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METRO CREATIVE
For many, drinking alcohol during the holiday season is commonplace. Social drinking is widely accepted. Unfortunately, the holidays are a complex time for many. Dry January provides you time to reset.
The health benefits are significant; in addition to the process helping you re-evaluate your drinking habits, it also removes any chance of impaired driving. It can seem challenging at first, but there are practical tips to help you through the process.
Initially, the benefits to your health are immediately noticed. You will find yourself sleeping better, having lower blood pressure and cholesterol, more energy, and more money. You may lose weight, have clearer skin, and feel less depressed, anxious, and stressed. Overall, your mental and physical well-being will significantly improve.
Most importantly, you are removing any chance of driving while impaired. Abstaining from alcohol is the backbone of effective drunk driving prevention. In Florida, impaired driving involves roughly onequarter of all motor vehicle deaths. Fortunately, Florida has one of the lowest rates of under-21 deaths involving alcohol, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
Dry January also helps re-evaluate drinking habits along with the health and preventative benefits. Consider asking yourself if alcohol is used as a tool to cope with stressful situations. Do you find yourself feeling stressed without alcohol, or have your drinking habits impacted your relationships or your professional life? If the answer is yes, consider a Dry January.
If you find this process challenging to start, consider some of the following tips to help you out.
Create a supporting environment where you know you will succeed. Thoroughly purge all the booze around you—dump it, hide it, or give it away. Moreover, find a suitable non-alcoholic drink for social situations.
Recruit a friend or family member to participate and help avoid temptations. Not only will you support one another, but you can also plan activities that do not involve alcohol, and you can speak about the successes and challenges of abstaining from alcohol.
Stay busy and active and take this time to focus on your mental and physical well-being; take advantage of having more energy and sleeping better. Utilize Dry January apps that will help you track your progress and find practical ways to hold yourself accountable.
Ideally, this can be optimal to reflect on your drinking habits. During the month, you will begin to lose alcohol cravings, and you may realize alcohol does not need to take up such ample space in your life. If the benefits make you feel great physically and mentally, consider continuing for another 30 days. Embrace your new attitude to alcohol use.
Nickolaus Hayes is a healthcare professional in the field of substance use and addiction recovery and is part of the editorial team at Drug Rehab Services and Addicted.org. His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance use.
