Home LivingWellnessDry January: what happens to your body when you give up alcoholOur top tips for cutting out alcohol for Dry January & how it affects your bodyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessDry January: what happens to your body when you give up alcoholOur top tips for cutting out alcohol for Dry January & how it affects your bodyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Our top tips for cutting out alcohol for Dry January & how it affects your body
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Cottonbro Studio / Pexels)
(Image credit: Cottonbro Studio / Pexels)
The first month of the year is often the hardest following the festive season, mainly due to lack of money after Christmas and overindulging on rich foods and drinks. So, it’s unsurprising that year on year, January is full of health habits and trends, like Dry January.
If you’re thinking of trying Dry January this year (join the club, as I’m doing it too!), here’s exactly what happens to your body when you give up alcohol and a few tips and tricks that can help you conquer the next month alcohol-free.
P.S. If you’re having a meat-free month, check out our6 tips for a successful Veganuary.
What happens to your body when you cut out alcohol for a month
Cutting out alcohol completely or just being more sensible with how much you drink can have an amazing impact on your mind and body. While there are many long-term benefits to giving up alcohol, it can be difficult to cut it out completely, especially if you drank a lot over Christmas or you drink fairly regularly.
If you’re doing Dry January and finding the first week particularly difficult, this is likely because it can take longer than you might think to feel its full effects. According toThe Drinks Business, your body goes through withdrawal from alcohol dependency, so you may experience symptoms like dehydration, disrupted sleep, nausea, anxiety and sweating in the first few days alcohol-free. When you have your first drink back, you’ll also have less tolerance to alcohol, so you might feel its effects quicker than before you cut it out.
(Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels)
(Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels)
Having said this, Dry January has many positives that you’ll experience when you cut out alcohol.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Better heart & brain health
First, your general health will improve, especially your vital organs like the heart and brain. When you abstain from alcohol, your heart gets healthier and you decrease the risk of certain illnesses, like cardiovascular disease. Your brain also benefits from no alcohol as you’ll find you can concentrate more, have a better memory and your motor skills are less impaired. Other health benefits of cutting alcohol is your blood pressure gets lower and you’re less likely to get sick.
Heals the liver
The liver is what really gets a good kicking if you’re drinking a lot or recently had a big night out. The liver filters toxins (which alcohol is full of) and if you’re drinking excessively, this takes a toll on the liver and sometimes leads to problems like cirrhosis. However, the liver is fairly tolerant and can repair itself so having a month off allows your liver to fully heal.
Improved sleep
Unsurprisingly, alcohol can cause sleep problems. While a glass of wine might make you feel sleepy, it can actually disrupt your REM sleep, causing you to wake up repeatedly through the night. It has a dramatic effect on your sleep quality and quantity, andin some cases can interfere with breathing. So, you might find that during Dry January, you’re getting better sleep.
Lose weight
Dry January often goes hand in hand with a fitness challenge, becausecutting alcohol can help you lose weight. Depending on your drink of choice, there’s a high amount of calories and sugar in wine, beer and cocktails. Alcohol also tends to make you feel hungrier, so if you cut out alcohol for a period of time, you might start to see weight loss, reduced stomach fat and less fast food consumption.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
4 tips for a successful Dry January
Now you know the benefits, here are 4 tips on how to make Dry January a success.
Avoid temptation
Create a support group
To keep you on track and accountable, tell your friends and family that you’re doing Dry January. This is a great way to get extra support and motivation to stick with it until the end of January. If you know someone who’s also doing Dry January, you can help each other stay on track as you’re both going through the same thing.
Find alcohol-free alternatives
If you miss the taste of alcohol or are at a social occasion where it would be the norm for you to have a drink, find an alcohol-free alternative that you enjoy. You can choose juice or fizzy drinks but there are some tasty alcohol-free beverages that are sold in supermarkets and are available in most pubs and restaurants. Check out these3 non-alcoholic drinks for good taste & a clear head.
Track your progress & reward yourself
If you ever needed proof that cassette players are back, this is itWe Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean
We Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean
PS5 could finally be getting Gears of War and Halo after game-changing decisionThe age of exclusives is coming to an end
The age of exclusives is coming to an end
Hatch’s latest sunrise alarm clock finally has a phone-free design – and I’m obsessedHatch launches the Restore 3 wake-up light and it could drastically improve your mornings
Hatch launches the Restore 3 wake-up light and it could drastically improve your mornings
Withings’ smart mirror combines a smartwatch and scales into a full-length health scannerWithings debuts new conceptual smart health mirror at CES 2025
Withings debuts new conceptual smart health mirror at CES 2025
6 gadgets to get you through Dry JanuaryWith Christmas and New Year out of the way, we take a look at some of the best gadgets to use for Dry January
With Christmas and New Year out of the way, we take a look at some of the best gadgets to use for Dry January
This pillow flip sleep hack can help you beat Christmas insomnia – and it takes secondsIf you love the cold side of the pillow, you’ll love this quick sleep hack
If you love the cold side of the pillow, you’ll love this quick sleep hack
Therabody SleepMask review: soothing vibrations that send you to sleepTherabody’s new SleepMask promises a good night’s sleep – but does it work?
Therabody’s new SleepMask promises a good night’s sleep – but does it work?
I spent 24 hours with the new Loop Switch 2 earplugs – here’s my honest takeFrom fun to focus to calm…I tried them in every scenario
From fun to focus to calm…I tried them in every scenario
FoodMarble unveils breath analysis programme to enhance digestive healthIt follows a series of successful product launches
It follows a series of successful product launches
Ozlo Sleepbuds review: exciting work in progress sleep earbudsHave the brains behind Bose perfected sleep headphones?
Have the brains behind Bose perfected sleep headphones?
