During the last week of December for the past few years, I told myself to participate in “Dry January” – no alcohol for the first month of the year. Around January 6th, I tend to gravitate towards a glass of wine rather than sticking with the resolution I set a week before (I hope I’m not alone in this).

This year was different. January 6th rolled by, and I drank water instead of beer. By January 17th, I had ordered off the “mocktail” menu. On February 1st, I had my first drink in 31 days. A successful Dry January was complete.

The question I pondered prior to committing to a month of sobriety and what my friends asked me when I told them I would be the designated driver for the month – why Dry January, and is it worth it?

Let’s start with the why. First, I saw posts about how much better people felt just a few weeks into Dry January on social media. Cleaner, losing weight, better skin, earlier mornings, etc. On top of that, I saw talks of Dry January participants continuing into the months following because they liked the effects of not drinking so much (Free February, Moderate March, Arid April…).

Beyond the positive impact that Dry January was promised to have, I liked the challenge. I wanted to ensure I had the self control to not drink.

Now, the bigger question: is it worth it? 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news or too much of a realist, but Dry January did not turn my skin glass or make me wake up cheerfully with the sunrise. As someone who sometimes drinks during the week but mostly on the weekends (admittedly a bit too much some weekends), not drinking for one month did not alter the entire trajectory of my health.

In hindsight, it wasn’t fair to change one drastic measure for a finite amount of time and expect so much. Even worse, I don’t think my drinking habits will alter in the coming months. If they do, I struggle to credit Dry January to that lifestyle change.

A more realistic and impactful plan would have been to limit drinking to only on weekends for several months. Rather than no dessert, stopping at one cookie instead of four. Reframing three hours in the gym for one day to an outdoor walk every day during lunch. 

If you’re looking to challenge yourself and ensure you’re capable of not drinking for a month, by all means, proceed. Being mindful about the amount and frequency of drinking is something that I will take away from this endeavor. Being able to say “no” when friends and family were drinking and telling me that it was fine to have a glass may have been the most difficult part of the month.

More than anything else, this challenge taught me to celebrate the smaller wins and keep expectations level with the venture. Unrealistic expectations take away from progress. Setting a rigid timeline and goal leaves space for one slip-up making the entire month feel like a waste. So, who cares that Dry January didn’t go as planned? Semi-sober summer is just around the corner. 

Let me de-influence you from Dry January. You do not have to wait until the New Year to take on a new wellness challenge. A goal with realistic expectations and the potential to create new lifestyle changes will be far more rewarding.