Some thoughts on Dry January...
When sobriety goes mainstream.
Hi all! Happy New Year! And happy Dry Jan to all who celebrate!
We just hopped off our Sunday meeting, where we had a really thoughtful conversation about Dry January and today’s growing sober movement as a whole. Dry January has become pretty commonplace, and there are more non-alc beverage options at grocery stores and restaurants than ever before. Both of these things have helped make being “sober” more mainstream, which is amazing, but sometimes it can unintentionally minimize the experience of those of us in recovery.
Ten years ago, when someone said they were “sober”, it usually meant they were in recovery and had done (and were still doing) a lot of deep work. Now, when someone says they’re sober, it could also mean they’re taking a break, doing it for health reasons, or just experimenting with not drinking.
That said, those in recovery may feel two things at once: genuinely grateful that drinking culture is shifting, and at the same time, feeling like our stories and the work behind them aren’t always fully seen.
All that to say, if you feel the need to differentiate when sharing your story with others, that’s great. And if you don’t, that’s okay too. What matters most is seeking and being a part of spaces where people do understand the full depth of your experience and the work behind it. Spaces like this one :)
— Steph
If you’re new, check out our intro to Steady Sunday here.
💻 This Week’s Meetings
Sunday, 1/4 — 10-11 a.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. ET
Tuesday, 1/6 — 5:30-6:30 p.m. PT / 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, 1/8 — 5:30-6:30 p.m. PT / 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET
Meeting links are sent in our Discord chat:
✨ Meeting Notes
Whether this is your first Dry January or you’ve done it before, it’s always helpful to go back to the basics. A month without alcohol can bring up a lot of emotions (excitement, fear, curiosity, discomfort to name a few) all of which are completely normal. The first step is being open to giving sobriety a try, so if you’ve come that far, you’re already in great shape for what’s next! Here are some of our tips for making the most out of your Dry January:
Fully commit.
If you’re committing to Dry January, you might as well commit 100% to get the most out of it, right? You can lean into sobriety by connecting with other sober people (like this group!) and engaging with sober content such as quit lit (books), podcasts, or sober creators. The more you immerse yourself and learn about what alcohol actually does to our bodies, the less you’ll romanticize drinking, and over time you’ll begin to reframe how you see alcohol.
Take it one day at a time.
A full month can feel daunting, especially if you’re hyper-focused on how many days you have until you can drink again. Instead of treating alcohol as a reward at the finish line, try being present and really taking things one day at a time. You don’t need to decide anything about February yet.
Embrace discomfort.
Sobriety often means feeling things you usually avoid. You may not be used to socializing sober or even being alone with your thoughts sober. It’s natural for these things to feel uncomfortable at first, but know that the most growth happens here. You will feel so empowered every time you prove to yourself what you’re capable of!
Notice the benefits.
Keep note of what improves along the way. At first, you may notice benefits like better sleep, clearer thinking, or improved mood. But as the days go on, you’ll likely experience even more meaningful ones, like higher self-esteem, improved relationships, and real hope for your future. ♥️
One of the greatest parts of sobriety is the inspiration we draw from others walking the same path. Whether it’s learning their stories or engaging in real, honest conversations about substance use and recovery, the wisdom we gather along the way is truly invaluable. In that spirit, here are some of our favorite motivational quotes:
“Everything you want is on the other side of consistency.”
“Sobriety delivers what alcohol promises.”
“Discipline is self love. It’s showing up for yourself even when you don’t feel like it.”
“Sobriety isn’t just about putting down the drink. It’s about building a life you don’t want to escape from anymore.”
“Sobriety is the ultimate revolution against a world that sells numbness as joy.”
“I got sober because I wanted a better life. I stay sober because I got one.”
🔗 Resource of the Week
If you need a little extra motivation to stay on track this month, non-alc beverage brand De Soi (and Steph’s place of employment 🙂) is hosting a ton of Dry January promos and events. Follow them on Instagram for updates.
✍️ Journal Prompt
That’s all for now! We hope you enjoyed this edition of our newsletter.
Always cheering you on,
-Steph & Annie
P.S. Have ideas for anything you’d like to see in this newsletter? Comment on this post or reply to this email!