As part of an effort to start the new year off healthfully, many Airdronians may be choosing to abstain from drinking alcohol for the first month of the year, a growing trend otherwise known as “Dry January.”
Though the month is nearing its end, choosing sobriety at any time of the year could go a long way towards improving one’s mental and physical health.
According to Eileen Whitehouse, counselling lead at Community Links, a lot of people choose to participate in “Dry January” to bolster their health and to foster healthy coping strategies to deal with stress.
“They may be looking at getting better sleep, maybe there’s some weight loss and more energy – so just looking at a healthier lifestyle,” she shared, adding there are many benefits to teetotaling.
Though, Whitehouse cautioned those who are interested in taking a break from the bottle should proceed carefully, as depending on the individual’s drinking habits, going without booze cold turkey could cause more harm than good.
“If you go cold turkey, it’s a bit like any addiction, especially with smoking,” she said, adding the withdrawal effects could be harmful to a person’s health if not carefully monitored.
She advised those going dry at any time of year to ensure they have a good support system in place to help them make the transition to a sober lifestyle. Those taking a pledge of sobriety are encouraged to assess their current drinking habits and personal goals for a period of sobriety.
“Are you looking at totally going sober for the month or just cutting back?” she said.
For some, an all-or-nothing approach may be beneficial, but for others it can risk bringing on the “rebound effect” where a period of alcohol abstinence precedes a period of binging, according to Whitehouse.
“Part of that is when you all of a sudden go dry during January, what happens in February?” she queried. “There’s a concern about that. You’ve done all this for one month, but what happens when February turns around? What is the plan in place?”
Whitehouse added those participating should look at what is considered “normal” drinking behaviour and curtail their habits to align more along those lines. This could mean changing the type of alcohol one drinks, when they drink, and whom they’re drinking with.
She advised participants to recognize their personal limits when it comes to drinking, to drink responsibly, and to never get behind the wheel after drinking above the legal limit.
“It teaches you some healthy behaviours and helps you install them into a routine,” Whitehouse said.
The counselling lead stated reducing or abstaining from alcohol use has many benefits and can help to replace unhealthy coping strategies with healthy habits for life.
“It takes 21 days to form a habit, so that’s why it’s nice doing it over a month,” she stated.
Over the period of one month, Whitehouse said healthy behaviours can become part of an individual’s new routine, teaching them how to set and stick with limits, and may continue in the next few months to years.
“We don’t have to look at Jan. 31 as the cut-off date, but everyone is different,” she said. “What works for one person doesn’t always work for the other. Part of that is really looking at what you want to achieve.”
A month of sobriety can also be a time to consider what healthy habits (which may include new hobbies or activities) one wants to build with their new free time and extra spending money. Whitehouse recommends trying a new hobby or activity that would encourage more healthful behaviours over time.
She said going sober can also help people to reassess their eating habits and make healthier choices in other facets of life.
“Food is a big piece because food goes along with [drinking],” she said. “So, part of that is building some healthy meals or looking at your diet.”
As far as health benefits are concerned, Whitehouse said over the long term, sobriety does help boost and regulate people’s moods.
“What alcohol does is it give you that buzz, that high, and then you come down from that,” she said. “[As a result of sobriety] you’ll be more regulated, and it helps us to look at a whole healthy mentality as well.
“We will be able to engage our brain more often and with other things around us in life.”
Overall, Whitehouse said “Dry January” is a great way to start the new year, but if you missed it this go-round, there’s always “Sober October” to consider alcohol abstinence or any other month of the year, too.
