What is Dry January and how can it help you?

After the excesses of the holidays, millions of people are participating in Dry January—an initiative that originated in the United Kingdom. It involves abstaining from alcohol for the entire month. This practice isn’t about inducing guilt for consuming alcohol moderately; rather, it’s an opportunity for a reset. It allows people to understand their dependency on alcohol and the impact it has on their lives. Affect’s free sober app is a perfect partner for Dry January.

The health benefits of abstaining from alcohol for a month are notable. Improved sleep patterns, mental clarity, elevated mood, increased energy levels, and potential enhancements in skin health are some of the reported positive outcomes. The body undergoes a detoxification process during this period, showing gradual improvements week by week.

Older adults with heavier, long-term drinking face numerous health issues including heart and liver damage, increased cancer risk, weakened immune systems, memory issues, and mood changes.

However, this pause might reveal deeper insights. If stopping drinking becomes challenging or reveals an unexpected reliance on alcohol for coping mechanisms, it may require seeking professional assistance. An addiction counselor provides invaluable support, guiding individuals through the complexities and assisting in initiating positive changes.

Starting to change can be difficult, but the rewards are profound. With professional guidance, it’s possible to transform habits and lifestyles positively.

We can help. Our innovative app-based program delivers comprehensive support, eliminating the need for going to a rehab center in person. The accessible platform connects individuals with dedicated professionals, creating a private and supportive environment tailored to individual needs.

Tips for a successful Dry January

Our app is a great tool for helping you get through a month without drinking. And if you find it’s difficult to stick with it, help is just a click away. These tips can give you a good start for a successful Dry January reset:

• Set goals and track your progress: Affect’s app has a free sober tracker that helps you set goals, monitor your progress, and reflect. Take it one day at a time. There’s a whole month of challenges to develop healthy new habits and explore your relationship to alcohol.
• Find a substitute non-alcoholic drink. For social situations, or when you crave a cocktail after a long day, try alcohol-free beverages like sparkling water, soda, or mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails.) There are a lot of new non-alcoholic spirits and beers that are availble. You can also try beverages that have mushrooms, kava, ashwaganda, and other herbs known to help with relaxation and lift moods.
• Avoid temptations. Keep alcohol out of your home, stay out of bars if you feel compelled to drink. When you are invited to someone’s home, bring your non-alcoholic drinks with you.
• Do it with friends. Let friends and family know about your intentions and encourage them to support you. Better yet, get someone to do the challenge with you. You may want to take a break from your drinking buddies so you don’t feel pressured to join in.
• Don’t give up. If you slip up, don’t feel guilty. Just begin again the next day. This is one of the methods we use in our program, called harm reduction. It’s more about fewer days drinking than about lengths or streaks of sobriety. The less you drink, the less harm you’re doing to yourself and people around you.

Whether Dry January marks an exploratory phase or the beginning of a more extensive transformation, remember: empowerment lies within you. Your journey towards change is supported by a network of resources and individuals ready to facilitate your growth.

Using a free sobriety app like Affect’s can help you with all of these and make it easier to get sober for Dry January.

How Affect Therapeutics Can Help You Have a Successful Dry January

Whether you’re trying Dry January for the first time or looking to deepen your commitment to an alcohol-free or dampish lifestyle, Affect Therapeutics offers an incredible set of tools to support you. 

They’re built by experts in substance use treatment and neuroscience who built a program that gets results in the top 1% of all providers. Getting those kinds of power tools can really help someone fly right through a month. 

Affect Therapeutics is your partner for a successful Dry January and beyond. Our free sober tracker app has tools to help you with all the tips for success we’ve shared here. 

• Track Your Progress: Set goals for every day of the month using the free sober tracker. Monitor your alcohol-free days and celebrate achievements.
• Engage With Tools and Challenges: Learn about your habits and discover healthier coping mechanisms by doing a challenge every day of the month.
• Stay Motivated Through Rewards: Affect’s app is built with gamification techniques rooted in neuroscience to keep you on track.

The best thing about using Affect’s app for Dry January isn’t just that it’s free and there are no subscription fees or trial periods like other popular sober apps, it’s that there is a whole treatment program ready and waiting for the people who find out they need more help. 

If you notice you’re feeling depressed and experiencing the symptoms of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome instead of feeling better, or if you are setting goals and struggling to reach them, we’re here to talk. You don’t have to go to a rehab clinic or doctor to get the help you need. 

Clinical studies show that Affect Therapeutics users cut their drinking in half within one month. Our full online alcohol outpatient treatment program—covered by insurance—provides therapy, group support, and expert guidance will help you achieve lasting change.

Download Affect for a Great Dry January

Dry January is a powerful way to reset your relationship with alcohol. Affect’s sober app is the perfect partner for your alcohol-free month. Let’s make this January the start of a healthier, happier you.