“Dry January” has been increasingly popular in the past few years, and it may be a great way to start off a healthier 2025!
After much Holiday imbibing and ringing in the New Year with more than a few cocktails, more and more people are now choosing to abstain in the weeks that follow. It’s known as Dry January, and it’s a way for people to reflect on their relationship with alcohol.
“Often times I think people forget they are relying on a substance to rewind at the end of the day or be able to be more of themselves on the weekend,” said Dr. Melissa Brown, a psychologist at UPMC.
Brown says people have different reasons for participating in the trend. They also have different results.
“Sometimes people are doing this just to see how they can cope and just develop new habits,” she said.
She says people are more successful when they enlist the support of friends or family and when they set attainable goals.
“I certainly would encourage them to set goals and be realistic with those goals,” Brown said. “If you’re someone who drinks heavily and on specific days of the week, perhaps on the weekend when you go out with friends or engaging in parties or other type of events, then be realistic with how much alcohol you are planning on consuming.”
Brown says it’s key to avoid social situations that might make it hard for you to reach your goals. You can also find an alcohol alternative, like a mocktail. And be honest with yourself; sometimes, cutting back is more realistic than avoiding entirely.
“And often times people really enjoy that challenge and it really motivates them to keep going and to keep engaging in other healthy lifestyle choices,” she said.
Dry January is a month-long challenge where individuals abstain from consuming alcohol during the month of January. It is a popular initiative that encourages people to reduce their alcohol intake and assess their relationship with alcohol. The challenge originated in the United Kingdom in 2013 and has since gained global attention.
Participants testify to how great a month off from alcohol can be; they sleep better and have more energy, some lose weight and save money, and others notice improvements in their skin and hair.
A recent study by the Royal Free Hospital in London has shown that there are positive physiological effects to be gained from taking part in Dry January. The study, performed on moderate drinkers (those drinking around the levels of recommended limits), has shown people experiencing improvements in concentration and sleep patterns, as well as having reduced cholesterol and lower glucose levels, lower blood pressure, weight loss overall, and losing 40% of their liver fat.