As I stir my coffee, I realize how powerful it is to fail during Dry January. For real. Failure is good.
Nobody likes to failure, so it’s not easy to find the positives in those moments. However, when we do it right, we are on the path to growth and progress. We often learn very little during times when everything is going well, so using failures as tools for improvement is powerful. For me, learning to embrace those difficult moments has truly transformed my perspective.
January can be a challenging month for those who decided to take a break from alcohol for various reasons:
– Over the holidays, we have been drinking consistently, which can lead our bodies and minds to develop a dependence on alcohol, resulting in cravings.
– We become accustomed to socializing frequently from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. For some, taking a break from alcohol may mean stepping away from social events and drinking friends, potentially leading to feelings of loneliness and boredom without the drink.
– During winter, we tend to stay indoors, watch more television, and cook more often, which can highlight the absence of our usual drink.
These situations may lead to the common feeling of becoming a “miserable sober,” and many may find themselves desperately awaiting the end of January, even if they are only halfway through the month. It’s natural to look for excuses to drink again, even before February arrives. This pattern of self-sabotaging progress is common, and many people revert to their old habits before reaching their goals.
Our advice to you is as follows:
Analyze and document your experiences. Notice when, where, what, and how your moments of weakness occurred. Write down patterns—such as when you felt tempted to drink again, the locations that triggered you, the people you were with when you felt the urge, and your emotional state when you broke your promise. Understanding these triggers will provide valuable insights for the future, helping you prepare for similar situations. Recognizing these patterns is a powerful step toward disrupting and replacing them.