dry january: my experience so far
My thoughts on “dry January”, you may ask? Well, this is the first year I’ve made it this far into an alcohol-free month. I don’t know if I should feel proud or ashamed that 18 days is the longest I’ve gone without a sip of booze in years. You be the judge. This year, I decided to try out this whole “dry January” thing without putting too much pressure on myself. AKA if I want a glass of wine, I’m not going to stop myself. I’m not a believer in holding myself back from the little things that bring me joy, and wine happens to do that job quite well sometimes, okay? Okay!
This month, I’ve been laying pretty low, so participating in dry Jan has been relatively easy and actually pretty damn enjoyable. Who knows if I’ll make it until the end of the month, but I’m happy that I’ve made it this far. I decided to make a list of some of the changes I’ve noticed over the last three(ish) weeks.
My sleep schedule is better than ever. I’ve become a master sleeper and have been going to bed and waking up around the same time every day. I feel SO energized.
My skin has never been so clear. I’ve been swapping out alcoholic drinks for sparkling water, kombucha, fresh juices, etc. and wow. Game changer for my skin. The glow is real!
Decrease in caffeine intake. I haven’t felt the need to drink nearly as much coffee as I typically do. I’m telling you, getting tons of sleep and drinking plenty of water has been life changing.
I’m listening to my body now more than ever. I’ve learned that it’s okay to slow it down when it comes to my fitness routine. Lots of pilates and yoga these days. Pro tip: stretch every day. Your body will thank you, I promise!
My overall mood has improved. As a person who struggles with anxiety and seasonal depression, I can tell you that taking alcohol out of the equation has been a game changer. I’m not saying that all 18 days have been perfect by ANY means, but I’ve felt much more in tune with myself. January is a month that I usually struggle to get through but this year feels different (like, good different).
Like I said, I’m not going to put pressure on myself to get through the rest of January without a sip of alcohol. That’s not how I want to live my life. What this period of time has given me, though, is clarity. It has given me the ability to visualize what I want for myself in the next year, which is so exciting.
My program with IIN officially starts tomorrow! Stay tuned.
xx
