Dry January benefits for your physical and mental health

After indulging a little too much over the Christmas period, we often find ourselves craving a bit of a detox in the new year, with many of us choosing to cut out booze for the first month of the year. And with so many dry January benefits, there's never been a better time to go alcohol free.

According to Alcohol Change UK, our drinking habits in the UK have risen and fallen repeatedly overtime, and although we are fairly average in terms of alcohol consumption compared to our European counterparts, binge drinking is something that we rank very high for, meaning that drinking is most likely to result in drunkenness compared to other countries.

Whether you're guilty of drinking a little too much over the festive holidays or you're wanting to cut out alcohol for health and wellbeing reasons, January is the time for new resolutions, challenges and a great time to break bad habits.

While 'dry January' refers to cutting out alcohol completely for the month of January, it may be that you want to simply try challenging yourself to only drinking one day per week or limiting your unit intake. By the time February comes, you may find that you're no longer craving that drink at the end of each day. Many also find that they feel a marked difference in their physical and mental health after cutting out alcohol, so much so that they keep it up or drastically limit their alcohol consumption.

Dry January benefits for your physical and mental health

You may lose weight

Depending on the types of alcohol you like to drink as well as your starting weight at the beginning of January, you may find that cutting out alcohol helps you lose some weight, or at least feel less bloated. Particularly if you're drinking sweet alcoholic drinks like cocktails or if you regularly drink beer and wine.

This can also be linked to the fact many of us eat an increased amount of greasy food or food late at night when we've been drinking. Both excessive consumption of unhealthy food and alcohol can also increase bloating which can be a very unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling that can linger for days. Going forward, you may want to switch to a low-alcohol drink.

Get your skin glowing

One of the main side effects of drinking alcohol is dehydration which can wreak havoc on your skin, making it appear more dull and dehydrated than normal. On top of that, if you drink alcohol that is high in sugar, this can cause your skin to break out in spots too.

Improve sleep

We're always looking for ways to improve our quality of sleep, and one of the first things you should do if you find you're regularly waking up in the night, is try cutting out alcohol. You'll have probably noticed after a few drinks, you may drift off pretty quickly, but you'll soon wake up after a few hours. This is because alcohol interferes with adenosine, the chemical in our bodies that causes the blood vessels to relax and dilate. And even if you don't find yourself waking up in the night, it's likely you won't have fallen into deep sleep, as drinking decreases the quality of sleep we get so you may be in for a very tired one the day after drinking.

Mental health boost

While those first few glasses might give you a boost of happiness at the time, it shouldn't be treated as a long term solution to calm you after a stressful day. If you find you're consistently relying on an alcoholic drink to make you feel relaxed and happy after a difficult day, it may be cause for concern and be covering up some issues including anxiety and depression that need addressing.

Alcohol can also exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression. An example of this is the dreaded 'hangxiety' that we've all experienced on the odd occasion the morning after drinking. The feelings of worry and emotion is thought to be caused by the dip in blood sugar and fall in the brain chemical, GABA.

It's important to note, that although participating in dry January might help you feel better in general, cutting out alcohol for a month won't cure depression or anxiety, and it's still important to seek therapy or speak to your GP about your symptoms.

You'll save some money

Although there are always many discounts and deals to be found on supermarket wines and other spirits, not putting any alcohol in your trolley every week can save you a lot of pennies as a £10 bottle here and there soon adds up. And you don't need us to tell you how expensive a drink or especially cocktail out in a restaurant or bar can be compared to mocktails and other non-alcoholic options, so we know your bank account will be thankful for the savings.

Non-alcoholic drink options

The range of different alcohol free drink options available to buy from both bars and supermarkets has massively increased in recent years as we become increasingly health conscious. Some of the most popular drinks brands including the likes of Guiness and Peroni all offer alcohol free versions of their popular drinks, making it ideal if you have a particular favourite tipple you want to enjoy without the booze.

Things that can help you during dry January

When cutting something out that you love, whether it be chocolate or bread or alcohol in this case, it's normal to have a wobble every now and then as your cravings get the better of you. In these times of weakness, it'a a good idea to look to the below solutions to keep you on track with your dry January goals.

Do dry Jan with a friend

There’s nothing like a little help from your friends, and just like going to the gym with a workout buddy, having a friend to take part in dry Jan with can make it a lot easier as not only will you have someone to spend time with on the weekend who isn’t drinking, but you’ll also be keen to not let them down by having a drink.

Consider a substitute

Get creative with alternative drinks. For example, if none of the alcohol free versions of your favourite drink are really hitting the spot, start getting creative with some mock tail making to find a delicious booze free tipple that you actually enjoy sipping.

Try journaling

When you break a bad habit, it’s a good idea to give journaling a go. Not only is it a great way to get all your thoughts and feelings down on paper, but it’s also a brilliant way to keep track of how you’re feeling both physically and mentally since giving up the booze which can make for a very motivational reflection at the end of the month or on difficult days to encourage you to keep going.

Change your routine

If drinking has become a solid part of your daily or weekend routine, then consider what else you could do to break this habit. For example, if you regularly have a drink at the same time every evening, try booking something in for this time to break up that routine. For example, it could be a new fitness class, going to see a film at the cinema, trying a new restaurant or reading a new book.

Knowing when to get help

If you find you’re struggling to control your urges for a drink or if drinking is beginning to impact your relationships, job or health, then it’s a good idea to speak to your GP or find a therapist who specialises in alcoholism. There are plenty of support services and resources including the NHS who offer specialist treatment services near you.

Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.