Instead of Dry January, Join Katie Austin for ‘Damp January’ and Create Habits That Last

The fitness and wellness coach is using this month to become more ‘mindful’ and ‘balanced’ in her drinking habits.

Katie Austin.Leah Puttkammer/Getty Images

New Year’s Day has come and gone, which means resolution season is in full swing. This time of year, many people pick up fitness and wellness goals in an attempt to make these changes a solid part of their routine for the rest of the year. And while it’s great to have goals for yourself, if you set too high of expectations, the odds that you make these various practices into long-term habits are low.

That’s, in part, why fitness influencer Katie Austin will be partaking in what she is calling “damp January,” rather than the standard “dry January,” which stipulates no drinking throughout the first month of the year. “Damp January,” on the other hand, stipulates “not restricting ourselves but being more mindful about [drinking], and teaching ourselves balance,” Austin said in a recent TikTok.

Her goal is simple: adopt practices that are both achievable and practical in the long term. Limiting your alcohol intake can be a good thing, but it may not be practical to expect that you will stop drinking entirely—so why try to make it a habit for just a month?

Ultimately, the goal is “drinking less, yet still enjoying my life,” the 30-year-old explained. “Asking myself more often, ‘is it worth it?’ And if so, making better choices in terms of less drinks and sugar intake, etc! That way, you can implement this all year round.”

If you were planning on partaking in Dry January—or even if you weren’t—maybe consider following Austin’s lead instead.

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