, speak to your medical provider about the benefits of decreasing or avoiding alcohol and the free community services available to you that can help.