Consider making 'Dry January' a year-round thing
Key Takeaways
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“The issue with the word ‘resolution’ [is that it] does not define commitment to recovery or improving [one’s] life in general." — Jeff Yoo, LMFT
Over the years, more information has come to light about the dangers of alcohol use—and the benefits of sobriety. At the beginning of each new year, some people experiment with a sober lifestyle by making a commitment to abstain from alcohol over the month of January.
"Dry January" can be a helpful resolution for people who want to reap the short-term benefits of sobriety, or for those who are taking the first step toward an alcohol-free lifestyle.
When January 31st passes, participants can choose to go back to booze or continue their sober streak. If you or your loved ones are considering a Dry January resolution in a few weeks time, here are some things to consider.
@docamen 2024 is the year of brain health! Will you be doing #dryjanuary? ♬ original sound - BrainMD
One month is good, but more is better
Jeff Yoo, LMFT, a therapist at Moment of Clarity Mental Health Treatment Center, says that going alcohol-free for a month can benefit multiple aspects of health, including weight loss, cognitive awareness, and sleep, among others. The longer you refrain from drinking, the more time you have to reap these benefits.
According to Yoo, staying alcohol-free can benefit your health and lifestyle in the following ways:
It improves blood sugar management
Improves cognitive functioning and results in clearer thinking, improved memory, and greater mental stability
Provides a confidence boost to cut back on drinking in the future
Facilitates weight loss
Improves sleep, including feeling well-rested and aware upon waking
Saves money
Greater benefits for certain patients
While quitting drinking can be beneficial for everyone, the benefits of full sobriety for someone with alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be life-changing—and life-saving.
Looking at the numbers: More people in the United States die of alcohol-related causes than from opiods and other drugs, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). Alone, alcohol contributes to more than 140,000 deaths in the US each year, and more than 200 health conditions, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol-related deaths increased in 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic, and this rise has only continued, according to analysis on NIAAA data.[][][]
Discussing these figures can be helpful when talking to yourself, a patient, or a loved one about the life-long impact of “dry” challenges.
In addition to people who have AUD, refraining from drinking is a good idea for those who are “abusing alcohol as a coping tool for grief, [or those with] trouble sleeping or struggling with depression,” Yoo says.
Reframing resolutions
Yoo says he often notices people use Dry January as a way to start the year with a “clean slate,” but this commitment doesn’t have to start and end in one month. “The issue with the word ‘resolution’ [is that it] does not define commitment to recovery or improving [one’s] life in general,” in the same way that making a longer-term, firmer commitment to sobriety does, he explains.
Resolutions can also put pressure on the “all-or-nothing” approach, which isn’t helpful for everyone, Yoo adds.
That being said, if you or a loved one are planning to pursue Dry January, take notice of the health benefits—you may want to keep it going past January 31.
When talking to a patient, loved one, or even yourself about continuing a no-alcohol streak, Yoo recommends “being direct and honest in communication” and emphasizing the concept of free will. He discourages saying things like, “It’s easy to abstain” from alcohol, or calling people failures for not making it through a full 31 days.
“I would suggest [saying] that they always have a choice and they are in charge of their actions,” Yoo recommends. “Once they begin, should they find themselves failing to keep the commitment, give themselves permission to start over—to remind themselves of the reasons they [want to] begin the challenge and to use the tools to help them continue it.”
What this means for you
There are many health benefits of taking part in Dry January—even just 1 month of sobriety can improve physical and mental well-being. And for some, these benefits only increase as they maintain sobriety.