Sign up for our Guide to Dry January

A special newsletter series from Life Kit

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Life Kit editor Malaka Gharib   Hey everybody — whether you make New Year’s resolutions or not, NPR’s Life Kit is here for you all year, with research-backed tips and advice on money, health, relationships and more. Thanks to support from people like you, our resources are free to anyone looking to turn over a new leaf, regardless of their ability to pay. Can you sustain this public service by making a donation to NPR today? Thanks, and happy new year! — Marielle Segarra, host of Life Kit Andee Tagle and Becky Harlan/NPR I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely surrounded by alcohol during the holiday season. Between my brother-in-law’s perfect espresso martinis and my husband’s homemade spiked eggnog, I’m drinking more than I usually do.  And it’s about this time of year that I think to myself: Oof. I could surely use a break. Hey -- maybe that can be my New Year’s resolution!  If you feel the same way, you’re in luck. Today, we’re launching a limited-run newsletter series: Life Kit’s Guide to Dry January.    Sign me up for Dry January Over the course of a month, we’ll send you a weekly newsletter with expert tips and strategies on how to abstain from alcohol for the month of January. All you need to do is sign up for the newsletter.   Giving up alcohol for a month can be a challenge, both personally and socially. What’s going to replace that nice glass of wine after work? What do you say if a friend asks why you’re not drinking at happy hour?  To reach your goal, you’ll need good strategy and sustained motivation — and that’s where Life Kit can help.  I'm ready to take a break from alcohol Newsletter continues after sponsor message Dry January strategies, straight to your inbox Each email we'll send is designed to tackle a different challenge of your alcohol-free journey. Here's a sampling of what you'll get in your inbox. The benefits of taking a break from alcohol: How it affects your body and mind. Making your alcohol-free plan: Strategies and techniques to reduce the temptation to drink.  Dealing with social pressure: How to deal with parties and gatherings -- and scripts for what to say when people offer you a drink.  Mocktails and motivation: Delicious, alcohol-free drink recipes, plus a mindfulness exercise to keep you on track.  Reflection time: Grab your notebook. Questions to ask yourself as your alcohol-free month comes to a close.  Health benefits of Dry January You may be wondering: Before I go through all this effort to give up alcohol for a month, will taking a break actually do anything for my health? According to research, yes. There are a handful of studies that point to some benefits of abstinence for even moderate drinkers. Let's walk through a few of them and see what kinds of changes you might expect. (You'll find more benefits in our newsletter!) 🛏️ You'll get better sleep. According to a 2016 study of 857 people who participated in Dry January, 62% reported better sleep after giving up alcohol for a month. ⚖️ It can help you lose weight. In 2018, researchers in Britain compared health outcomes among a group of people who agreed to stop drinking for a month with the health of a group that continued to consume alcohol. Those in the alcohol-free group lost some weight. ❣️ It's good for your liver. Researchers in the Netherlands documented the biochemical effects of one month of alcohol abstinence in a small study. After a month-long break, study participants showed a reduction in a liver enzyme that is typically elevated when the liver is under stress -- which suggests a positive effect. We hope you can join us for this special Life Kit series.  Sign up to Life Kit's Guide to Dry January To good health and a wonderful New Year,  Malaka A quick note: If alcohol is causing you stress or harm, seek medical advice. There are a variety of treatments, including counseling, medications and support groups, to help people who want to end that dependency. This includes Alcoholics Anonymous, which has helped countless people. This guide from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism can help you find a program that's right for you. Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy