Dry January

How to do Dry January during COVID-19

This year has been a bit of an odd one, to say the least. Many of us have spent it stressed, anxious and worried, and some of us might have developed drinking habits we’d like to break. Dry January offers the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Dry January is the perfect chance for a break. A total reset. 31 days to try something new. Reclaim your mornings. Relax with a bath, not a bottle.  It’s not about giving something up, but about getting something back.

But how do you take on a Dry January in amongst the ongoing COVID-19 uncertainty, with stress levels still so high? Here are some of Alcohol Change UK’s top tips.

1. Preparation is key

Preparation is key. There will be times when you will crave alcohol, so decide in advance how you are going to deal with these cravings. Allow yourself some chocolate or other treat in the first few days which are the hardest, the longer you go the easier it gets.

2. Look after your general mental health

In times of stress, we can find ourselves drinking more often or more heavily. To make sure you’re less tempted to reach for a drink to help you cope, look after your general mental health. Make sure you eat healthily, take breaks from the news every now and then, and get outside once a day if possible. Not drinking will help you work out healthier coping mechanisms for the difficult feelings you’re experiencing.

3. Find alternative treats and ways to relax

It might be that alcohol is your go-to treat when you need to relax, or when you feel you deserve a reward. To make your Dry January easier, try finding other things to treat yourself with to break the association between treating, relaxing and alcohol. Ease yourself into it by ordering some alcohol-free drinks or some fancy soft drinks or teas, for example, so you have them on hand at the end of a long working day.

Reasons to Try Dry January

A month alcohol free has a lot of benefits.  Research conducted by the Royal Free Hospital and published in the British Medical Journal found that a month off:

• lowers blood pressure
• reduce diabetes risk
• lowers cholesterol
• and reduces levels of cancer-related problems in the blood.

Sign up for Dry January for better sleep, more money in your pocket, healthier insides, more energy, brighter skin and so much more.

Download the free app to track your month off including your units, calories and money saved and give you some motivation every day.

http://www.alcoholchange.org.uk/