Dry January or a Break from the Booze?

Check out this guest post from Coach Keller. Health, wellness, and fitness are impacted by far more than what you do in the gym. While this topic may not resonate with everyone, it may be just what many need to hear as we prepare to embark on the Healthy Habits Challenge. Happy New Year Catacombs Family. Let’s make 2022 our year.

We made it. The end of the long run of holidays and celebrations has arrived with the start of a fresh, new year. You slayed the season. You prioritized your fitness in the hardest time of the year to do so, some of you even did vacation workouts! But as we all know, staying active is just one component of our overall health. 

The holidays are also often a time of significant alcohol consumption. As a result, many people hit New Year’s Day with a vow to drink less. And while we want to drink less, we don’t necessarily make lasting changes to our habits. Alcohol is one of the most socially-accepted, promoted, and encouraged degradations to our mental and physical health. We drink to celebrate, we drink to relax, we drink because it’s 5 0’clock.

So if you are looking to drink less but don’t know where to start, here are a few tips:

• When you are out, order a non-alcoholic drink first (most restaurants have mocktail menus or you can get just a soda water and lime), and then order your drink of choice when everyone is on their second round. That’s one less drink, and often you might find the craving has subsided when the time comes. 
  
• Have kombuchas, sparkling waters, Hop Teas, or other non-alcoholic drinks in your fridge. Sometimes we just need to crack a can and have something bubbly. (Seriously!) Athletic Brewing, Brooklyn, and Partake offer some great-tasting beer alternatives and can be found at most liquor stores. 

• Ask yourself “why” you want a drink before you drink it. Make a list of 5-10 other things you could do instead, and keep it on the fridge. If you drink to unwind, maybe your list could include taking a walk by yourself, drinking calming tea, sitting in a hot shower, or listening to your favorite music. If you do those and still want a drink after, at least you made some space and did not just automatically pour a glass.
  
• Check out the books Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington, Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker, or This Naked Mind by Annie Grace.
  
• Explore apps to help you drink less or quit entirely such as Sunnyside, Reframe, and Tempest.
• Reach out! There are quite a few people in our Catacombs community who have given up alcohol and are happy to talk or offer support (myself included!).

We know better than anyone the power of community. It can be intimidating or overwhelming to try and drink less, especially when it is so pervasive in our society. If you are thinking about drinking less or trying a dry January, know you are supported. 

I challenge you to examine your relationship with alcohol this year. Ask yourself, “Would my life be better with less (or no) alcohol?” If the answer is yes, then make it happen. You can do it!