Challenge vs. Experime

“Day 1 of my 30-day Dry January challenge,” read my post on January 1st, 2016. Underneath it was a sticker with a determined face.

Three days later, my next post was short and bare, with only two words:

“I failed.”

For many years, I thought I was alone in my “failed” Dry January attempts…

…until I came across a 2021 survey showing that nearly 1 in 10 people who participated in Dry January were pouring themselves a drink by January 3rd.

But there was something else I had gotten wrong.

It turned out that just because I wasn’t able to stay dry during January didn’t mean I had failed.

You see, while January can be a powerful time to inspire change, there’s nothing magical about its ability to create overnight transformation.

That’s why, if you want to get the most out of your Sober January experience, it helps to approach it as an experiment, not a challenge.

If you’re curious, you can read my latest Psychology Today piece, where I break down the three subtle—but crucial—differences between the two.

Speak soon,
Jeanette

P.S. If you’re looking to transform your relationship with alcohol this January, the upcoming Sober Curiosity Lab might be just what you’ve been looking for. :)

Micro-Dose Journaling Prompt:

If I treated January as an experiment rather than a challenge, what would I feel more curious about instead of judging myself for?