Kicking off the new year with Dry January?

Here are six tips for success.

Dry January is a time when people take a break from drinking and examine their relationship with alcohol. There are many potential reasons to take advantage of this time to examine your relationship with alcohol. It may be part of a New Year’s resolution to incorporate healthy behaviors into your routine. You may have Dry January is a time when people take a break from drinking and examine their relationship with alcohol. There are many potential reasons to take advantage of this time to examine your relationship with alcohol. It may be part of a New Year’s resolution to incorporate healthy behaviors into your routine. You may have overindulged during the holidays, and it affected your sleep and energy.

Whatever the reason, taking a break from alcohol for an entire month provides you with an opportunity to assess your patterns of alcohol consumption and how they affect you physically and mentally. It may also provide the space to cultivate alternatives for relaxing, socializing, and coping with stress. As a result, you may experience benefits such as improved sleep and vitality, or waking without the fatigue, malaise, and upset stomach of a hangover. You may also find that you lose weight without the extra calories from alcohol. Participants in Dry January have also noted positive effects on their relationships as well as saving money.

If you participate in Dry January, here are some tips to help keep you on track: 

• Identify why you choose to drink alcohol—for example, is it to have fun, to deal with stress and anxiety, or to fall asleep? Think about ways you could accomplish those objectives without alcohol, such as playing games instead of drinking at a party, meeting friends for a hike, taking a walk, or doing yoga.

• Let friends and family know about your plan to participate in Dry January. Consider asking them to join you and support each other throughout the month.

• Make sure alternative alcohol-free beverages are available at parties and gatherings.

• Have a polite, assertive "no, thanks" ready for when you are offered a drink.

• As the month progresses, pay attention to how you feel. Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy? When you notice benefits, make note of them. It will help you keep your momentum going.

• Have a plan in place for when the month ends. As is the case with changing our eating habits, it’s easy to resume old patterns without a long-term plan.