So, You Finished Dry January?

The New Years time is often when people reflect on the previous year and determine are they content with where they are in their life. We often reflect on our health and lifestyle choices and set resolutions for the following year. In the recent decade, one of the more popular resolutions is regarding our relationship with alcohol. The U.S. has a long, complicated relationship with alcohol. Prohibition drove the beverage industry underground for many years and now we celebrate Super Bowl wins with beer and give toasts at weddings.

Dry January started in 2013 in the U.K. as a one-month sobriety challenge. In the U.S. alone, about 22% of adults completed Dry January in 2025. Usually at the end of the experience, we reflect on how our lives were different during that month and what we want our relationship with alcohol to look like moving forward. Studies show that reducing or eliminating alcohol long-term can significantly reduce the risk of cancer as well as liver and heart related problems. However, short breaks have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve sleep and encourage weight loss. What did you notice about your journey with Dry January? Below are the most common changes individuals often experience after Dry January:

• Improved Mood: Alcohol is a depressant and often disrupts mood regulation in the brain. Over time, alcohol can increase both experiences with anxiety and depression. The term hang-xiety comes from a significant increase one feels in anxiety after a long night of drinking.
• Better Brain Power and Concentration: We know that overtime, alcohol use can lead to poor memory, poor concentration and brain fog. Giving up alcohol will clear your mind, improve your memory and increase productivity.
• Improved Sleep and More Energy: While alcohol can give the illusion of falling asleep quickly, it significantly disrupts sleep patterns and causes us to wake up more throughout the night. Reducing alcohol use improves our overall sleep and helps us wake up with more energy.
• Better Heart Health: Alcohol raises "bad" cholesterol in your blood and overtime, can narrow your blood vessels, thus increasing blood pressure. Eliminating alcohol can decrease our risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Improved Immunity: In addition to disrupting sleep, alcohol use can negatively impact our immune response further, increasing our likelihood of getting sick. When one gives up alcohol, it increases our body's ability to fight off infection, especially during cold and flu season.
• Weight Loss: Alcohol causes weight gain due to increase in calories consumed as well as increasing cravings to salty and greasy food, which traditionally is not nutritionally dense. In addition, alcohol also causes our bodies to retain water, increasing swelling.
• Reduced Risk of Injury: Alcohol impairs judgement and reduces coordination, increasing our risk of car accidents and other serious injuries.

I participated in Dry January this year, and not only did I experience the above listed benefits, but it also helped me re-evaluate my relationship with alcohol, which has thus far decreased my desire to drink during the month of February. Not only did I get used to how my body felt without alcohol, but I also liked how my body felt. Everyone's relationship with alcohol is a deeply personal journey, however, Dry January gives us a chance to take a step back and reevaluate that relationship.

If you participated in Dry January, what did you notice?