Dry January has grown from a niche wellness experiment into a mainstream annual habit. For many people it acts as a reset after December. For others it’s simply a structured reason to take a break. Whatever your motivation, the benefits of Dry January reach further than you might expect. Smoother mornings, clearer thinking, and a decent taster of how much money you could save if you cut down on alcohol for longer than for just Jan.
Read on to learn about the key benefits, and work out how much you can save with our quick calculation.
What are the main advantages of Dry January?
A month off alcohol brings a mix of physical, emotional, and financial perks. Here are the most common advantages of Dry January.
Better sleep
According to the Sleep Foundation, even small amounts of alcohol can lower sleep quality by 9.3% and moderate amounts reduce it by 24%. So quitting for a month is pretty much guaranteed to result in more peaceful, restorative sleep.
No more hangxiety
As alcohol is a depressant, when the positive effects wear off, you can be left with feelings of anxiety and even shame – a phenomenon now known as hangxiety. Ditching the drink means ditching the productivity and happiness-hindering hangovers.
Better mental health
As well as feeling better the day directly after drinking, you might notice better mental clarity and a greater feeling of wellbeing through the month. Drinking alcohol interferes with chemicals in the brain that help promote good mental health – worsening or even creating feelings of depression and anxiety over time.
You could lose weight
Those who are overweight and regularly drink alcohol might find that they start to lose weight when they stop drinking due to consuming less calories. The health benefits of losing weight (when you’re overweight) are far reaching – from lowered risks of certain diseases to increased energy levels and mobility.
Healthier skin
Alcohol dehydrates you (hence the ungodly phenomenon of waking up with the driest mouth known to man after a few too many). When you stop drinking alcohol, hydration improves, inflammation drops, and your skin and eyes tend to look brighter. Who doesn’t want that?
Healthier wallet
Alcohol doesn’t come cheap. Drinking less means spending less – see how much you could save below.
