Finding Joy in Dry January: My Journey

Have you noticed that you can't handle alcohol quite like you used to? Does it affect your sleep and mood in ways it never used to? Well, you're not alone. According to Dr. Mary Claire Haver, author of The New Menopause, alcohol tolerance tends to decrease as our hormone levels drop.

Earlier this year, I participated in Dry January. Here's how it went:

Week 1: The first week wasn't too difficult. I felt good about my decision and had the willpower to stick with non-alcoholic beverages when dining out.

Week 2: This week was more challenging. My husband and I went to an all-inclusive beach resort, where limitless alcohol was a big draw for many guests. On our first night, we sat near a table of extremely drunk people who were unashamedly loud, and I knew their heads would be hurting the next day. Although I didn't miss drinking at dinner (partly because I knew how badly it disrupts my sleep by waking me at 3 a.m.) I found it harder not to have a cocktail while sitting by the pool during the day. I replaced cocktails with Coke, which wasn't ideal but helped take the edge off. After a few days, I noticed I was having just as much fun without alcohol. I felt more awake, alive, calm and happy than I would have otherwise. Flying home after our holiday, I was grateful I stuck to my goal and felt I had an even better time because of it.

Weeks 3 & 4: Back home, I gained momentum. Knowing I was halfway through my 30-day challenge, I found it easier to ignore the voice in my head that said, "You won't relax or have fun without that glass of wine," because I knew it wasn't true. I was sleeping better and feeling calmer, and I wanted to maintain that feeling.

I continued to avoid alcohol for the entire 30 days and found it so manageable that I decided to extend it. I managed not to drink for seven weeks in total. Although I could have continued, I decided to start drinking again with some limitations. My new goal was to enjoy one delicious glass of wine a week, and I've mostly stuck to that goal for the past few months.

If you're considering a break from alcohol, I highly recommend it. There is plenty of information available about the health benefits of drinking less. More immediately, it helps you sleep better and feel calmer. So why not give it a try?

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