New Year’s Eve is pretty much here – and I think it’s safe to say that many of us are excited to say goodbye to the dumpster fire that was 2020. New Year’s Eve is always such a magical night as it’s almost like a reset, a chance to start fresh and do better on whatever goal we may have in mind.
2020 has been the year of a global pandemic that has seen many of us staying at home. For some, the stress of being stuck at home in the face of so much uncertainty has resulted in drinking a little more than normal. In fact, one in four people who drink alcohol are feeling the need to reset and reevaluate certain patterns in 2021. With the start of Dry January right around the corner, what better time to go booze-free?
If you’re looking for some tips to help you cut back or cut out your alcohol consumption, check out the list below:
1. Toss it
If you have a plan to do Dry January, then the best thing to do is to start with getting rid of the booze in your home. The easiest way of ridding your home of alcohol is to just throw it out. But, if you don’t want to be wasteful you can always regift any unopened bottles or put your leftovers somewhere they can easily be forgotten about like the garage or attic.
2. Make a plan for situations where alcohol is present
It’s easy not to drink when you’re sitting at home, alone, in a booze-free house. But what happens when the pandemic eases up and we’re allowed to return to socialization? What will you do when faced with the boozy temptation at someone’s party or a night out at a bar? While it’s true that throughout the month of January, it’s likely we won’t be able to socialize much because of COVID-19, it’s good to plan for these situations just in case. After all, we can’t hide in our homes forever once COVID is over, so having a plan in place will help you avoid temptation when you’re faced with it.
3. Treat yourself
You will find that not drinking comes with many perks. Besides not feeling rotten the following day, you actually save plenty of money. With that in mind, don’t feel bad if you have an inclination to treat yourself. Giving up alcohol and making the decision to live a healthier lifestyle is a very admirable choice, so you should feel proud of yourself. Therefore, instead of having a glass of wine or a pint of beer like you normally would, you can indulge in something else that brings you joy, like reading a book over a fancy coffee in your favorite coffee shop or talking a walk on the beach. Simply enjoying a nice meal or a bar of chocolate can be a nice treat for yourself too.
4. Gather support
While you can certainly try going it alone, Dry January will go a lot smoother if you have a support system behind you. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends and family about your choice to do Dry January – you might end up with a companion or two who wants to join you, which would be great for keeping one another motivated and on track. Plus, letting your friends and family know you’re doing Dry January makes it easier for them to support you in terms of not offering you alcohol or scheduling activities that don’t involve booze.
5. Find alternative fun stuff to do
There isn’t much that can be done in the dead of winter and during a global pandemic. But, that doesn’t mean that the temptation to drink isn’t there when you’re bored. Instead, try taking up a new hobby or activity that you’ve always wanted to try. Or, spend time getting back to activities that you enjoyed before. Keep yourself occupied so you don’t have the desire to get smashed on a Friday night at home. And when you can leave your house, don’t head straight for the bar. While it’s pretty common for us to socialize over food and drinks somewhere, try changing it up. Go do a new activity with your friends that doesn’t involve booze – it’ll be a win-win situation as you’ll stick to your goal and your friends will get to do something new and fun.
What tips do you have? Let us know!