5 Reasons You Should Consider Dry January

'New year, New Me' seems to be in the past. At JOMO, we have to agree that starting today is more important than putting everything on hold until the new year. We also believe that creating new year resolutions only in January can be more of a hindrance. Create goals throughout the year at any time is a far more sustainable, achievable way.

However, there is no doubt that a brand new year does bring a fresh start feeling with it. It is a good time to put in place healthy rituals, re-shape habits and a time to reflect over the year before and the year ahead.

This is why Dry January can be such a powerful and wonderful month of sobriety. Not a challenge, but an opportunity.

Dry January has become a household name since launching in 2013. Many people would jump on board the sober train to detox after a festive season fraught with drinking. However, taking time off drinking alcohol or indeed drinking less throughout the year has become far more popular than January alone. Here are five reasons why you should consider and attempt Dry January this new year. 

What is Dry January?

Dry January is a month without alcohol created by Alcohol Change to help promote healthy drinking habits. The idea behind Dry January is to give your body a break from alcohol and to take a step back from alcohol to evaluate your drinking habits. 

While the goal for Dry January is to avoid all and any alcohol for the entire of January, this month is for you and it is what you make of it. The entire month is a great way to document your journey, how you feel and how you think - a great chance to journal a couple of thoughts a day.

lf you do end up drinking however, this isn't a failure. Start again. Much like creating healthy habits all year round and not just in Jan, you don't have to drink once and then just try again next year. 

Why Bother with Dry January?

There are so many positives with the main one being understanding yourself and your relationship with alcohol better - for no-one other than yourself. Here are some other benefits of Dry January.

For the Health Benefits

Going alcohol-free, even just for a month, has huge, proven health benefits including some of the following:

• A lower blood pressure 

• Reduced anxiety & depression

• Lower cholesterol

• Lower risk of diabetes

• Less cancer-related proteins in the blood

• Better, deeper and more restful sleep

• More energy

• Clearer skin

• Weight loss

• Lower risk of heart disease

• A stronger immune system and less winter cold symptoms.

If all of this can happen in just one month with no alcohol, imagine how great you could feel by the beginning of February. We all know health is wealth and is the most important thing you have. So why not try Dry January to focus on having a healthy start to the New Year?

For Mental Clarity 

Alcohol is known to increase feelings of depression and anxiety. Alcohol interferes with the balance of chemicals in your brain. By quitting alcohol or even pausing temporarily, you allow these chemicals to start balancing out. This makes stress much easier to deal with. Plus, during a hangover, have you ever felt anxiety..or hang-xiety? There is a reason for that.

Many people find that very quickly after going sober their mental health improves significantly. So Dry January can leave you feeling less anxious, less depressed and much more relaxed than usual. This can be particularly useful in January, which is traditionally one of the most difficult months for people with mental health problems. 

To Start the Year Feeling Good

January is the time to make New Year’s resolutions and start setting targets for a healthier, more successful new year. So why not set an achievable target of one month fully sober to start the New Year off in the best way possible? 

The way you choose to spend January can set the tone for the whole year. If you centre your health and mental wellbeing, you are setting the tone for a successful, less stressful and happier new year. You know what they say, “Start the year as you mean to go on”! Dry January is the perfect opportunity to start the New Year feeling good about yourself. 

To Become Aware of Your Drinking Patterns

When thinking about doing a Dry Month, many people wonder what one month of no alcohol will actually change. But what it does, more than anything, is to help you take a step back from alcohol and really notice your drinking patterns. 

So, this Dry January pay attention to how you feel throughout the month. Some useful questions to ask could be?

• When do I want to drink alcohol?

• Do I really miss drinking alcohol?

• What are the triggers that make me think about alcohol?

• Am I using alcohol to ease the stress of social anxiety?

• Where can I cut out alcohol without noticing any difference?

By becoming aware of your usual drinking behaviours and taking a step back from them, you can really analyse the role that alcohol plays in your life. 

To Develop Long Term Healthy Drinking Patterns

By noticing the role that alcohol plays in your life, it is easier to start developing healthier drinking habits in the long term. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to completely quit alcohol, but it can help kickstart a more mindful drinking routine. 

Studies carried out by Alcohol Change and the University of Sussex have found that 70% of people who signed up to participate in Dry January via the Alcohol Change UK's Try Dry app or coaching emails, were still drinking more mindfully and healthily even 6 months after Dry January. This goes to show that taking a step back can help change your long-term drinking habits for the better. 

Make Dry January Easier with a JOMO Alcohol-Free Hamper

Have you decided to try Dry January this year? Then make it easier on yourself and embrace the delicious alcohol-free alternatives available for non-drinkers by signing up for a JOMO alcohol-free subscription box. 

Each JOMO alcohol-free hamper is filled to the brim with delicious alcohol-free goodies to help make your sober journey just that much easier. Each box contains:

• One full-sized alcohol-free spirit

• Mixers and garnishes paired with this

• A range of alcohol-free cocktail recipes

• Ready-to-drink non-alcoholic beverages

• A collection of delicious snacks. 

So treat yourself this Dry January and find the Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO) with a luxurious JOMO alcohol-free subscription box.