Health

Here’s Why You’re Seeing So Many People Doing ‘Dry January’

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Ditching alcohol for the first month of the year, known as “Dry January,” could help you achieve multiple New Year’s resolutions at once, without ever stepping foot in a gym or eating a salad. Here are five reasons to give it a try:

Your Doctor Will Thank You

Research shows cutting out alcohol, even for just 31 days, can make a measurable difference in your health. In one study, regular drinkers who gave up alcohol for one month lowered their cholesterol and blood pressure. In another, more than half of Dry January participants said they lost weight or had clearer skin.

Benefits For Your Brain

The CDC warns that unrestricted alcohol use can lead to learning and memory problems like dementia, as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Research from the University of Sussex showed that 93% of Dry January devotees felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of the month. Meanwhile, 80% said they felt more in control of their drinking, 71% said they no longer felt they needed to drink in order to enjoy themselves, and 57% reported having better concentration.

Better Sleep

Data shows you can feel the positive impacts of sobriety even when you’re not awake. After one month without alcohol, 71% of people experienced improved sleep patterns and quality, while 67% said they had more energy.

You Might Keep Going

Take it from those who have successfully completed Dry January: More than two-thirds of participants reported maintaining their healthier habits even after the month was over, nearly 93% said they would recommend the challenge to others and 68% said they intended to do it again.

Boost Your Budget

Maybe not as scientific, but the numbers don’t lie. One survey showed 88% of people who participated in Dry January saved money during the process. In another survey “savings” was the most reported benefit outside of improved health and well-being.

How To Get Involved

The Dry January challenge asks participants to avoid beer, wine or spirits for the entirety of the first month of the year. What began as a public health initiative from British charity Alcohol Change UK has now become one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, with more than one third of people in the U.S. taking part (and nearly 400 million views on TikTok.)

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