You don’t have to go full Dry January

Every January, I see the same thing happen.

People feel like Dry January is either
all in or not worth doing it all.

And honestly, I think that mindset is the problem.

Because you don’t need to go full Dry January for it to matter.

If you drink 10%, 20%, 50% less this month, that’s not a failure. 

That’s progress.

Dry January doesn’t have to be extreme

For some people, going completely alcohol-free for a month feels great. If that’s you, amazing.

But for a lot of people, it feels intimidating.
Or unrealistic.
Or like another rule you’re going to break and feel bad about.

I don’t believe change works that way.

Most meaningful habits aren’t built overnight. They’re built through small, repeatable decisions that feel doable.

That’s what actually sticks.

Small steps matter more than big declarations

If you usually drink four nights a week and you bring that down to three, that’s a win.

If you swap one drink for an alcohol-free option a few times a week, that’s a win.

If you’re more mindful instead of drinking on autopilot, that’s a big win.

You don’t need a perfect month to move forward. 

You just need momentum.

A reset, not a rulebook

I like to think of Dry January as a check-in, not a test.

It’s a chance to ask yourself:

• How do I actually feel when I drink less?

• What do I miss, and what don’t I?

• What habits do I want to carry past January?

You don’t need to eliminate alcohol completely to answer those questions.

Sometimes, reducing is enough to learn a lot.

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If this resonates with you, feel free to drop a comment below.
I read them all and I’m always happy to respond.

Simon
Co-Founder & CEO, Upside Drinks