Dry January has become a familiar ritual over the past decade:
31 days of voluntary abstinence from alcohol.

The benefits are well documented—reduced caloric intake, better sleep, lower blood pressure, mental clarity, cheaper dinners, and fewer moments of dread when checking your bank account.

What always leaves me curious is this:
After 31 days of feeling great, why do so many people rush back to business as usual?

The reports are incredible—more energy, better focus, improved mood—yet on day 31, it’s back to something that makes us feel… just okay. Or worse.

I’m glad people experience the benefits, but I’d love to see those streaks last longer. As someone who stopped drinking years ago, I can say this plainly: the benefits compound over time. Many of the real changes are subtle at first. They take months, not weeks, to surface.

Quitting doesn’t change who you are—it removes the baggage. The avoidance. The noise.
And if you think drinking isn’t avoidance, I’d challenge that idea. Even using alcohol to “enhance” a moment suggests the moment itself wasn’t enough.

Modern science continues to show there are zero health benefits to alcohol. Sure, it may loosen you up briefly—but at what cost?

At the end of the day, it’s your choice. But if you feel great after 30 days, why would you want that to end? The answer often isn’t personal weakness—it’s social pressure and cultural normalization.

As a minimalist, my suggestion is simple:
If Dry January feels good, try experimenting without alcohol altogether.

Less is more.
Less bullshit.
More room for growth.