Can skipping just one month of drinking alcohol make a difference? The short answer is yes, it’s completely worth it!
I should know! As of this writing, I’ve been alcohol-free for over a year, but it took a few tries to fully embrace the Dry January health benefits and extend them beyond the first month to attain long-term success.
If it seemed that drinking alcohol became more of an issue during the pandemic, you’d be correct in your assumption. According to data from Massachusetts General Hospital, excessive drinking increased by 21% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This news isn’t surprising, considering most everything was shut down, especially during the earlier parts of the pandemic. However, even that brief one-year increase in alcohol consumption will result in 8,000 additional deaths from alcohol-related liver disease by 2040; YIKES!
There are many great reasons to consider giving up alcohol for Dry January, which can be anything you want.
You may want to take a break after the last few months of holiday indulgence, your memories are fuzzy after a night of imbibing, or you are simply tired of hangovers.
Keep reading to learn about the benefits you will experience if you start this challenge!
This post may contain affiliate links — Please read our Disclaimer.
Why Dry January
Although there are other months of the year like “Sober October” and “Dry July,” January is the time of year when most people make resolutions to be a better version of themselves, perhaps after overindulging during the holidays, to hopefully continue beyond the first month of the year.
Some of the most popular resolutions are to lose weight, eat healthier, exercise more, stop smoking, etc.
Surprisingly, according to Statista, only 2% of people in 2022 wanted to reduce drinking, even though 23% said they wanted to live healthier!
Dry January is a great time to abstain from alcohol because it’s part of a more significant challenge taken by millions worldwide. Knowing you’re not alone can be a great motivator to stay the course.
So what are the Dry January health benefits? Keep reading to find out!
Oh, and with anything health-related, please talk with your physician regarding dietary changes, and seek the help of medical professionals if you experience withdrawal symptoms while trying to detox from alcohol.
The Benefits
Restful Sleep
After week one, the first thing you may notice is better sleep. When you drink, you typically skip the critical rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage and go into a deep sleep. You should have 6-7 REM sleep cycles, but when you drink, you typically only get 1-2.
With more restful sleep, you’ll have more energy, be more productive, and problem-solve better.
More Hydration
No matter how much you believe your uncle when he says, “nothing quenches your thirst like a cold beer on a hot day,” the reality is that alcohol dehydrates you.
You lose around four times the amount of liquid as what you drank.
Dehydration can cause headaches, muscle cramps, fatigue, and nausea. You’ve had a hangover, right?
Removing alcohol will keep you hydrated, but did you know that drinks with less than 2% ABV will rehydrate as opposed to dehydrate you?
Later, I’ll reveal some helpful tips for a successful Dry January. Finding a substitute non-alcoholic drink is a great idea for social situations and perfectly fine for Dry January.
Calories Saved
If you’re a wine drinker, you’re clocking around 120 calories per 5-ounce glass. Giving up one drink per night saves about 840 calories per week.
Maybe you like to knock back a few west coast IPAs; at an average of 200 calories per 12-ounce glass, you’d be saving 2,800 calories per week just by cutting back a few beers per night.
Additionally, it’s more tempting to eat junk food when you’re drinking, so this one change can be helpful in more ways than one.
Money Saved
It’s not cheap to drink, especially if you’re doing it at a bar or brewery. The average cost for a pint of beer in many major cities is $7, and for a glass of wine, it’s closer to $12. Of course, this can vary widely depending on where you live.
Cutting this expenditure will put some money back in your pocket; even if you’re just hitting a few happy hours every week, the money saved will add up over a month.
More Energy In The Morning
Even if you don’t experience full-blown hangovers, drinking even a little causes dehydration and poor sleep, as discussed above.
There is even something called “hang-xiety” that’s not quite a hangover, but you still feel out of sorts and jittery.
Think about what you can do with all of this extra energy. You could run errands, get some early morning exercise, and drink coffee.
Better Memory
Alcohol interferes with your memories. Have you ever wondered why you can’t remember things from the night before?
According to the NIAAA,
“Alcohol-related blackouts are gaps in a person’s memory for events that occurred while they were intoxicated. These gaps happen when a person drinks enough alcohol to temporarily block the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term storage—known as memory consolidation—in a brain area called the hippocampus.”
Improved Digestion
Issues such as acid reflux and indigestion can be caused by alcohol disturbing your digestive system. Without alcohol, you’ll retain nutrients while storing vitamins and minerals.
As mentioned earlier, with alcohol consumption comes lousy food decisions. You tend to make well-informed food choices when alcohol-free, and your digestive system will thank you.
Glowing Skin
I don’t know if it will glow, but because alcohol is a diuretic, it makes you pee way more than if you just drank water.
As a result, your body can’t stay hydrated, resulting in dry, blotchy, red, or puffy skin.
If that’s not enough, research shows the toxins in alcohol can fast-track your skin’s aging process. YUCK!
Tips For a Successful Dry January
- Grab a buddy. Completing the challenge will be even more fun and successful if you recruit some friends. You can encourage each other and hold the other accountable.
- Substitute a NA drink. I’ve found some tremendous non-alcoholic beers to enjoy in social situations, but drinking something like soda water with lime gives you a nice drink with carbonation and helps you avoid the questions.
- Change your scenery. If you’re not going to drink, your everyday routines may have to take a pause. It’s much easier to complete the challenge if you avoid joining happy hour with your co-workers.
- Find new ways to unwind. You may drink to relax and unwind after a day of work. If this is the case, maybe take a walk, read a book or start that new hobby you’ve been contemplating.
- Don’t give up. You’ve got this! If you slip up, don’t sweat it; start over again the next day.
Cheers!