Dry January – Done!

Read about my Dry January 2020 here. Side note, I find it annoying to keep reading/typing “Dry January” so henceforth it is abbreviated to DJ. Week 1 Recap can be found here, week 2 here, and week 3 here!

Alright! So January is one of those months with 31 days, and to be honest, I’m glad it’s done lol. The final stretch/week has been peppered with little things here and there that make me want to have a nice glass of white wine or a beer. It’s been worth doing – but not necessarily without temptation.

Looking back, this month felt like it honestly went by quite quickly, and with only the occasional feelings of really HARD temptation, it was truly not that bad. I WILL admit though, that with COVID restrictions and less ability for anyone to go out, have dinner with friends, mingle, etc…that could account for the (relative) ease in which this challenge presented, in comparison to last year.

Taking into account all the factors, I think my biggest take away from this month of sobriety would be the ability to listen to my body. I was actually able to discern when I was tired, when my body felt depleted, and when I was feeling extra alert/energized. Getting up/waking up in the mornings felt so much easier and being able to listen to the cues from myself internally helped a lot with minding my nutrition and knowing my limits during my various workouts.
As well as understanding my body, I could also notice a shift in my ability to recognize, and subsequently FEEL my emotions. Not always a lovely thing, to be honest, but necessary and I did appreciate the clarity that came with my emotional swings (because there were def a couple days where I was just all up in my head and heart). It felt tough, but at the same time it was good to really have to sit in those feelings and not numb them with alcohol, as I have in the past.

I really feel like DJ was a great way to kick off my new year, and supported me in many other facets of my life/goals – so I am glad to have done it. If you haven’t tried it, I recommend giving it a go, even if just for a few weeks. I think a little “detox” routinely can do a world of good, and of course I still want to drink alcohol, but I really feel like this month has helped me get a handle on moderation. Let’s see how the rest of the year goes!

**If you suffer from any sort of addiction, or just feel like you want to take better control of your interactions with any substance or experience, please contact your medical practitioner, clergy or any other trusted source. I, nor my blog, are advocates for or against the use of drugs, alcohol or any other behavior.

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