Dry January

Why did I want to go an entire month without a glass of wine? I don’t drink a lot, but I enjoy a glass of wine in the evening and casually drinking socially. I realized that drinking doesn’t always make me feel good and I wanted to see the if eliminated alcohol for a month would make a difference in my mind and body.

Every year I hear people talking about how they aren’t going to drink for the entire month of January. I always wondered why. But as 2019 came to a close, I decided it was my turn. I have been focusing on my health for quite some time and this was another step to feeling my best.

I struggle with anxiety. Sometimes at the end of a stressful day, a glass of wine can sound really good. People often say “you’ve had a bad day, have a drink”. They give you permission. Actually, they give you a solution to your bad day.

This always felt weird to me. No one says, “you’ve had a bad day, go eat an entire pizza” or “you’ve had a bad day, go do some drugs”. Is self-medicating actually a way to combat the stresses of the day? Are we masking the feelings of the day and coping in a way that actually makes us feel worse?

My husband doesn’t drink at all. Never has. It’s a personal choice of his. He has no problem with me drinking, but he was incredibly supportive when I told him I wasn’t going to drink this month. He helped me through the moments that I considered having a glass of wine.

As February begins, I feel incredibly proud of myself. January was a month of productivity, clarity, and coping without alcohol. Weekends were challenging, but I was able to be more present with my friends and family. I didn’t wake up with a hangover or increased anxiety from the after effects of self-medicating. My physical and emotional wellness both improved.

I enjoyed activities without drinking…an escape room with friends, a night out to hear a band performing at a local brewery, putting together a puzzle with my mom, and date nights with my husband. Did I miss alcohol? A little. But I’ve realized that I can choose to work through the emotions of a stressful day in so many ways. Moving forward, I’m going to continue to focus on this experience and embrace the feeling of clarity I’ve had this month.