I love a good cocktail or a glass of wine. But after months of indulging in festive drinks, I’ve decided to do a dry January.
Dry January is a month-long challenge where you abstain from all alcoholic drinks. That means no cocktails. No wine. No beer. Nothing. And while it’s challenging to give up that Friday night glass of wine, it is a great way to detox and reset after a busy holiday season. And as a bonus, you sleep better and may even lose a pound or two.
While dry January only lasts a month, the cravings you feel, especially if you are accustomed to ending the day or week with a drink, are real. Having a strategy to help you stay strong is key for getting through the month without cheating.
Tips for Surviving Dry January
I have a few tips that I rely on to get through dry January. First, make regular, non-alcoholic drinks feel special by pouring them into a wine or champagne glass. I like to do this with my flavored seltzer. It sounds really simple, but if you love to sip on a glass of wine while cooking dinner or when unwinding after a long week, it’s a good substitute. You can even add a garnish like a slice of lemon or a sprig of rosemary to make it feel extra special.
Next, make mocktails! Mocktails are a great way to feel like you are having a drink while staying 100% sober. They have become quite trendy in recent years, and many cocktail recipes now offer both a spirited and non-spirited version. I’m a big fan of Half Baked Harvest and all of her fall and holiday cocktails included a mocktail version as well. You can also look for non-alcoholic spirits for your drinks. I use Seedlip Drinks non-alcoholic spirits for my mocktails. Here’s a recipe if you need some inspiration – Seedlip has a bunch on their website, too.
Apple Cider “Margarita”
1 /2 c. apple cider
1 tbsp. lime juice
1 tbsp. orange juice
2 oz. Seedlip Spice (optional)
Ice
Ginger seltzer for topping
Add apple cider, lime juice, orange juice, and Seedlip Spice and ice to a cocktail shaker or mason jar. Shake until combined. Strain into a glass filled with ice, top with ginger seltzer or ginger beer. Enjoy!
Note: if you do not have Seedlip Spice, I suggest adding a dash of cinnamon to your cocktail shaker.
Timmy even got in the spirit by changing his hashtag to #mocktailswithtimmy!
Finally, have a plan, especially if you are getting together with friends. In fact, if you can enlist a friend or your spouse to join you, even better! There is definitely strength in numbers. And if you are going out and can bring your own drink, I definitely suggest doing so. It’s so much easier to stay strong if you have an option ready to go, like a mocktail, seltzer, or warm mug of tea.
While cocktails and glasses of wine are tempting, especially after a long week, I always feel a great sense of satisfaction at the end of the month when I’ve successfully completed my challenge.
Are you doing dry January? If so, what are your tips?