Damp Lifestyle: That’s why you don’t have to give up alcohol completely

Damp Lifestyle instead of Dry January
That’s why you don’t have to give up alcohol completely

Most of us know how harmful alcohol is. But does that mean doing without the occasional drink altogether? The flexible “Damp Lifestyle” chooses a different path – and relies on moderation and mindfulness when drinking.

Many people are currently on a “Dry January,” meaning they don’t drink alcohol during the first month of the year. Both the body and our mind benefit from this, because regular drinking can ensure that our brain ages faster, our risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer increases and we sleep less well.

Damp Lifestyle: Mindfulness in dealing with alcohol

Would you also like to be more aware of the topic of drinking? Maybe you don’t have to do without beer, wine and co. entirely. Because the so-called damp lifestyle is very trendy right now – and relies on a different strategy than bans. “Damp” is English and means something like damp or clammy, in this case it means: You don’t live completely dry, i.e. completely alcohol-free, but only drink a little alcohol and very consciously.

The steam lifestyle is a trend that first made the rounds on the social media platform TikTok. There, more and more people are explaining that they only drink a little – but don’t want to do without it completely. The whole thing is part of the “Sober Curious Movement”, in which representatives of Gen Z in particular are curiously experimenting with the topic of abstaining from alcohol and sobriety and reflecting on how much or little drinking is good for them.

TikToker Hana Elson is one of the pioneers of the almost dry lifestyle. On her channel she shares experiences and thoughts on alcohol and moderate drinking. In addition to the term Damp Lifestyle, she also currently uses the term “Dry-ish January”, which means something like “quasi-dry January”.

This is how the steam lifestyle works

The Damp Lifestyle is very flexible and each person can personalize their level of alcohol consumption. For one person, only drinking a glass of wine on special occasions may feel good and sensible. Someone else might drink a little more often, but only drinks with a low alcohol content, such as cider or beer. Most people are also very careful to drink enough water in between.

The focus is on reflecting on your own dealings with alcohol. For example, you can consider whether every visit to a restaurant really has to include a glass of wine. Or you focus on the amount of alcohol you consume. Maybe you don’t need several long drinks for a bar evening with friends, but two beers or wine spritzers are enough.

Conscious drinking instead of careless consumption

Because the heart of the Damp Lifestyle is mindful drinking. This also includes questions such as: Why am I drinking? Do I feel like I need alcohol? How do I feel when I drink? How am I feeling the next day? Do I have a hangover? And how am I doing psychologically: Do I possibly suffer from “hangxiety” after drinking, i.e. an anxious-stressed basic feeling, coupled with a hangover?

Answers to these and similar questions can provide information about how you really feel with alcohol and how well drinking is actually doing you. Based on these answers, you could then see how exactly you want to design your personal steam lifestyle.

Maybe you start with a temporary phase of abstinence, in order to then switch to a moderate use of beer, wine and co. Or you want to work with clear rules about when and how much you drink. This approach may also be too restrictive for you, and you would prefer to be a little more free and flexible in your dealings with alcohol, but still conscious.

Whichever path you choose for your vapor lifestyle: It is always good to honestly reflect on what your relationship with alcohol looks like and how it can become healthier and more mindful.

Sources used: bustle.com, eatthisnotthat.com, TikTok

Gala