A month of sobriety is always beneficial
A month of sobriety is a beneficial exercise that significantly helps improve your physical and mental health, removes any chance of driving while impaired, and even enables you to re-evaluate your drinking habits.
For many, drinking during the holiday season is commonplace. Social drinking is widely accepted and often seen as a way to lighten the mood and bring people together. Yet, alcohol is often used as a means of managing all of this. Even social drinkers can find themselves drinking more than usual. Fortunately, there are practical ways you can stay alcohol-free for a month.
Initially, the health benefits are significant. You will find yourself sleeping better, having more energy, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and more money. You’ll notice you may lose weight, have clearer skin, and feel less depressed, anxious, and stressed. Overall, your mental and physical well-being will significantly improve.
Moreover, it helps you re-evaluate your drinking habits if you feel they got out of hand over the holidays. Consider asking yourself if alcohol is used as a tool to cope with stressful situations. Do you find yourself feeling stressed without alcohol, or have your drinking habits impacted your relationships or your professional life? If the answer is yes, consider a month of not drinking alcohol.
Finally, and most importantly, there is a societal benefit. You are removing any chance of driving while impaired. Abstaining from alcohol is the backbone of effective drunk driving prevention.
Alcohol is a factor in about 39% of fatal crashes annually in North Dakota. Yet, there has been a decreasing trend between 2017 and 2021 because of effective prevention campaigns. In 2021, 32% of motor vehicle fatalities in North Dakota were alcohol-related.
If you are unsure where to begin and how to have success, consider some of the following pointers to help you out.
Create a supporting environment where you know you will succeed. Thoroughly purge all the booze around you; either dump it, hide it, or give it away. Moreover, find a suitable non-alcoholic drink for social situations.
Recruit a friend or family member to participate and help avoid temptations. Not only will you support one another, but you can also plan activities that do not involve alcohol, and you can speak about the successes and challenges of abstaining from alcohol.
Stay busy and active and take this time to focus on your mental and physical well-being; take advantage of having more energy and sleeping better. Utilize Dry January or sobriety apps that will help you track your progress and find practical ways to hold yourself accountable.
During the month, you will begin to lose alcohol cravings, and you may realize alcohol does not need to take up such ample space in your life. If the benefits make you feel great physically and mentally, consider continuing for another 30 days. Embrace your new attitude to alcohol use.
Nickolaus Hayes is a healthcare professional in the field of substance use and addiction recovery and is part of the editorial team at DRS. His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance use.