DRINKING is so embedded in our culture and putting down the glass for an entire month can be daunting.
If you’ve already slipped in your pursuit of a Dry January, or you haven’t quite gotten started - it's not too late to start or re-set!
Here are some tips and tricks to help get you back on the wagon and on your way to all the health benefits that come with teetotaling.
Author Hilary Sheinbaum, who has been reaping the benefits of stretches of abstention- became so knowledgeable on the topic that she decided to write the book on it: The Dry Challenge: How to Lose the Booze for Dry January, Sober October, and Any Other Alcohol-Free Month.
“I've been doing Dry January every year since 2017, and it's something I look forward to.
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"The first year was definitely the most challenging, but by the end of the month, I was so excited about all of the amazing benefits like clearer skin, better sleep, financial savings, and obviously no hangovers,” Hilary said.
If you’ve started, but feel like you’ve slipped up in some way at this point, as Hilary said “Not all is lost!”
“If you've pledged to do Dry January but have already had a beer or two or three by the first week or mid-month -- or whenever -- that's totally ok! Just get back to your Dry plan and pick up where you left off.”
Not everyone’s dry month will look the same, the author helpfully explained.
“In some cases, people do one-drink Januarys, meaning they plan one night to drink during the month.
"This can be for an important celebration - like a wedding, a birthday, or an anniversary - or a random Tuesday.
“And after one day, they abstain from alcohol for the remainder of the 31 days!.
“The point of Dry January isn't necessary to achieve a perfect month - it's to reflect on your relationship with alcohol and consider changing your intake (read: lessening your consumption) in the weeks, months, and even years that follow,” she explained.
Being kind to yourself, as with any change, she said, is key.
“Also, some people who do Dry January choose to extend into February and beyond -- so it can really be an eye-opening and beneficial experience,” Hilary added.
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ALTERNATIVES CAN HELP
If you find yourself in a situation where others are drinking, it’s a good idea to have some go-to non-alcoholic beverages in mind so you don’t feel completely off-kilter.
Hilary said a some of her go-to's this month are from the companies Free Spirits and Bare, both of which offerer three types of nonalcoholic varieties: tequila, bourbon, and gin.
“You can still enjoy your favorite beverages like Margaritas, Old Fashioned’s and Martinis.
"If you love mixing creative cocktails but you don't want a buzz, I highly recommend adding these to your bar cart.”
Another brand the author is leaning on is Three Spirit which “creates a perfect timeline for an alcohol-free evening with three products that are great for making N.A. cocktails: Livener, Social Elixir, and Nightcap. Livener is for energizing at the beginning of the night, Social Elixir helps raise spirits and enhances connection, and Nightcap -- as the name suggests -- helps you wind down.”
The Dry January expert shared some of her favorite recipes from the brands below.
Hilary further explained: “In the US and the UK (and elsewhere), alcohol is embedded in our cultures.
"We drink at celebrations, at sporting events, at the bar to meet friends, when we network and date, and when we are stressed and grieving too.
“As a whole, alcohol is not something that's usually easy to give up, so it's important to be kind to yourself during a dry month - because it can be very hard.”
“That said, dry months/challenges are not a recovery method nor a replacement for a recovery program,” the author further explained.
