Health Benefits of Dry(ish) January
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The New Year is almost here, and with it comes an opportunity to create new goals, break bad habits, and work toward a healthier, happier life. But here’s the thing: changing any habit or implementing a new routine can be difficult. Whether you’re trying to exercise more, eat healthier, or cut back on drinking, breaking bad habits takes deliberate effort and patience. This is why it’s often best to start small — and why Dryish January can be incredibly beneficial for those of us looking to change our relationship with alcohol.
In this post, we’ll explore what Dryish January is and the physical and mental benefits we can reap from participating in it. Let’s get started!
As is evidenced by its name, Dryish January is an offshoot of Dry January, a commitment to giving up alcohol for the first month of the new year, which has grown in popularity over the last several years. Dry January began as a movement in the United Kingdom in 2013. Today, a mere decade later, it’s a global phenomenon — supported by mobile apps, websites, and communities where participants share their experiences, tips, and insights.
However, for many people, the idea of eliminating alcohol entirely for a month can seem overwhelming. Some people may want to explore a life of sobriety, but aren’t yet ready to go cold turkey, while others might just be looking to develop healthier drinking habits. This is where Dryish January comes into the picture.
Dryish January is all about making progress toward a healthier relationship with alcohol — whatever that means for you. For instance, some people might try to cut back on their alcohol consumption for the month, while others might try to practice mindful drinking. Still others might challenge themselves to forgo alcohol in social settings, or opt for drinks with a lower alcohol content.
When it comes down to it, Dryish January isn’t so much about stopping drinking entirely, but about making small changes that help us examine our relationship with alcohol and cut back on our consumption. And here’s the best part: if we happen to slip up, it doesn’t mean we’ve failed the challenge. We can pick ourselves back up and try again!
There’s a reason that Dry January and Dryish January have taken off in recent years. And that’s because more and more people are realizing the benefits of cutting back on alcohol, or saying goodbye to drinking for good. Indeed, changing our relationship with alcohol can do wonders for nearly every aspect of our well-being, including our physical, mental and emotional health. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of participating in Dryish January:
Healthier liver. Since alcohol is metabolized in the liver, chronic, heavy consumption of alcohol can significantly damage this vital organ. Every time our liver filters alcohol, some liver cells die; prolonged alcohol misuse over many years can result in permanent liver damage. However, our liver has a remarkable ability to heal. Cutting back on alcohol allows our liver to repair itself.
What about the mental and emotional health benefits of participating in Dryish January? While we often associate drinking with pleasure — thanks to the flood of that “feel good” chemical dopamine in our brain — alcohol is a depressant. It not only slows our central nervous system, but it also impacts our mood, thoughts and behavior. In fact, research shows that regularly misusing alcohol disrupts our brain’s chemical equilibrium, altering mood, behavior, and emotions in the long term.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the mental and emotional health benefits of cutting back on drinking:
The bottom line? Cutting back on alcohol can lead to significant improvements in our physical and mental health. Research shows that even a brief break from alcohol for moderate to heavy drinkers can produce health benefits, such as better sleep, weight loss, improved mood and energy levels.
But don’t just take our word for it! Participate in Dry January or Dryish January and experience these benefits yourself!
How do you know if you should give Dryish January a shot? If you’ve been wanting to change your drinking habits, but haven’t known how or where to start, Dryish January is a great place to begin. If you’ve ever wondered if you have a drinking problem — or questioned whether you have a healthy relationship with alcohol — that’s probably an indication that you can benefit from Dryish January.
Similarly, if you’re looking to improve your health — whether it’s wanting to get better sleep, lose some weight, or feel less anxious — participating in Dryish January can be a great launching pad to enhanced well-being. Remember that we can define Dryish January exactly as we want, whether that means setting a weekly limit of alcoholic beverages or practicing mindfulness while drinking.
Participating in Dryish January doesn’t necessarily mean we’re saying goodbye to alcohol for good. Some of us might not be ready for that — and that’s okay! But using Dryish January to explore our relationship with alcohol and make small changes can put us on the path to a healthier and happier future.
Let’s say you’re interested in trying Dryish January — how do you get started? A good place to begin is by downloading our app. In fact, we can help you develop a customized plan based on your own goals — whether you want to go 31 days without alcohol or are just looking to cut back a bit. We’ll also equip you with personalized daily activities and a toolkit, and we’ll connect you with a 24/7 community for encouragement along the way.
In addition to downloading our app, here are eight tips for a embarking on successful Dryish January challenge:
Dryish January can be a great option for anyone who wants to change their drinking habits without saying goodbye to alcohol altogether. Part of the benefit of participating in Dryish January is that it can be whatever we want it to be, whether by limiting the number of drinks we consume in a week or by practicing mindful drinking. The goal is to make small, sustainable changes. Cutting back on alcohol can lead to significant improvements in our health and well-being, from a healthier weight and heart to better sleep and improved mood. If you’ve wanted to change your relationship with alcohol but haven’t known where to start, Dryish January is a good place to begin!
Reframe can help guide and support you during your Dryish January journey. We’re a science-backed app that has helped millions of people cut back on their alcohol consumption and enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
1. What is Dryish January?
Unlike Dry January’s challenge to give up alcohol completely for a month, Dryish January is all about making progress toward a healthier relationship with alcohol — whatever that means for you. For instance, some people might try to cut back on their alcohol consumption for the month, while others might try to practice mindful drinking. Still others might challenge themselves to forgo alcohol in social settings, or opt for drinks with a lower alcohol content.
2. What are the benefits of Dryish January?
Dryish January offers a number of physical and mental health benefits, such as a healthier heart, liver, and skin, improved sleep and immune function, better mood, and greater mental focus.
3. Who should participate in Dryish January?
Dryish January can be beneficial for anyone looking to change their drinking habits, cut back on alcohol, or become healthier. It can be based on your own personal goals and circumstances.
4. How can you participate in Dryish January?
Downloading the Reframe app is a good place to start. We can help you develop a customized plan based on your own goals — whether it’s going 31 days without alcohol or cutting back on consumption. We’ll also equip you with personalized daily activities, a toolkit, and connect you with a 24/7 community to help encourage you along the way.
5. What are some tips for participating in Dryish January?
To get the most out of Dryish January, it can be helpful to set realistic goals, identify your why, track your drinks, try new activities, practice mindful drinking, opt for alcohol-free alternatives, create a support system, and practice self-compassion.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being.