Key Takeaways:

• Growing Awareness: The awareness and participation in Dry January have significantly increased in recent years. In 2021, about 13% of Americans considered participating, while in 2022, this number rose to 35%, indicating a growing wellness conversation around mindful breaks from drinking.





• Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry: The rise of Dry January has led to an increase in non-alcoholic beverage options, with major companies introducing alcohol-free products to support the movement.





• Mindful Break from Drinking: Dry January is not about depriving oneself but about taking a mindful break from alcohol. Shifting the mindset from deprivation to gaining new ways to honor the body is a more empowering approach.





• Potential Benefits of Dry January:
  
  
  
  • Improved energy levels
  
  
  
  
  
  • Reduced anxiety
  
  
  
  
  
  • Better sleep
  
  
  
  
  
  • Less brain fog
  
  
  
  
  
  • Enhanced mood
  
  
  
  





• Skip the goals, set Intentions: Instead of setting rigid goals, focus on setting intentions. Ask yourself why you want to participate in Dry January and how you want to feel at the end of the month.





• Curiosity and Mindset: Approach Dry January with curiosity. Pay attention to any challenges, cravings, or shifts in mindset. Curiosity helps suspend judgment and fosters a more positive experience.





• Common Dry January Misconceptions:
  
  
  
  • Some may see Dry January as a way to prove they don’t have a drinking problem. It’s essential to recognize that willpower alone may not lead to lasting change; tools and support are crucial.
  
  
  
  
  
  • That one must complete the full 31 days, or the effort is wasted. Each day offers valuable data points to guide the journey.
  
  
  
  





• Benefits Beyond January: February 1st is not the end; it’s an opportunity to ease into the insights gained. Use journaling to reflect on the experience, revisit initial intentions, and design the post-January period intentionally.





• Rediscovering Fun Sober: Challenge the myth that “sober is boring.” Reconnect with activities and experiences without relying on alcohol. Engage in hobbies, socialize, and find joy in the absence of alcohol.

Quotes:

• “If sober is boring, you’re doing it wrong.”
  





• “We have to ask ourselves, is that true? What happened when I was 10 and I was running around in the backyard playing with my friends and we were playing doorbell ditch and laughing and hoping we didn’t get caught or running through the sprinklers. Where is that person? That person is still inside of us.”
  





• “February 1st is not the, you know, you don’t put the key in the lock and now I’m out of jail. Imagine February 1st as the time to just ease into the information that you’ve gained and allow yourself to say. Okay. Wow. That was really interesting.”

Resources Mentioned:

• The history of Dry January





• The Alcohol Experiment Journal (Amazon affiliate link) – https://amzn.to/3TGpNjm





• The Alcohol Experiment (Amazon affiliate link) https://amzn.to/3vojE0R





• The Luckiest Club





• Smart Recovery

About Teri: 

Teri Patterson is a Functional Nutritionist and a This Naked Mind Senior Coach. Teri blends her knowledge of nutrition with her passion for living an alcohol-free life into a unique business as The Sober Nutritionist.

Teri’s mission is to help her clients discover how drinking less can be the key to better health. Teri is also the host of the popular podcast The Sober Edge, Inspiration for Alcohol-Free Living and the creator of the brand-new SELF Experience, a place for women after alcohol who want to build a life by design, not by default.

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Connect with Teri:

• On her website: https://thesobernutritionist.com/





• On Instagram:  @teri.thesobernutritionist/





• Download Teri’s Free gift: Drinking Through the Decades

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