Whether you began in January or are starting later in the month or February, it’s never too late to give yourself a month of abstaining from alcohol. It’s a great way to kick start the year and give yourself mental and physical clarity.

For many, holiday drinking is commonplace, and it can get out of hand. Even social and casual drinkers may find themselves drinking more than usual during the festive season. There are significant health benefits with a month of sobriety. There are also social benefits, and it helps you re-evaluate your drinking habits.

Fortunately, there are practical tips that you can use to help you achieve success and reap the benefits of a month of sobriety.

Initially, the health benefits are significant. You will find yourself sleeping better, having more energy, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and more money. You’ll notice you may lose weight, have clearer skin, and feel less depressed, anxious, and stressed. Overall, your mental and physical well-being will significantly improve.

Moreover, it helps you re-evaluate your drinking habits if you feel it got out of hand over the holidays. Consider asking yourself if alcohol is used as a tool to cope with stressful situations. Do you find yourself feeling stressed without alcohol, or have your drinking habits impacted your relationships or your professional life? If the answer is yes, consider a month of not drinking alcohol.

Finally, and most importantly, removing any chance of driving while impaired is a substantial social benefit. Abstaining from alcohol is the backbone of effective drunk driving prevention. In Illinois, most DUI arrests occur among 25 to 34-year-olds. In 2022, 292 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, approximately 23% of the 1,268 crash fatalities and 86% of all drivers arrested for DUI are first offenders.

It can seem challenging to know where to start this process, but there are practical tips that can help you along the way.

Create a supporting environment where you know you will succeed. Thoroughly purge all the booze around you; either dump it, hide it, or give it away. Moreover, find a suitable non-alcoholic drink for social situations.

Recruit a friend or family member to participate and help avoid temptations. Not only will you support one another, but you can also plan activities that do not involve alcohol, and you can speak about the successes and challenges of abstaining from alcohol.

Stay busy and active and take this time to focus on your mental and physical well-being; take advantage of having more energy and sleeping better. Utilize Dry January or sobriety apps that will help you track your progress and find practical ways to hold yourself accountable.

Nickolaus Hayes is a healthcare professional in the field of substance use and addiction recovery and is part of the editorial team at DRS. His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance use.