The practice of Dry January is the practice of abstaining from alcohol consumption for a month, often the first month of the year. According to a research article in Harvard Health, alcohol consumption has been trending upwards even before the pandemic started due to higher stress and boredom. So why try Dry January? Well, of course, there are health benefits like better sleep, more energy, and weight loss.

If you want to try Dry January to see these results and more, what are some ways to do it successfully?

• Find a substitute non-alcoholic drink for when you are in social situations that might tempt you to have a cocktail.
• Reach for a sparkling water, soda or a mocktail or non-alcoholic beer.
• Try to keep your fridge free of alcoholic beverages to avoid the temptation to drink.
• Team up with some friends or your partner and support one another through the month—some accountability buddies if you will.
• There is a free app to try as well called the Try Dry app. It helps you to set goals, track your drinking habits and offers information to motivate you to continue.
• If you do end up having a drink, try not to beat yourself up. Start again the next day.

This can also be a time to contemplate your drinking habits. You may find that you want to curtail or limit your drinking before you try Dry January. Please consult your medical professional prior to participating in Dry January (especially those individuals who previously may have consumed alcohol in high volumes). If you experience any symptoms of withdrawal, go to your closest emergency room immediately for medical care.

As for any practice like this, you will likely learn some things about yourself. Do regular check ins to see how it is you are feeling and what you are gaining from abstaining from alcohol.

Take advantage of your Ohio State Employee Assistance (EAP) counseling benefit where you can receive five complimentary confidential counseling sessions per issue, per rolling calendar year. We can help you address mental health, substance use issues, grief, stress, goal setting and more. You can get connected for counseling by calling our intake team at 800-678-6265 (24/7) or submit an online counseling request here. For any questions about your EAP benefits, email us at eap@osumc.edu.

Good luck and Happy New Year!