The benefits of Dry January

Are you doing Dry January this year? Or maybe you have just been considering reducing your overall alcohol intake in 2022. Either way - Dry January may seem like a fad but the well-being benefits that come with it are real and enough to give you a healthy boost to get the year off to a good start.

Sleep

You may find your sleeping pattern initially suffers when you first stop drinking, this is because alcohol has a natural sedative effect on us. You might be used to being able to quickly doze off after you’ve had a few drinks and so without the aid of alcohol to knock you out, you could struggle for the first few days and then this should pass. According to Alcohol Change, 70% of people sleep better when taking part in Dry January!*

Regular consumption of alcohol disrupts your sleeping pattern and although you may have had a solid 8 hours sleep, the reality is that this is unlikely to have been a good quality sleep. This is all down to having a lack of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep as this is what is typically disrupted by regular alcohol abuse.

REM sleep can be affected by excessive alcohol consumption. This is an essential part of our sleep cycle as this is where our brain regenerates and is what makes us alert the following day. REM sleep accounts for only around 20% of our sleep and is the time where we typically dream - this is why REM is essential for memory and general brain function as it is the restorative part of sleep.

Insufficient REM sleep can leave us feeling tired, drained and like we haven’t had a good night's sleep. So, whether you are doing Dry January or tying out long-term sobriety as a lifestyle change, you should find that you are feeling much more well rested throughout your week!

Health

Whether you binge drink at the weekends or drink moderately throughout your week, Dry January is worth it. Although it is only a month-long pledge, there’s a myriad of health benefits to going alcohol free, even if it is only for a short period.

After three weeks of no booze, your blood pressure will begin to reduce which in turn will see your vision and kidney health recover. High blood pressure is associated with serious health issues such as heart disease and strokes. So pausing your drinking habits, even if only for a month or two, can lower your risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke as a result.

Drinking alcohol not only dehydrates your body but it also depletes the moisture from your skin. Those who drink regularly are more prone to premature wrinkles, dry skin and a dull complexion. However, after just one week of not drinking, your skin should start to look and feel different and you will likely have a brighter complexion. Dehydration affects not only your appearance but it also plays a role in brain function and mood. So by giving up alcohol, not only will this result in you becoming more hydrated but you will also have more energy, motivation and feel less tired throughout the day!

Our livers play a vital role in our bodies, performing over 500 functions and after a whole month of giving up alcohol, the effects on your liver are astonishing as, depending on the level of damage, after 4 weeks of not drinking, your liver could be back to performing to its full potential.

Aside from our physical health, regular consumption of alcohol can also be detrimental to our mental health. Alcohol is a natural depressant, so naturally, regular consumption is highly likely to result in suffering from low mood the day after a big night out. In the short term, drinking can make us feel more confident, less anxious and feel a loss of our inhibitions. However, in the long term, alcohol limits the amount of neurotransmitters in our brains (this is what sends chemicals around our bodies) - with less of these in our brains, the chances of getting mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are increased. Many people find that after stopping drinking for even a short period of time that their mental health improves drastically. AIG, one of the UK’s leading providers, offers additional benefits with their service SmartHealth, when you have a life insurance policy with them. One of these benefits is free access to mental health professionals and four free therapy sessions a year. These benefits are available to you, your partner and your children up until they reach the age of 21.

Money

So now we all know the health benefits of cutting down on the booze, have you considered the financial benefits too? According to Alcohol Change, 86% of people save money when taking part in Dry January and it’s easy to see why!*

The average UK household spends £916 on alcohol each year** which means on average you could save nearly £80 a month just from ditching the booze. So if one of your New Year’s resolutions is to save money this year, then by stopping drinking, even if just for a few months, could easily save you a few pennies. Plus, you get the added bonus of gaining money for sticking to your New Year’s resolution!

Habit

Humans are creatures of habit but once a habit is created - it can be hard to break. Regular consumption of alcohol is not a habit that anyone wants to develop, however, going out drinking has become a core component of many people's social lives from a young age as it is a common way of socialising, especially in the UK.

There are different habits that can be developed surrounding drinking such as binge drinking or needing a drink to help you relax after work. The NHS describes binge drinking as, “drinking lots of alcohol in a short space of time or drinking to get drunk” and it is something many of us have done at least once in our lives! A habit is something that we do subconsciously, without evening thinking about it or considering it a habit. Although breaking a habit is difficult, it is not impossible. We have put together some handy tips and tricks below to help, so whether you are trying to cut down on your drinking this year or stop completely - you got this!

Tips and tricks

• If you are thinking of extending Dry January into February this year, try getting rid of the remaining alcohol in your living space to avoid temptation. Perhaps you could donate it to a friend or if you don’t want to part with your drinks, move them somewhere hard to reach in your home.
• Change up your weekly routine. If you are used to having a drink or two to relax after work, look for something new to pass the time during evenings. Whether this be going to a gym class, baking or learning a new skill - try and do something that will take your mind off of wanting a drink. Before you know it, you will have replaced your habit of weekday drinks with something healthier!
• Substitute your usual week day tipple with another drink that you enjoy, this could be a fruity soft drink or maybe you prefer a calming cup of herbal tea, you could change this up weekly as a replacement for your normal weekday drink.
• Why not put the money you have saved during Dry Jan towards a new activity to fill your weekends and replace boozy Saturday nights? Finding a new hobby will not only be beneficial towards your Dry Jan efforts but it is also great for your mental health and you might even meet some like minded people in the process.
• Try to surround yourself with like minded people when it comes to your journey with drinking less. This is easier said than done but once your friends and family see the benefits of you quitting alcohol, they may even want to join in with you themselves!

Stopping drinking suddenly can be dangerous. Please note that this content is not medical advice and if you are considering cutting your alcohol intake drastically or quitting drinking long-term, please contact your GP for help and advice.

*alcoholchange.org.uk

**www.nimblefins.co.uk