The New Year is a fresh start. We look at it as a new beginning; a clean slate. It’s a chance to shed the things that no longer bring us joy and begin again.
If you’ve decided to make a New Year’s resolution to quit drinking alcohol, then you’ll be in good company among the millions of others that participate in Dry January.
Whether you quit for good or simply want to cut back on the amount you drink, the benefits will extend way beyond the month of January. You can keep your New Year’s Resolution to quit drinking alcohol and be successful at it for as long as you choose to, and here’s how.
Why Dry January?
A recent study shows that the benefits of not drinking for a month far outlast the month of January even if you do choose to reintroduce alcohol.
In fact, those who successfully abstained during January (64% of participants) were more likely to drink less, less likely to get drunk and scored lower on an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), compared to those participating who did not abstain through the month. They also had an easier time refusing drinks if offered.
Not drinking in January leads to a healthier mind, body and outlook far longer than the original 31-day commitment. Even six months later, successful study participants were still less likely to abuse alcohol. Positive behavioral changes were even noted in those who started but did not finish the challenge.
Focus on the benefits
Rather than focusing on what you think you’ll be missing out on, make a list of the incredible things you’ll gain by keeping your New Year’s resolution to quit drinking alcohol: Better health. Better sleep. More money. More time. Weight loss. Happiness. Engagement.
You might also find career advancement and other opportunities coming your way as you’re better able to fully embrace life and everything around you.
Know your reasons
Make sure you know what your reasons are for not drinking and be able to articulate them to others. This will make it easier for you to turn down drinks when offered and will reinforce your resolve.
There’s no shame in saying “I felt like I was drinking too much.” Whatever your reasons are, they are valid. “I’m focusing on my health.” “I want to lose weight.” “I want to prove it to myself.” “I’m concerned about the risk of cancer.”
Make a plan
As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail!” It’s important to make a plan to ensure your resolutions will be successful.
One way to be successful is to make a plan and let others know about it. Planning alcohol-free activities or joining a support group are great ways to stay on the right track. You’ll be kept occupied and accountable that way.
If you usually attend Happy Hour on Wednesdays, decide what you’ll be replacing that with and find friends to join you. Remember — you’re not missing out on anything, you’re just changing how you do things.
If you’re a really heavy drinker, it’s a good idea to consult with a medical professional before stopping. Alcohol withdrawal can have some dangerous effects on your body depending on the amount of damage you’ve done. You might need a medicated detox in order to begin your New Year’s resolution to quit drinking alcohol safely.
Focus
Don’t try to change everything about your life all at once. You’ve made your New Year’s resolution to quit drinking alcohol, so don’t add “lose 10 pouns, run a marathon, meet your future spouse and establish world peace” to the list.
Conquer one mountain at a time. Remember that eliminating alcohol can pave the way for all the other items on your to-do list to follow.
You’re more likely to stick to your resolution if you can keep track of the small successes along the way rather than the failures. By focusing on one resolution, you’ll have plenty of successes and far fewer failures than if you’re trying to change everything instantly. Write those successes down so you can encourage yourself along the way!
Don’t give up
If you slip and have a drink — or even a wild night — do not throw in the towel. Would an Olympic level gymnast end her career over one fall from the balance beam? Of course not!
Not a single one of us is infallible. Accept that you’re human and try to figure out what happened that caused you to slip. Once you’ve identified the reason, you can have a plan in place to keep it from happening again. Success doesn’t mean never failing; success is continuing to try and work towards a goal even if you’ve failed before.
Accept recognition
It’s okay to be proud of yourself for keeping your New Year’s resolution to quit drinking alcohol. Talk about it to others, accept praise and even reward yourself for your accomplishments.
Buy yourself those new running shoes after a month of not drinking. You’ve earned them and you saved yourself enough money by eliminating alcohol that you can afford them.
You might even inspire others around you to see how their life could change for the better by going alcohol free.
New Year’s resolutions aren’t about what changes on Jan. 1. Your resolution is about what changes you want to make for today, tomorrow and the future. If changing your relationship with alcohol is one of the changes you want to make, then a Dry January might just be the perfect way to start.
Annie Grace is the author of “This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life.” Learn more at: thisnakedmind.com. Connect with Annie on Twitter.com and Facebook.com.
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