They can be your accountability buddy and help you learn the tools you need to adapt to drinking less while helping you work towards improving other areas of your life that cause you to drink. For example, going for a short 15-minute walk after dinner gets you out of the house and away from temptation. But it also moves your body, lowers stress hormones, allows your brain to process emotions better (helping you to unwind), regulates breathing, and aids in digestion and weight loss. It’s easy to lose focus now and then and end up with a drink in your hand.
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Even small changes in your drinking habits can have a profound impact on your health and wellness. Our system (and our experienced, supportive coaches) can help you evaluate your relationship with alcohol and create a clear action plan that will https://theillinois.news/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ accelerate your health and wellness goals. Rather it’s a strategy with a proven success record for impactful, lasting change. Put simply, mindful drinking is about prioritizing your overall health and experience over keeping up with the crowd.
- Research has shown that many forms of mindfulness can help relieve stress.
- In the years since, Dry January, or no drink January, has become a global phenomenon — a time for many to do a reset after holiday overindulgence, and to examine their overall relationship with alcohol.
- When we provide our bodies with a conducive environment for rest, sleep becomes a genuinely restorative experience.
- A pottery, painting, or photography class can open a whole new world of creativity you never knew you had.
- Look over these tips and choose one or two that you can begin to focus on.
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Does pushing away the bottle for a month really make a difference in your health? Even in the short term, participants reported benefits like a reduction in weight and blood pressure, as well as improved sleep, mood, and energy levels. The origins of this alcohol-free month can be traced back to 2013, when the British non-profit Alcohol Change UK introduced the concept of it. The organization’s goal was to kickstart the year by encouraging people to reflect on their drinking habits and reset after holiday indulgences. Mindful drinking doesn’t require you to go cold turkey, or even work toward sobriety—rather, to just be thoughtful about your sips and the value each adds to your life. Maybe there’s a big event happening or you’re too nervous thinking about going cold turkey.
- By cutting out alcohol for a month, you create a window for your liver to heal and regain optimal function.
- “It’s actually very unsafe for someone who has alcoholism to just stop drinking,” said Weiner.
- We’ll explore some benefits of a Dry or Dryish January, as well as expert-backed tips on how to succeed at a Dry(ish) January.
Does Damp January Work for You?
For a vocal movement, the approach of scaling back drinking to live more fully in the moment can, and should, happen year-round. Rather than cutting out alcohol entirely, though, a growing number of people are “sober curious,” exploring elements of a booze-free lifestyle without fully abstaining. Sunnyside is the leading alcohol health platform focused on moderation and mindfulness, not sobriety. On average, members see a 30% reduction in alcohol consumption in 3 months, leading to improved sleep, diet, and overall wellbeing.
- In my regular job as mental health reporter, I am examining the rollout of the new mental health crisis hotline in Los Angeles County, and your voice is critical.
- Preparing for the specific hurdles you’ll encounter will help you not only feel more capable but also give you a go-to action plan for whatever stands in your way.
- Give it a listen to learn more about how you can make moderation work for you.
- Many others opt for Dry-ish, Dri-er or Damp January — cutting back on alcohol but not quitting cold turkey.
Mocktail Recipes: The Ultimate Guide to Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Let’s discuss how Dry January also holds profound gains for your mental wellbeing. An uninterrupted night’s sleep is another fantastic gift of Dry January. Alcohol is notorious for interfering with your REM sleep, a crucial stage in the sleep cycle. By avoiding alcohol, you contribute to healthier, deeper sleep patterns, which can lead to improved cognitive function and overall wellness.
The Trinity Of Techniques To Implement – To Have A Successful Dry January
- Weiner also referenced a severe manifestation of alcohol withdrawal known as delirium tremens, which affects about 5% of people with alcohol addiction.
- Pitchfork’s Jenn Pelly does a deep dive into music’s mental health crisis.
- In one study, participants had almost 27 drinks on an average of 12 out of the last 30 days.
- Now, health and wellness organizations globally are offering all kinds of workshops to impart the tips and tools we need to create change.
- If you’ve yet to pursue any goals that will build your mental and physical wellness, Dry January opens up a fantastic opportunity to get started on that.
The point is to pick a realistic and achievable goal that, at the same time, challenges you to build healthier drinking patterns. While a small group of people may slip back into their old drinking habits, over 90% of Dry(ish) January participants in 2023 planned to maintain a lower alcohol consumption moving forward. Sober House Another study also showed that over 70% of participants continued to maintain lower levels of harmful drinking even six months after an alcohol-free month [1]. Dry January — or Drynuary, for the initiated — offers your body and mind a chance to reset and reflect after the seasonal bloat and weariness.