The number of people joining virtual sober communities skyrockets in January, and we LOVE seeing all the new faces. We want to see you succeed, and we’ll be first in line to support you if you decide to keep going.
I asked some of our past podcast guests to share their tips for Dry January. The result is some strong advice that will help you not just stay sober, but also figure out why it’s important to you. Sometimes advice from people who have been there and have succeeded is more valuable than any “expert” advice you might dig up.
Check out their advice below, and visit their social media profiles to follow them for more inspiration and advice as you embark on your alcohol-free month.
Here’s the dry january tips they had to share
John W:
“Don’t go it alone. Find some people who want to be sober (whether it’s just for January or longer) and support each other. Let friends or family know, so that they don’t keep offering you drinks.”
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Billie (@BillieJohnston)
“Find another person or group (maybe a mom group, gym group or work group) to do it with you. That way, you have a built in support system. For those that have a competitive streak, it also brings a competition component which can be helpful!”
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Taylor (@foodiewithintent):
“Read lots of sober friendly books! Learn as much as you can and begin changing your mindset around it. It will feel foreign at first but eventually it will be normal.”
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Kate (@walkingthestraightline)
“Have a really honest conversation with yourself about what alcohol gives you and what it takes away. Because since I’ve stopped drinking I’ve realised it was taking so much more than I had even realised and actually I don’t need it for anything that I enjoy. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. “
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Sarah (@pureclaritynow):
“Establish your WHY. Dry January is more than just skipping drinks; it’s an opportunity to reset, reflect, and prioritize your well-being. But to make the most of it, you need a clear WHY. Whether it’s improving your health, gaining mental clarity, or proving to yourself you can do it, knowing your purpose gives you focus and motivation when temptation strikes. Your WHY is the anchor that keeps you grounded when social pressures or old habits try to pull you off course. Define it, write it down, and revisit it often – you’ve got this!”
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Matt (@shamman780):
Ask yourself these questions. Why are you doing this? What is your intention? (Health, because you might have a problem, to see if you can do it?) Do you have a specific goal? Simply to cut back from alcohol or drinking habits? To stop drinking for 31 days? Don’t drink during the week? To lose weight? Do you have a vision to achieve your goal? Set amount of weight you want to lose? Number of nights per week you don’t want to drink? Do you have a plan or thoughts for a next step based on how Dry January goes? Are you prepared to potentially face some hard facts? People can stop for a month or an extended period of time and still have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.”
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Brenton (@officerecovery):
My key takeaways are these, if you or anyone you know is struggling with alcoholism, or even if you just know drinking isn’t giving you your best life: speak up, find community, create momentum, love your life.
Speak up. When you are able to share your story in a safe space – you realize you are not even close to being alone in the struggle of life, and that is where hope is birthed.
Find community. If to be loved is the greatest need of humanity, to find a like-minded people is absolutely life giving. Whether that’s AA, sober IG, whatever it looks like. Find your people and you’ll belong.
Create momentum. As an escapist and isolationist, I’ve discovered if I try something new, something hard, something crazy, it creates this ripple effect of confidence and this feeling like life is worth living and actually enjoyable. That leads to the last point.
Love your life. Creating a life that you love and no longer need to escape from. Learning to love and see yourself properly (identity), creating a great story with great people, before you know it, you’ll look at your life and realize how every step along the way, and every step forward, is so filled with meaning and purpose the desire to drink holds less and less sway. We do recover. Together.
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David (@djsobershorts):
“Don’t put yourself in challenging situations. Think things through. Set yourself up for success.”
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Azure (@soberchronicles):
“Take this time to dive deep into learning the truth about alcohol. Read inspiring quit lit, and listen to podcasts about sobriety and the harms of alcohol. Take note of how you feel during this time. This will help guide your decision on what to do after the 30 days is up.”
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Will (host of TheWillpowerPodcast)
“As someone who needed a liver transplant to finally quit, here’s my advice for Dry January: The first few weeks are tough, but they’re worth pushing through. Your body and mind are healing, even if they don’t feel like it yet. Don’t think about the whole month – just focus on today. Play the tape forward when cravings hit. Find a new evening routine that doesn’t involve alcohol. Remember: you’re not missing out. You’re breaking free. I had to learn these lessons the hard way. You don’t have to.”
If you’ve done it before, please add your tips for Dry January in the comments – let’s keep the advice rolling in and support those who are just starting out!
If this is your first attempt at Dry January – drop a question below!
Julie Miller, RCP is a certified recovery coach. After a decade of too much drinking, she found her way into an alcohol free life and is now thriving. Her recovery is founded in overcoming shame, finding her authentic self, and creating a life so full there’s no space left for alcohol. Through her coaching, podcasting, and the recovery community she has built, Julie has found her purpose in helping others find their way out of addiction and into a meaningful, purpose filled life of freedom.