Every year, millions of people participate in Dry January. A challenge that is not always simple, so to help you, addictologist Stéphanie Ladel gives you her advice.
This is your resolution for the start of the year: not to drink alcohol for a whole month. No wine in restaurants, no beer at aperitif, no cocktails in the evening… The challenge may seem difficult for some, but it is far from insurmountable. First step before even starting this challenge: talk about it to those around you. “We can announce to those around us that we are going to do Dry January, it helps anchor our resolution. We stick to it more when we make our intention public,” advises Stéphanie Ladel, addictologist, founder and president of Cabinet Social . Moreover, trying the experience together – with friends, colleagues or even as a couple – can provide additional motivation.
Once January and its challenge arrive, the key is to “not be under constraint”: “We do it much better without putting pressure on ourselves,” says the addictologist. The reason is simple: when you forbid yourself something, like alcohol, you want it even more. You can last a few hours, or even a few days, but after that it’s a guaranteed “boomerang return”.
On the contrary, you must feel free to drink what you want. Drinking alcohol is often considered a social obligation. The proof: when we don’t drink alcohol during outings with friends or colleagues, we often receive reactions like “but why don’t you drink?” or even “are you pregnant?”. The idea with Dry January is on the contrary to “worry less about convenience, about automatism”, believes Stéphanie Ladel. Many people drink, mechanically and to be like others, a beer or a glass of wine, sometimes even without liking it. Dry January is then an opportunity to order what you really want at the moment, to “discover or rediscover drinks” without alcohol. We must ultimately see this challenge as a “moment of pause where it is socially accepted”, notes the addictologist. So no need to throw away all the alcohol at home or even hibernate for a month: live as usual, but simply by drinking non-alcoholic drinks! Finally, to track your efforts every day but also to help you motivate yourself, you can download the Try Dry appthe official Dry January app.
If, despite all your motivation and this advice, you give in, it’s not a tragedy, it’s part of the experience. “It’s always better to do a little Dry January, or a modified Dry January, than no Dry January at all,” reassures Stéphanie Ladel. On the other hand, if not drinking alcohol for a few days is very complicated, or even if you experience physical symptoms of withdrawal, it is preferable to ask questions about your relationship with alcohol and consult a professional. health. So, are you ready to take on the challenge?