7 Key Reasons To Start The New Year With Dry January
If you’re like a lot of people this time of year, you’ve probably been hitting the sauce a little harder than normal. My hand is raised. Some people chalk up their increased alcohol consumption to the stress of the holidays. Others get boozier in November and December simply because of all the opportunities to do so. I mean, it’s just one party, dinner, or casual Yuletide get together after another. Whatever the reason for our seasonal uptick in drinking, we all have another opportunity coming soon: Dry January.
With the start of another new year, many people will intentionally abstain from alcohol for the first month. Dry January is a chance to take a break from drinking, reset, and do something truly positive for our health. Don’t worry, you won’t be missing out on much. The Super Bowl isn’t until the second Sunday in February, so you will have had at least a full 31 days of clean living under your belt before tying one on for the big game.
So why do so many folks participate in Dry January each year? There are a number of benefits to taking a break from drinking. Women’s Health asked a team of health experts to lay out some of the sensible reasons why more people should give Dry January a try.
7 Key Reasons To Do Dry January
- You’ll sleep better and have more energy.
- Your skin could clear up.
- You may lose weight.
- Your immune system could get stronger.
- You may have less anxiety.
- You’ll have less headaches.
- Your overall health will improve.
You can read more about each of the health benefits in greater detail HERE. I was really taken aback by the definitions of binge drinking and heavy drinking included in the Women’s Health article. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as having more than four drinks within two hours. Heavy drinking is when you have more than eight drinks in one week. Unfortunately, both are far too easy to do during the holiday season.