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How Giving Up Alcohol for a Month Can Change Your Life

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During the year-end and New Year’s season, with frequent drinking, if you feel like your stomach is suffering from excessive alcohol intake, it’s a good idea to avoid alcohol for a while. Here’s a campaign that can help: the “Dry January” campaign, where you refrain from drinking alcohol for the entire first month of the year.

Image for article context. / Kmpzzz-shutterstock.com
Image for article context. / Kmpzzz-shutterstock.com

Dry January, the brainchild of the UK nonprofit Alcohol Change UK, began in 2013. Since then, it has become a global phenomenon, encouraging millions to stop drinking for the first month of the year. The term has been officially trademarked and recognized worldwide since 2014.

Experts say Dry January is particularly effective for those who overindulge during the year-end and New Year holidays. Excessive drinking is defined as consuming more than 5 drinks for men and more than 4 drinks for women in one sitting. Such drinking patterns can negatively affect health.

Here’s what you can expect when you go dry:

1. Increased energy levels

Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system. By quitting alcohol, you can notice a significant improvement in your energy levels. Although you might feel tired in the first few days due to withdrawal symptoms, your clarity and vitality will return over time.

2. Improved heart health

Alcohol temporarily raises blood pressure and heart rate, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Abstaining from alcohol for a month can significantly improve cardiovascular health.

3. Liver recovery

Excessive drinking can cause inflammation in the liver, but taking a month off from alcohol can help alleviate this inflammation. While complete recovery may not be possible if there is severe liver damage, some improvement can be expected.

4. Clearer skin

Alcohol promotes diuresis, causing the body to lose moisture. When you quit drinking, your skin can become smoother and clearer, and swelling and redness may decrease.

5. Reduced calorie intake

Alcohol is high in calories. For example, three beers contain the same amount of calories as a full meal. Therefore, abstaining from alcohol for a month can lead to weight loss.

6. Better understanding of drinking habits

After a month of sobriety, you can objectively reflect on your drinking habits. If you feel strong cravings or a continuous urge to drink, you may want to consider the possibility of alcohol dependency.

So, how do you make it through 31 days without drinking? Here’s the game plan:

First, get crystal clear on your “why.” Don’t just focus on not drinking for a month; set specific goals for what you want to achieve through abstinence. Taking a before-and-after photo can serve as good motivation.

Also, inform your friends and family about your alcohol-free plan and try to find someone to join you. Success rates tend to be higher when you do it with others.

In the early stages of abstinence, withdrawal symptoms such as abdominal pain, anxiety, headaches, nausea, and sweating may appear. If you drank every day, the withdrawal symptoms could be more severe, so it’s advisable to consult a professional if necessary.

It’s best to avoid places or situations where you would typically drink. If possible, avoid bars, parties, or gatherings where drinking is likely to happen.

Instead, why not use all that free time to pick up a new hobby? Reading, exercising, doing puzzles, or resuming activities you used to enjoy can be great alternatives.

If you start drinking again after completing a month of sobriety, do so slowly at first. Your alcohol tolerance may have decreased during the abstinence period.

Remember, your body’s not used to alcohol anymore. Diving back in headfirst could be a recipe for disaster, so ease yourself back in gently.

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