Holiday parties, after-work happy hours, family gatherings, late nights spent cooking and baking – just a few of the spaces where drinking is not only the norm - but expected.
Alcohol is often woven throughout the holiday season and leaves many people ready to start the new year with a fresh start – that’s where Dry January comes in.
Dry January, started by British organization Alcohol Change UK, is an opportunity to give up alcohol for one month – a short 31-day challenge to reset your relationship with alcohol. According to Alcohol Change UK, Dry January
“isn’t about giving anything up. It’s about getting something back. Get your fun back. Get your energy back. Get your calm back.”
Whether you’re sober curious and looking to understand how alcohol affects your body or you’re looking to give up alcohol for good, there are significant benefits to participating in Dry January –
- You’ll learn about your relationship with alcohol
- You may experience improved mental health – including sleeping better!
- You could save money
- You might lose weight
- Your immune system may get a needed boost
Additionally, according to a 2018 study published in the British Medical Journal by the Royal Free Hospital, abstaining from alcohol use for one month –
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces risk of diabetes
- Lowers cholesterol
- Reduces levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood
Imagine what a difference 31 sober days could do for you.
SilverCloud® newest program Space from Alcohol invites users to examine their relationship with alcohol in a confidential, judgement-free space. Our program breaks down barriers for individuals who feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable taking the first step to giving up alcohol.
If you are in the United Kingdom, you can speak to your GP about a referral to SilverCloud which is available via NHS IAPT service
Author
Sara Littlefield is the Customer Communications Manager for SilverCloud®, the world’s leading digital mental health and wellbeing platform. A lifelong writer and storyteller, Sara holds a PhD from Boston College in English and has worked in the healthcare IT field with an emphasis on clinical optimization for nearly 10 years. When she’s not spinning a tale, Sara can be found wandering local antique shops looking for a new project, volunteering, or renovating her 200-year-old farmhouse.
