By: Michael K. Warne, AAMS®
We Just Completed Dry January. Here’s What Surprised Us Most
My wife, Tracy, and I just pulled off something we weren’t sure was possible—we went 31 days without a drop of alcohol. Not because we had a drinking problem, or because we know how easily drinking habits can slowly turn into something worse.
But this Dry January was about two things: Can we do it? and What happens next? I’m happy to report—we did it. As I write this, it’s February 1st, and we stayed dry since New Year’s Eve. What did we learn? Well, I’m glad you asked.
Breaking Habits
We considered the usual “drink only on the weekends” rule, but we’d tried that before. One stressful Tuesday, and it’s out the window. So we committed fully. The hardest part? The first work night. For years, our routine was to come home, pour a glass of wine, and talk about the day. That first work night felt foreign—like we weren’t us without a glass of wine. Would we still connect? Would winding down feel the same? For a few days, it was strange. Then, it wasn’t.
Social Fears & Surprise
One of the nicer bars in Fort Collins is called Social—for good reason. Drinks smooth out social interactions, and most in our circle are social drinkers, too. When we stopped, people were curious, but no one gave us grief. In fact, everyone was supportive, and we learned some of our friends were on the same quest. January is a great time for this—most people are partied out anyway, right?
How We Got Through It
Three things really helped:
- Doing It Together – This was huge. It wasn’t my challenge or her challenge—it was ours. We could vent to each other, laugh about it, and push through this adventure as a team.
- The Reframe App – Unlike most sobriety apps, this one also helps people just looking to cut back. It broke down the science of alcohol in ways I’d never thought about. Eye-opening.
- Mocktails – Turns out, we didn’t miss the alcohol as much as we missed the ritual of having something to sip on. And these days, there are some great non-alcoholic options—stuff that actually tastes like a crafted cocktail, minus the buzz. It gave us the social and sensory experience we were craving, without the side effects.
Oh, and Outshine No-Sugar-Added Popsicles? A lifesaver. Turns out, I really missed the fruit and acidity of wine.
The Science That Stuck With Me
A few things from Reframe really hit home:
- Hedonic Set Point – Alcohol tricks the brain into a dopamine flood, making that first drink amazing. But the brain, always trying to keep balance, cuts back its natural dopamine release over time. That’s why additional drinks never feel as good as the first. But worse—over weeks, months, or years, the baseline for joy rises, making joy harder to achieve. Drinking stops being about feeling good and becomes about feeling normal. In other words, the more you drink to feel better, the less your brain lets you.
- Sleep – I’ve always known alcohol messes with my sleep, but I didn’t know why. It turns out, alcohol releases adrenaline alongside its sedative effects. The sedative wins at first and we fall asleep easily; but when it wears off, the adrenaline is still raging—hence my 4 AM wake-ups, ready to take on the world when all I really wanted was to sleep in.
The Biggest Takeaway
Before Dry January, alcohol was just part of the routine—something we did without much thought. Now, we know we don’t need it to relax, connect, or have fun. We proved to ourselves that we’re in charge, not the habit. That’s powerful.
In other words, we didn’t just give up alcohol for a month—we gained clarity, better sleep, and a sense of control that will stick with us long after January is over.
What Now?
Honestly? I’m not sure. I feel fantastic—best sleep in decades, more productive than ever, and my gut actually feels normal. Tracy and I will drink less, for sure, but we’re not swearing off our wine cellar anytime soon. That said, we’re way more aware of our drinking habits now, and we’ve found some solid alternatives—whether it’s a well-made mocktail or just drinking less, period.
One thing is clear: We proved we could do it, and we could’ve gone even longer. And that alone is worth raising a glass to.