February is here. If you did Dry January, how did it go?
Maybe you sailed through and plan to continue… or perhaps you’re not sure what to do next. Maybe you’ve already had a drink or struggled to make it through the month.
I’ve had ALL of those experiences at some point or another, so I know what it’s like.
And here’s the thing: it’s what you do next that matters just as much as what happened in January. I explain why in this video.
Key points
No matter what you do next, reflect first
It’s really important to capture how you’re feeling right now – the good and the bad. (Download the Dry January Debrief to help with this). Some of my biggest breakthroughs came from reading something I’d written months earlier and realising: “I forgot how good I felt back then.” Or I’d look back and notice a pattern to my drinking that I hadn’t spotted before.
For example, if you completed Dry January but it felt like an endurance test – akin to being on a diet, perhaps – then let’s capture why sobriety feels like hard work right now. Why does it feel like deprivation? What do you think you’re missing out on? This information is key to changing those beliefs and how you approach alcohol-free living in the future.
If you’re going to drink again…
Put a note in your diary first! I wish I’d done this after my breaks from drinking. I was so determined that everything was fine (“Look – I stopped! No way do I have a problem…”) that I conveniently overlooked what happened next. Somehow, it didn’t register how quickly I slid back into drinking in a way that didn’t work for me.
So set a reminder to check in with yourself at the end of February. Put another reminder on your phone for the end of March. On each occasion, grab your Dry January Debrief to remind yourself where you were at the end of January. Have things got better, worse or stayed the same? This is how you collect proper information about your drinking – don’t rely on your memory (which always distorts over time).
If you had a tough month, you’re not alone
In 2013, I attempted Dry January with a group of friends. I lasted a week before giving up. (They all made it through the month and I had to pretend I was still doing it too. It was awful). But do you know what else happened in 2013? That was the year I quit for good.
So if you need a reminder that all is not lost and this year isn’t a write-off – then hello: I’m it. I’m living proof that you can turn things around. All that matters now is moving forward with intention. The key is capturing how you feel right now. Then you’ll have real data to work with – not just vague memories or wishful thinking.
Ready to create an alcohol-free life you love? Click here to learn more about my Getting Unstuck course.
The post Forget Dry January – February Matters Just As Much! appeared first on The Sober School.
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