Winter is here and so are the holidays. Between Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, and all the holidays in between, you’re definitely going to feel the urge to drink. And what if, after all that drinking, you decided to give it up for the full month of January? Well, there’s a name for that. It’s called Dry January and it’s worth trying. What is Dry January? Here’s everything you should know about the concept.
So, What Exactly Is Dry January?
Dry January is when someone takes a break from consuming alcohol for the entire month of January, usually as a follow-up to drinking during the holidays. This trend originated in the UK via the organization Alcohol Change UK, so it’s something we can “blame the Brits” for. It started in 2013 with just 4,000 people committing to the practice, but in 2022, it was reported that 130,000 participated in it. While Tonic argues that “no one gives a sh*t about your Dry January status,” their argument doesn’t stop people from trying it for themselves.
The Benefits of Partaking in Dry January
While most people would view the end of January as a plus because it means they can start drinking again, partaking in Dry January does actually have some benefits, including better skin, better sleep, increased energy, fat reduction (especially in your liver), and weight loss.
Although these benefits seem like they’d just be benefits from having a somewhat healthy diet, they’re definitely amplified by the lack of alcohol intake. During Dry January, you might wonder if it’s worth omitting alcohol for the entire month, but the benefits will completely outweigh any drawbacks that you may be going through from not drinking for an entire month.
Mocktail Recipes to Make During This Dry January
If you’ve decided to partake in Dry January, congrats! As an added assist, I can personally suggest some mocktails you’ll want to make. Consider making these 21 mocktails during your alcohol-free month. If you’re trying to be a gem at the kids’ table this year, any of these 7 mocktails will do, too.
Alternatives to Dry January
Some people consider partaking in Dry January an unattainable task, and that’s fine. To those of you who want to help control your drinking without completely giving it up, there’s a different approach called One-Drink January.
One-Drink January is when you can only have one drink the entire month of January, so you have to choose when you want to have it. It’s something over which you have complete control, and you still can get all of the benefits of those partaking in Dry January. Essentially, you can have your cake and eat it too.
No matter what option you end up going with, at least consider partaking in Dry January. It might not be the most appealing decision from the get-go or the one that you feel is the most feasible to try, but please do your best to keep your options open this holiday season and into the new year.