10 Jan Dry January
Dry January. It’s that time again. The global initiative that encourages us to kickstart the year on a healthy note by refraining from drinking alcohol for the entirety of January.
The importance of this campaign is not only, to promote sobriety but to highlight the importance of making healthier lifestyle choices.
The aim of the campaign is to showcase how small changes can notably enhance mental clarity, fatigue levels, and overall well-being.
As participants journey through the month, they often observe not only a sense of increased vitality but also a renewed perspective towards their relationship with alcohol.
Through this conscious pause, Dry January intends to inspire long-term positive choices pertaining to alcohol consumption.
How does dry January make you feel? Does it make you groan? Are you participating in this annual awareness initiative, or do you think, just leave me alone, why would I want to give up alcohol for a month?
Why should you give it up? Drinking is very much part of our social culture, and the local pub is often the hub of a community where people meet to relax and socialise. It brings people together; friendships are forged and often social issues such as loneliness and isolation are addressed particularly in rural communities.
We are surrounded by images of alcohol representing good times, just look at emojis for celebrations depicted by champagne bottles. Winners of competitions are often presented with glasses of bubbly, and winners of sporting competitions shake bottles of fizz and spray them everywhere. Phrases such as “It must be 5pm somewhere in the world” as a reason to open a bottle of wine or a Gin bottle.
How often have we laughed at actors playing drunks in sitcoms on TV and in films or referred to people as “characters” because they like more than just a few drinks and end up intoxicated after every visit to the pub?
The consensus is ‘Alcohol = good times’
The other side. You’ve chosen to give up drinking, there are many reasons for this health, mental and physical, you have a friend or family member that is struggling with an addiction, or quite frankly, drinking alcohol is not your thing.
The stigma of not drinking alcohol is changing. Health is becoming more of a priority for people, the conscious effort of looking after themselves and enjoying the benefits of healthier lifestyle choices.
Most people have fallen victim to the scowl on people’s faces if you say you don’t want an alcoholic drink. How on earth can you enjoy yourself if you’re not drinking?
Today, it’s acceptable to say you would only like a soft drink without giving a reason for not drinking alcohol.
Whatever your view on this global initiative, together, we can use Dry January as an opportunity to look at the effects of alcohol and gain a better understanding of how it affects our bodies so we can make informed decisions as to our alcohol consumption.
Working with a registered nutritionist, Hands On At Work, offer an Alcohol Awareness webinar looking at the effects of alcohol on health, including:
- How much is too much?
- Liquid calories.
- Effects on performance, skin, brain.
- Drink driving.
- Using nutrition to support liver function.
- Tips to help cut down consumption.
Why not offer this webinar to your employees as a kickstart to a healthy and enjoyable 2024
To find out more or to book your session, email us at info@handsonatwork.co.uk