Dry January: Going Booze Free After the Holidays

It’s that time again. Ahh. January. The time of year when you realize you’ve gained 10 lbs from all the drinks, cookies, and bread you ate over the holidays (I know it’s not just me!). And it’s cold and rainy. And there aren’t any more reasons to celebrate for a while.

It’s the perfect time to start “dry” January.

What is dry January? It’s a month of no booze. Yep, sounds as simple as it is. Except, after all the holiday parties, family get togethers, and stress wrapping (drinking), it’s a little harder to give up all of the craft IPAs (goodbye 201 Hoplar), glasses of Prosecco, and yes, even Truly. 

I did my first dry January last year after a friend told me about it. It seemed like a great time to reset. I don’t do “resolutions,” so this isn’t that. It’s simply a month of giving up alcohol. Maybe you’re like, “Why though?!” Benefits can include: better sleep, weight loss (alcohol has lots of calories), and your skin can even look healthier (less breakouts for sure!).

I’m typically a once or twice a week drinker. But during the holidays, I find myself having one drink a night, even two on the weekends. I know that may not seem like a lot to some people, but for me it is. Because at that point, it’s stress drinking. And stress drinking isn’t what I want to be doing. I want to have a craft IPA or a nice glass of Prosecco to enjoy it, not because my kids were royal terrors and I need to have a drink. Does that make sense? 

I take dry January to reset and find new ways to deal with stress. I drink lime La Croix while reading a book, I write a rant blog, I take my kids on a walk, I take a hot shower with a shower fizzy, I listen to Miles Davis, and I bake. There are so many other things to do other than drink…January reminds me of that. 

Maybe you aren’t stress drinking. Maybe you just need a reset? A healthier month? Dry January is for you! 

If you want to go even further, I have a friend who is going booze free for a year, and she recommended this site to me. They currently have a free course (have to sign up by today) called the January Project for those who are doing dry January. I signed up and look forward to seeing their advice! 

I won’t lie and say I’m not currently missing my 201 Hoplar, and I do look forward to having a glass in February. It’s just a nice 30 days (I always miss Jan 1 because I can’t let my Prosecco go to waste! Hah!) that can help you remember that you don’t have to drink to decompress, have fun, or stop your anxiety.

Cheers to that!