Should You Extend Dry January?

Participating in 'Dry January' is something that has grown in popularity over the last couple of years. People choose to stop drinking alcohol for the month of January as a way to recover from holiday celebrations, test their will-power, and even just save some money. Some find it challenging to engage socially, others see it as a welcomed change, and for some, it turns into a new-normal. Trying something first before making a big change is usually helpful. However, it can be shocking if you find yourself gravitating towards the change more than you thought. We thought it might be helpful to create a list of considerations to see if alcohol/substance modification might be something to engage with after the month is over. 

The first thing we want to consider is just overall functioning. How are you feeling day to day? We want to take stock of our biology. Think of things like sleeping, hunger cues, energy, headaches, etc. It might be helpful to create a chart and monitor how disengaging with alcohol/substances impacts our body’s daily functions. 

It is also important to think about our mental health. How have you been engaging with your feelings? We want to try and notice things like irritability, feeling present, concentration, mood swings, etc. Some people find that when they first stop engaging with substances, they are a little lower or more anxious than usual. This is something that is common as our baseline is attempting to adjust. Once you are past the initial mood fluctuations, people may find that their anxiousness decreases and they feel more clear-headed. Discussing these thoughts and feelings with a support system can be helpful. 

Financial considerations can also be a factor. It can be liberating to notice saving money that would have been spent on a night out. Maybe check your spending to keep track if there is a noticeable difference on the money you saved while engaging in dry January. It can be helpful to think about what these savings can go towards if you are to extend your participation. 

Lastly, it might be helpful to think about your social life. Trying to notice how you’ve been connecting with others lately. Do you notice that there are more moments where you feel aligned with others more than when intoxicated? Do you like having moments with friends where things are low-key and chill? Are you remembering more about your interactions with loved ones? If so, continuing to disengage from substances in social situations might be helpful. 

Altogether, deciding on your relationship with substances is your choice. While it might feel intimidating to shift into the unfamiliar, maybe there are benefits and highlights to continuing to abstain from substances or to make modifications. If you are curious about what that looks like, enrolling in therapy to speak to a professional may also be helpful!

The information on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or psychological condition and is not a substitute for therapy. If you are experiencing an emergency please call/text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.