Helping Sober Curious Clients in Dry January and Beyond
Do you have “sober curious” clients? Or clients who are observing Dry January?
The first Dry January started in 2013 as a UK public health campaign, promoted by Alcohol Concern.
Why Dry January is trending
Thanks to the “sober curious” movement, Dry January has grown. In fact, teetotaling throughout the year has also become more popular in the US and around the world.
Even beer companies are jumping on the teetotaler bandwagon. Heineken distributes “dry packs” of alcohol-free beer for Dry January.
If you have clients who want to decrease or quit booze, you can be a valuable resource. Here are some practical tips you can use to help them navigate this lifestyle change:
Have clients journal about alcohol
Alcohol is an acceptable way to socialize and unwind. And because of that, most people don’t think about why they started drinking in the first place.
Getting clients to journal about why they drink can give them new insights into their habits. You can have them answer questions like:
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What are the reasons why I drink?
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How do I feel before I’m drinking?
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How do I feel afterward?
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What social triggers change the way that I drink?
No judgment here. These questions can help them discover how they feel about the way they have been drinking.
What’s motivating the change?
Why do they want to quit drinking for January… or for good? Most people take a break for specific health reasons. Some may want to lose weight.
Taking a break can lead to many healthier changes, including:
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Better heart health
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Improving liver health
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Losing weight
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Saving money
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Getting better sleep
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Clearer, younger-looking skin
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Clearer thinking
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Better social connection
And the list goes on.
Have your clients can identify their main reasons for wanting to change. Then get them to write out all the other positive outcomes they might have when they follow through.
Offer healthier Dry January options
If your clients tend to socialize in bars and restaurants, give them drink substitute ideas. When they know in advance what to order, they’re more likely to stick with their plan. Sparkling water, fruit-flavored water, tea, coffee, and kombucha are all good options. These are easy to find these days, because beverage companies have responded to higher demand for non-alcoholic drinks.
More restaurants are creating non-alcoholic mocktails for non-drinkers who want more than water. Some cities even have “dry” bars. These alcohol-free cocktail lounge allow the sober-curious to gather and socialize without drinking.
You can also encourage them to change up their regular social routine. Meet up with friends in non-eating or drinking situations. For example, take a walk, meet for a movie, go shopping together, or play sports.
Consider diet changes or adding supplements
Quitting drinking may trigger sugar cravings in some clients. You can help them balance their blood sugar, and get more variety and nutrients in their diet with a diet plan. You can assign one of the plans in the MBODY360 app. The 28-Day Clean Eating Challenge or 28 Day Mediterranean Diet are both great choices.
Clients who drink on a regular basis may also be deficient in certain micronutrients.
For example, alcohol inhibits the absorption of B-complex vitamins.
Salmon, dark leafy greens, organ meats, and eggs are all rich in B vitamins. But supplementation can help restore missing micronutrients faster than food. This is important, especially if your client has deficiencies triggers by past drinking habits.
As Dry January and the Sober Curious movements grow, more clients may express interest in resolving their drinking habits. Using the plans and supplements in the MBODY360 app can help support sobriety in any form through January and beyond.