Is Dry January For You?
Abbie Romanul decided to stop drinking three years ago. Why? Well, the mom of three wondered how her drinking habits could be affecting her overall mental and physical health long-term. In 2018 she decided to cut it out completely. With her love of entertaining and being an at-home mixologist, Abbie knew she didn’t want to live a life of seltzer waters and Shirley Temples.
This is how Raising the Bar, a zero-proof cocktail box delivering a fun, non-alcoholic cocktail experience was born. Through her company, she is helping others build a Zero-Proof bar cart. Continue reading to learn more about her journey and possibly be inspired by her experience.
NMFit: For those looking to cut back or remove alcohol altogether during the holiday season what do you suggest?
Abbie Romanul (AR): Make a plan and be prepared! While it would be wonderful to expect whoever is hosting to have fun & innovative alcohol-free options on hand, that may not be the case. Don’t be shy about bringing your own alcohol-free drinks so that you have something besides water to toast with. Holidays can be a joyful time, but they can also be full of stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need to take a break, listen to yourself and prioritize taking care of your needs.
NMFit: In what ways do you feel Dry January is a great way to set yourself up for overall success (life, health, mindset)?
AR: The holiday season can be a time of excess and over-indulgence in a lot of ways - including booze! Dry January can be a great reset if you are looking to cut back on your drinking, or it can be a fun opportunity to kickstart an alcohol-free goal. There is a ton of great community support surrounding #DryJanuary - check out the hashtag on Instagram! January feels like a fresh start for many, and cutting back on or taking a break from alcohol will also impact your overall physical and mental health. Alcohol use can impact our ability to concentrate and get quality sleep. It can also exacerbate depression and anxiety (which is ironically why many people drink – to cope with these issues). So if you cut back on or take a break from your drinking, your overall physical and mental health will improve as well!
NMFit: What has been most rewarding for you removing alcohol from your lifestyle?
AR: Being more present in my life. Alcohol was a crutch for me to numb out and escape feelings of discomfort or anxiety. Having a clear head has allowed me to proactively deal with the root causes of these issues rather than mask them.
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