I've done 'Dry January' for the past 5 years. Here are 3 ways I keep myself on track during a month of sobriety.
- I've done "Dry January" every year since 2019. Next month will mark my sixth year doing the trend.
- For me, it was a way to become healthier and more productive during the new year.
During my final semester of college in 2019, I was looking for a change.
Things were getting serious with my classes, work, and final projects, and I needed to kick it into high gear to push through the last few months before graduation. Though the concept of "Dry January" was coined in 2013 by a charity in the UK, I'd only heard of it in late 2018 — and by the first day of 2019, I was ready to give it a shot.
The idea is simple (give up alcohol for the month of January) and the benefits are many (no hangovers, get healthier, save money). Forgoing drinking can be a challenge, but over the past five years, I've found a few ways to make it easier.
I share my plans with the people close to me. It helps keep me accountable.
Every year, I tell my friends and family about my intention to do Dry January. I'm lucky to be surrounded by supportive people who, although they may want me to go out for a night on the town, accept my choices and don't pressure me into drinking.
Harvard Men's Health Watch, a publication from the medical school, suggests telling your social circle and "encouraging them to keep you accountable."
Saying your intentions out loud, to your people, is a simple way to stay on track.
Sometimes, I can get a buddy to try Dry January with me, and we can help each other
I love it when a friend joins me on a Dry January journey. It's fun to find things to do together that don't involve drinking, and frankly, it's just nice to have someone going through the same thing.
I'll admit that giving up alcohol can be a challenge, especially when it's become so integrated into social life. But having another person trying out the same thing makes it feel a little bit more fun.
I lean into the hobbies that bring me the most happiness
It's a lot easier to get to the gym or a workout class when you're not hungover.
Hitting the gym is one of my favorite pastimes, and it becomes so much easier when I can spring out of bed, rested and hydrated without a night of drinking behind me. Every January I get deeper into my fitness journey, setting myself up with a healthy habit for the rest of the year.
When I give up drinking, I also have more free time in the evenings to do other things I enjoy, like reading or cozying up on the couch to watch bad reality television. It can be hard to say no to a night out, but I use it as a way to reconnect with the things I like doing.