What I Learned During Dry January
I love a fresh start. The genesis of a new year brings such hope, don’t you think? And a new decade—forget about it. I have big, audacious goals for myself for 2020. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that amazing things can’t happen without a clear mind and open heart.
So first things first. A dry-out. A clear-out. A reboot. Enter Dry January. What was I expecting? I was ready to find my third eye, achieve clarity of mind, body and soul… basically discover an entirely new me. And while those things didn’t exactly happen in 31 days, I’ve realized it’s an amazing start to the worthwhile journey of unlocking my best self.
This was the first time I went toe-to-toe with Dry January. I’m glad I did. And though I had moments of weakness, I stuck with it. Here are my 5 key takeaways that this sacred time taught me.
#1. It was really difficult.
As is anything that makes us grow, Dry January was tough. As a working Mom, it’s natural to come home and just want a little break. Alcohol was that break for me. You know, just to take the edge off. Mom deserves a breather, right? On one hand, it’s not that big of a deal. On the other hand, feeling like I needed a number from my everyday life was a little unsettling.
#2. If something is difficult, it is worth tackling and asking why.
On Jan. 5, I almost caved. 5 days in. How could it be this hard?
We’re such creatures of habit. At least I am. But I think pattern interruption is a really healthy thing. Dry January taught me a lot about myself and how to handle stress differently. I found new places to breathe peace and patience into my day.
In reflection, I think drinking for me is really just an end-of-day, autopilot escape. But if we’re drinking to mute a deeper pain in our lives, we owe it to ourselves to go there, feel the raw pain and ask ourselves why. If we’re seeking clarity and growth in our lives, we have to ask ourselves the hard questions. And the follow-up has to then be, “How do I show myself more love? What are some healthier ways to heal without relying on a crutch?”
Dry January taught me that alcohol can be a nice-to-have, but not a need-to-have in my life. And it also reminded me that I.CAN.DO.HARD.THINGS.
#3. I was really, really thirsty.
Like, lost-in-the-desert thirsty. Anybody else experience this? Plus I don’t really like water, and I realized that coffee and Prosecco were my two primary forms of hydration. With Dry January, I had to find other beverages to enjoy. Here are some of my faves:
LaCroix - Coconut and Passionfruit
Perrier - Grapefruit and Watermelon
Tea - Tazo Hot Passion
I kept a full supply on hand. I’m surprised there was not a national shortage after I was done stocking my work and home fridge.
If you’re going dry on alcohol, stock up on everything else!
#4. My skin looked way better!
I couldn’t believe that I could already tell a difference in my skin’s appearance in just a couple weeks. We’re talking serious pore shrinkage, people! And I noticed right away that my skin felt smoother and less puffy in the places that I consider to be puffy (it’s all relative, right?) I know that our skin craves hydration and alcohol takes away the same, but I could never have imagined how direct the equation is. No Alcohol = Clear, Hydrated Skin. That’s a beautiful thing.
#5. Moderation is key, baby.
Dry January taught me that I love having a clear mind, and taking the time to reboot is totally worth it. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of something every now and then. I am learning to give myself some grace. It’s all about moderation. For me, maybe that’s going to mean that I only (read, generally) drink on the weekend. Or I try to steer clear of consecutive nights of indulging. Whatever that looks like for me, it’s okay because I know that every day my eyes pop open, I’m a little wiser and more in charge of my destiny than the day before. I’ve got this.