Can you do it?
Embark on a 31-day alcohol-free journey with Alcohol Change UK for a comprehensive reset of your body and mind. Experience improved sleep, a mental health uplift, savings, and more during this Dry January.
Dry January entails abstaining from alcohol for the entire month with the support of Alcohol Change UK’s tools and resources. While the evident benefits are substantial, the most rewarding outcomes often lie beneath the surface.
You can learn more about Dry January by visiting this website.
Dry January - blog post
The new year is often seen as an opportunity to hit the reset button, whether in relation to diet, exercise, smoking, or alcohol consumption. Dry January, the practice of abstaining from alcohol for the first month of the year, has been around for some time. The goal is to experience the benefits that sobriety can have on mental and physical health. However, changing habits or quitting something completely is easier said than done. While motivation helps, it is usually not enough to create lasting change.
With drinking, it is important to remember that alcohol alters brain chemistry, so stopping for a month may seem straightforward if you only drink occasionally. However, if you drink regularly, it can be challenging. Rather than quitting outright, it may be more effective to reflect on your relationship with alcohol. Consider when, how much, and why you drink. If alcohol occupies a significant portion of your evenings or weekends, take time to plan new activities in its place, like going to the gym or meeting up with friends. Whatever brings joy that does not involve drinking can fill the time you would normally spend with a glass in hand. The path to moderation often begins with self-awareness.
- Keep in mind the government’s low risk drinking guidelines and try not to drink more than 14 units, which is six standard glasses of 13% wine or six pints of 4% beer, a week
- If you choose to drink this much, then spread your drinking over three or more days and avoid binge drinking. The free MyDrinkaware app is available to help people track and calculate their units, set goals, and measure their progress over time
- Try allocating Drink Free Days several days every week when you don’t drink. This will help you reduce the overall amount you drink. Try telling your family and friends know that you're planning and that it's perfectly normal not to do so. If you have children, it will also show them that Christmas doesn't have to include alcohol
- Don’t drink on an empty stomach. A healthy meal before you go out or start drinking, and snacks between drinks can help to slow down the absorption of alcohol, helping you stay in control
- Avoid drinking before you go out, what some people call ‘preloading’– it’s very easy for the drinks to stack up that way
- Pace yourself by alternating any alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks and avoid drinking in rounds, which may make you drink more and faster than you intended
- Try downsizing your alcoholic drinks – it will help you drink less and reduce the amount of calories that you're taking on board
- Try having a no or low-alcohol alternative or an alcohol-free mocktail – they are just as tasty
Help is available. Whether you are struggling with alcohol or any other drugs, ARC Hounslow can provide support.
Please have a look at our website for further details on how to refer here.
by Stefani Kaur Nagpal – Besely, Project Manager and Trainer, Hounslow ARC (Addictions Recovery Service)
