6 Ways to Embrace Dry January With BEAU VIVA

As we ring in the New Year, we’re looking toward the future. We’re looking for ways to better ourselves and improve our quality of life, which is why it’s no surprise that more and more people are embracing Dry January.

These Dry January tips will help you get through the month and perhaps help you make an even longer-lasting change. 

6 Tips for Dry January

Write down why you’re doing it.

We all know how January tends to go for most people: You start by making a resolution. You tell yourself about all these major changes you’re going to make with the mantra of “New Year, new you.”

Then, by about Week Two of January, you start to realize that all of these big changes you planned on piling up one thing after another were too much and not sustainable. Inevitably, that resolution goes by the wayside because it just doesn’t feel possible.

However, Dry January isn’t really a resolution. It’s a temporary change that lets you try out a new lifestyle. Rather than saying, “I’m going to make all these big changes forever and become a totally new me,” think of it instead as, “I’m going to try out something for one month to see how my body and mind feel. For one month, I’m going to give it my all.”

Still, even one month may feel a little long, which can make your resolve start to waver. When you begin Dry January, write down three reasons you’re doing it. 

Maybe it ties into a weight loss goal, since drinking alcohol tends to come with excess calories. Maybe it’s other benefits, like reducing your cancer risk and being more present with the ones you love. Or maybe it’s simply a test of your willpower, asking yourself to complete a challenging task for the sake of your growth and health.

No matter what your goals are, make sure to leave them in a place where you’ll see them often.

Make small adjustments, not huge changes.

One of the biggest reasons why people don’t stick to their New Year’s resolution is that they try to make too many changes all at once. That whole “New Year, new you” thing just isn’t reality. We can’t magically will ourselves to become new people when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Day.

That’s okay, though, because growth shouldn’t be about trying to change yourself. It should be about trying to better the person you already are, which requires you to be patient and understanding with yourself. Throwing a million resolutions on your back isn’t being patient, though. It’s giving yourself a lot of stress and setting yourself up for disappointment.

Instead of setting a lot of goals for January, make Dry January your sole goal. Doing so allows you to focus on one goal instead of trying to juggle too much. It also helps you to make minor, manageable changes that help you reach one goal, rather than trying to change everything about your life overnight.

Remember, Dry January may be your goal, but it’s also not the end-all-be-all. Even if you end up partaking in alcohol occasionally, don’t beat yourself up. 

Remind yourself of your goals, ask yourself why the slip-up happened, and make plans to address what may have triggered it in the future. For instance, if you find yourself sipping wine with your girlfriends at your weekly book club, just like you always did, consider bringing a bottle of non-alcoholic wine to the next meeting.

Replace the habit with an alcohol-free alternative.

Just like in the above book club scenario, we often drink alcohol out of habit. It’s something that’s ingrained in our culture. 

When we think about “peer pressure,” we often think of this term very literally. We imagine someone offering us something, like alcohol, and demanding that we drink it. However, that’s rarely what really happens. What usually happens is that everyone around us is drinking alcohol, so we feel out of place, like we should be drinking, too. 

By having an alcohol-free alternative on hand, like non-alcoholic sparkling wine, such as BEAU VIVA, you can go through the motions of the habit that you’re used to. 

Does your weekly book club typically turn into more of a wine night? That’s a perfect time to break out some non-alcoholic wine. Does seeing your parents typically turn into your dad playing bartender? Ask him to swap in some non-alcoholic wine or spirits for a mocktail. Does brunch just not feel like brunch without a mimosa? Sparkling non-alcoholic wine makes a great swap for prosecco.

Embrace your favorite traditions sans alcohol.

Even beyond our daily or weekly habits, certain traditions and milestones just feel like they require alcohol, like toasting with Champagne at a wedding. In these cases, it can feel even more complicated to say no to alcohol. 

When an important event is coming up while you’re partaking in Dry January, you may consider letting the event host know that you’re not drinking. If you want, you can offer to bring a non-alcoholic substitute, like non-alcoholic sparkling wine in place of Champagne, to share with anyone else who is not drinking. This takes the pressure off the event host to accommodate what you need while you also help out your fellow non-drinkers.

However, we think it’s important to note: You don’t need to tell anyone that you’re not drinking if you don’t want to. “No, thank you,” is a complete sentence, and that’s all you need to say when someone offers you alcohol. We tend to think people are watching our every move way more than they actually are. Most people you meet really aren’t going to care if you’re drinking or not.

Don’t go it alone.

To accomplish any goal, having support helps. There can also be a sense of camaraderie when you’re working toward a goal with other people. Consider recruiting some friends and making a Dry January support group.

This support group helps in two major ways. The first is that you now have a built-in group of friends who are also not drinking. Now, traditions or habits you partake in with them, you know there’s no pressure to drink.

The second is that you’ll have a lifeline to other people who get it. Giving up alcohol, even for just a month, is a big step. Having friends who understand how big that step is can make a world of difference.

Consult a medical professional if you were a heavy consumer.

If you were a light to moderate drinker of alcohol before Dry January, you may not need to follow this step. However, if you were a heavy consumer, have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, or suspect you may have this disorder, please consult a medical professional before attempting Dry January.

Abstaining from alcohol can be lifesaving, but alcohol withdrawal for those who heavily rely on alcohol can be life-threatening. If you’re in the United States, contact 988 for support.

Give BEAU VIVA and Dry January a Try

Dry January isn’t going to transform you into an entirely new person. What it’s going to do is help you make small changes that make a big difference to your health and sense of self. 

BEAU VIVA can be a helpful friend to have throughout Dry January. BEAU VIVA is 100% wine, but it has a true 0% ABV, meaning it’s safe to drink for anyone abstaining from alcohol. When you bring BEAU VIVA to the party, you can partake in all your favorite traditions sans alcohol and start some new ones that bring the ones you love together.

Discover what’s possible with Dry January and BEAU VIVA.