In late 2010, Emily Robinson signed up for a half marathon. It was to be run the following February.  After the holiday cheer was over and the calendar rolled into to the new year, she decided to take her training serious. 

She thought it might be better for her workouts if she cut out alcohol for the month of January.  Emily noticed that she ran better, slept better, and simply felt better. 

And so, Dry January was born.

Emily had essentially asked herself, “What happens if I remove this one thing for a short period of time and actually pay attention to how I feel?  What does this reset feel like?”

That is also why I do it.

Alcohol isn’t ruining my life.  I participate in Dry January because I was unsure what it was actually contributing.  

And January is the perfect month to find out.  (December can get wet).

Plus, my wife thought it was a good idea.  We’ve made this an annual event for the past six years.

It’s bad for you?

Ironically, this Dry January was when the federal government published new alcohol guidelines, and they were, well, unhelpful.

Drink less.  Maybe.  If you want.

Thanks for the guidance.

The experts weighed in too, as only experts can.

What a buzz kills this guy is. 

At my alma mater of all places!

Look, he’s not wrong.  Alcohol isn’t broccoli.  

But this is where a divide opens up between what we know and how we live. How one health choice can affect another. 

We don’t need the “alcohol research community” (whoever that is) to lecture us on drinking.  A fun night with friends can lead to a rough morning.  That’s all the evidence-based research I need.

Am I Alive?

The Chinese app, Dumu, confirms you’re alive.  It’s marketed to people living alone and is a daily check-in to let their friends know they are OK.

Lately, Dry January feels like the cultural version of the app.  Except instead of people notifying their friends if they’re alive, pubs and restaurants need to notify customers, “We’re still open!”

People are drinking less, and not just in January.

You see it on sidewalk chalkboards and menus now.  Non-alcoholic options front and center.

And the data backs it up.  N/A beer and drinks are one of the few bright spots in a declining adult beverage industry.

Since 2021, sales have more than doubled.  Dollar growth has nearly tripled.  It used to be O’Doul’s, and everybody laughed at that guy.  Now, the selections and variety are stunning.  The drinks aren’t half-bad either.

People still want the ritual, a cold-one and conversation.  They also want to make it into the office the next day.

The results

So, what did I notice when I took the month off?

First, the good.

My sleep was excellent.  I was waking up at 5am with ease.  Starting the day was a breeze, which is not nothing.

I didn’t lose any weight.  That one surprised me, but it makes sense.  Alcohol out, dessert in. The body keeps score, even when you think you’re on the right track.

Overall, though, I felt great. It was refreshing.

Now the downside.

I didn’t really want to go out.  At all.

We had dinner out with friends once.  We went to one party.  Otherwise, staying in felt far more appealing than gearing up to go out.  One friend suggested that I download Dumu so he could check in on us.

And yet, social gatherings, interacting with friends, engaging with others, having a laugh, is one of the healthiest things a person can do for themselves. 

Dry January, as a health trend, is a dichotomy.

That was the tradeoff.  Great mornings and boring evenings.

Which is the real lesson I took from Dry January: Heightened awareness from a change in habits. 

It’s easy for me to get into a routine, so much that I don’t notice what else is going on.  Habits are hard to break, but when you do, you raise the level of awareness.  You feel new things and gain new insights. 

Dry January isn’t forever, although for some it’s the beginning of a new sets of habits.  For me, it’s a reset, a resolution I know I can achieve, and a month to get in some great sleep.

Stay in touch 

If you enjoyed this piece, please reach out, I’d love to hear from you.

You can contact me at [email protected] or LinkedIn. 

Stay safe out there!