Dry January’s health benefits and how to take an alcohol break : Life Kit : NPR

62% reported “better sleep” and about half reported they lost some weight. Many of the participants said they had more energy, which fits with the experience of listener Sarah Black Sadler. “The biggest thing that I noticed is that I don’t need alcohol to have a good time with my friends.” Whenever you decide to take a break from alcohol, whether it be during a designated sober month or any other time of the year, the NIAAA website, Rethinking Drinking, has strategies that can help you stop drinking. These include tips for cutting down or quitting, reminder strategies to help you remember why and how you decided to do it, and ways your family and friends can support you.

• Over the past 12 years, Marshall has seen a lot of changes in the way people view sobriety.
• For that reason, “some people might lose weight when they stop drinking,” James J. Galligan, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology and toxicology and director of the neuroscience program at Michigan State University, tells SELF.
• The thing is, it’s easy to go above moderate levels of drinking is a mainstay of your social life.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The “sober curious” or “sober sometimes” movement started as a challenge for those who felt they’d partied a little too hard over New Year’s weekend. First there was “Dry January,” when people could brag on social media about how they were taking a break from booze. Now there’s “Dry July” and even “Sober September.” And the movement has spread across the U.S., with people challenging each other to see what life is like without alcohol and share in that experience.

• “The alcohol was certainly a numbing agent,” listener Mark Vowers told us.
• The good news is that the sooner you lower your intake, the better it will be for the health of your heart.
• Breaking the cycle of drinking can prevent your body from becoming accustomed to alcohol and help to lower or ‘reset’ your tolerance.
• “You might drink at night to reduce your anxiety. And then, as a result, the next evening, you feel more anxiety, which then motivates you to drink again,” White says.

Make a list of reasons for quitting — and refer to it often

As I’ve reported, alcohol use disorders fall along a spectrum. It’s not a binary yes or no — you https://ecosoberhouse.com/ have a problem or you don’t. And there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to getting help.

Dry January: How to take a break from alcohol so you’ll actually stick with it

If you’ve attempted to cut back on alcohol but were unable to do so, it’s possible that you need professional help to help you stop drinking. Here are six ways to make that happen — and, holidays or not, you don’t need to drink to celebrate. Learn more about the health effects of drinking alcohol here. Take the free Drinking Check to understand more about how much alcohol you’re drinking and to receive personalised results and guidance on how to cut back if you need to. Drinking patterns can change over time and you may find yourself drinking more than before.

Five Reasons to Take a Break from Booze

There is a wide range of options — from residential “detox” programs to cognitive behavioral therapy, to medications such as naltrexone which can help people drink less, or acamprosate, which can help people stay dry. It’s really important to recognise that tolerance to the short-term effects does not mean your health risks are lower. In fact, you could be at higher risk because you may not recognise how much you’re drinking. how to take a break from drinking As well as existing non-alcoholic beer and wine, a range of non-alcoholic spirits is also emerging in the market. You could ask for it to be served in a spirit or cocktail glass – you might be less likely to be asked why you’re not drinking. Hello Sunday Morning has a large online support community of more than 100,000 people, and offers a range of resources to help people who want to cut down or quit drinking.

Taking a Break from Alcohol Can be Good for Your Health

A 2016 British study of about 850 men and women who volunteered to abstain from alcohol during Dry January found that participants reported a range of benefits. For instance, 82 percent said they felt a sense of achievement. “Better sleep” was cited by 62 percent, and 49 percent said they lost some weight. So far, there are a handful of studies that point to some benefits of abstinence for even moderate drinkers — in addition to the widely recognized benefits for people who have alcohol use disorder.

• Recipes act as an interface between the social and the material because they intertwine human priorities and the physical or chemical properties of ingredients and cooking techniques.
• Irina Gonzalez is the Content Marketing Manager at Tempest, a digital membership program that empowers you to quit drinking and live alcohol-free.
• The way alcohol is glamorized in advertising also contributes to our collective hook.

Benefits Beyond 30 Days of No Alcohol

Going alcohol-free for January can provide quick health and wellness wins. Right off the bat, you’ll likely save money – alcohol prices increased 10% between March 2020 and March 2023. “You know, alcohol is the only drug in which you have to give a reason for why you don’t do it,” he says. “Not everyone identifies as sober all the time,” Marshall says. Sans Bar has become so popular that Marshall took the concept on the road this year.

If you are concerned that you or someone you care about has a problem with alcohol there is a lot of help available. Here you can find useful links and phone numbers to get the support you need. The less you drink, the lower your risk of alcohol-related harm. For most people, participating in month-long challenges will provide a range of benefits and little downside, even over the longer term. Setting a quit date is linked to success in sticking to your plan.

• While that amount is generally thought to be okay for your health, having more than that on a regular basis isn’t.
• So, SELF connected with experts to find out what actually happens to your body when you go sober.
• This is because, for a lot of people who experience some kind of liver dysfunction, it makes them at risk of not getting enough proteins, calories or vitamins.
• Quitting alcohol for one month seems like a short time, but a 2015 study found that many people who participate in Dry January continue to drink less six months later.

A drink that feels fancy or fun can go a long way

They won’t make you feel intoxicated like alcohol but they may make you feel happier and more relaxed. If you’re taking part in an event like FebFast, encourage your friends and family to sponsor you. Not only will it be good for the charity you are supporting, but it can make you more accountable. Exercise boosts serotonin and dopamine in the brain, and a quick shot of both will make the happy chemicals release, and you won’t want to drink. People drink for a variety of reasons, Koskinen notes, but “stress-management and social connections” tend to top her clients’ lists.