Dry January! What? A month-long journey of no alcohol?! Yes. A month without alcohol.
As a health and wellness coach, I argue that 30 days of abstinence carries benefits beyond the obvious and can support your goals for making positive changes in 2025.
The observance of Dry January started in Great Britain in 2012 to help folks evaluate their relationship with alcohol. It quickly caught on in the United States. Coming on the heels of weeks of holiday events and parties that may be laden with alcohol, many are ready to take a good break.
So what are the benefits of Dry January? First and foremost, your participation allows you to get real with yourself about how much you imbibe and how your body reacts to such use. A recent survey by AARP shows real results for people who participated in Dry January:
- 93 percent of participants reported having a sense of achievement
- 88 percent saved money
- 70 percent had generally improved health
- 71 percent slept better
- 67 percent had more energy
- 58 percent lost weight
- 57 percent had better concentration
- 54 percent had better skin
So what does this have to do with coaching?
When we address what goes into our bodies, we can begin to address what needs to happen to improve our lives. You’ve heard “garbage in, garbage out” and this holds true for how our body works. It’s tough to be your best self when inflammation, brain fog, and extra pounds are holding us back. So give Dry January a try and see how it goes!