Dry January Is Over. Now What?

As the end of January is fast approaching, congratulations if you’re still sober! Dry January is a great way to reset physically and mentally, as well as an opportunity to step back and examine your relationship with alcohol. There are many benefits to giving Dry January a try. Some see it as a personal health resolution or a helpful way to start the new year with a clear head, for others it’s a quick weight loss program. Whatever the reason, if you took up the challenge of sobriety and made it this far, now is the time to think about what’s next.

Many would reply, “A drink, Devon. That’s what’s next. At 5:01 on February 1st.” If this is you, keep reading. By now, you’ve experienced many perks of being sober: no hangovers, no chance of arrest for DWI or PI, you’re happier, you have more energy because you’re sleeping better and you may have lost a few pounds. If you look at the results objectively, those are reason enough to never drink again!

There are also more serious reasons to consider not going back to drinking. If you had a difficult time with Dry January, meaning it was a struggle to not drink and you experienced cravings, your relationship with alcohol is becoming dependent. Even if the month was a breeze for you, consider the health risks associated with alcohol consumption. Most of us are familiar with liver-associated issues like cirrhosis, but did you know that alcohol is a carcinogen? Most Americans don’t. According to the CDC, drinking alcohol increases the risk of getting these six cancers: mouth and throat, voice box, esophagus, colon and rectum, liver, and breast in women. And the more you drink, the higher your risk.

 So, let’s talk about how to continue your sobriety. Obviously, you should continue using all of the tactics you’ve used to get this far. Going forward, here are a few more to consider:

1.     Get a sober buddy. Find someone who is also abstaining from alcohol and become each other’s biggest cheerleader. There is nothing like having someone to talk through cravings with you or to come up with other ways to not take that drink.

2.     Avoid triggers. Think about the circumstances when you most often drank. Was it right after work? Go to the gym or take a walk instead. Was it always with a certain person or group? Invite them to do a different (sober) activity, like going to a movie or playing pickleball.

3.     Save that money. Have you figured out how much you saved not drinking in January? If so, put that aside and spend it on something that will make you happy. If you haven’t been keeping track, do so for February and treat yo’self!

4.     Journal it out. Try writing down a few sentences each day about the positive effects you notice about sobriety. If you don’t notice anything new that day, then make a list of changes in your life that you’re grateful for, or maybe list out the negative things you no longer do anymore. Looking back over those when you have a craving should reinforce your decision to remain sober.

I’ve been sober for 13 years and I still use these tips. You probably came up with your own if you’ve succeeded at Dry January, so keep using them. Congratulations to those brave enough to explore a life without substances. Believe me, it’s a much better way to live.