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#monthlydose of Dry January


This year I'm going to try something new. I always research healthy habits to try but never fully follow through, so each month this year, I will challenge myself to a new healthy habit - like a monthly dose of medicine. When the month is over, I’ll write a #Monthlydose blog about how it went and what mental, physical, and emotional effects the new habit provides.

First up: the ever-popular Dry January. I love (and I mean LOVE) a happy hour with friends or a nice bottle of wine with dinner, but it’s happened a little too casually and frequently lately. So I decided to try dry January, which means no alcohol all month and is traditionally used to detox from holiday eating and to start the year out healthier. Honestly, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. It helped that I was busy at work, sick for a week, and that my husband was supportive and participated too. I also had several friends that were doing Dry January, so I had support and accountability, which is super important.

Now, before anyone calls me out, I have a disclaimer: it would be more accurate to call this Moist January. Mostly dry, but not completely. I did cheat and drink a couple times this month for special occasions, so sue me. Instead of beating myself up about it or quitting the challenge altogether, it helped to remember that the point of this isn't to deprive myself of joy or to be legalistic, but to instill a healthier lifestyle in small, realistic ways. So Moist January it is.


 So, how did it work out?

·  •   I lost weight and felt less bloated. This was not intentional or anticipated or even desired, but it’s true: all of those empty calories really do weigh us down. If you drink frequently and are interested in dropping a couple pounds, I think this is a good place to start!
·  •  We saved money. We saved alot by not drinking when we went out for dinner or happy hours. I guessed that we saved atleast $200, but Jon (who is way better at finances than I am) estimates higher. Either way, we’ll gladly put that money into savings each month!
·  •   It forced me to deal with stress in other ways. Instead of having a glass of wine after work to de-stress, I turned to other things: a bubble bath, chatting with friends or family, reading, writing, and sleeping (not to mention one of the nights I cheated was the worst night of sleep the entire month). This month has made me much more aware of when I feel stressed and how I deal with it.
•    I realized how much we drank unnecessarily. This month has made me change my focus to having a drink primarily for special occasions (and not just for a random Tuesday). It sounds so cliché, but you really don’t have to drink to have fun!

So, what happens now? 

I’ll try to keep the mindset and drinking schedule I’ve had this month, focus on healthier ways to deal with stress, and take more bubble baths. It’s not that I won’t drink anymore; I’ll have a drink when it’s called for and try not to drink when it’s unnecessary. Overall, Moist January has had many good aspects, but….

More than anything, I think it starts the year with confidence that
 a small discipline can lead to bigger ones in the future.

What should I try next?

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