Waking up on New Year’s Day with a mouth drier than a cotton pad, a head foggy with hangover regret and a kitchen full of last night’s takeaway boxes, I decided it was time for a serious health kick.

And there was another reason to try Dry January this year. With strict social distancing measures in place, I smugly thought there couldn’t be an easier time to give up drinking.

After all, there were no weekend pub trips with friends to worry about, or after work drinks where I could be easily peer pressured into ‘just one drink’.

But giving up booze during the pandemic threw a different set of challenges my way. And, to make things more difficult, I decided to take part in Veganuary too.

Here are some key things I learned when I gave up drinking and went plant-based at the same time for a month.

1. I don’t need to rely on wine to deal with bad news

At the start of the pandemic, alcohol quickly became a coping mechanism for dealing with the relentless bad news cycle. Those anxious TV briefings that slid into evenings of worry and uncertainty were often softened with a large glass of Rioja.

Without the crutch of alcohol to dull external stresses, I learnt to sit with bad news when it struck, and found new, healthier ways to cope with it,  like getting back into reading and yoga.

2. You need to find some good alternatives 

This goes for both alcohol and animal products. At the start of the month, I really struggled because I wasn’t at all prepared. In the evenings, I miserably supped on water while my flatmate enjoyed a glass of wine, and I truly resented him for it.

Recently though, I discovered some great booze alternatives like Remedy Kombucha and Clean Co’s low-alcohol gin, which gave me the same psychological feeling of treating myself to an after work tipple.

I also tried out some incredible plant-based alternatives that made my meals so much tastier. Veganaise (vegan mayo) was my life-saver, the Co-op’s Gro burgers fuelled my working lunches and I’m now a big believer that everything tastes better with a vegan sausage thrown on the side.

3. I slept much better

At the start of the month, I was struck by a difficult bout of insomnia that left me dog tired, but this levelled out into the best sleep I’ve had in ages. I’ve struggled with sleep issues in the past, so I’m kind of kicking myself that I didn’t give up drinking sooner, despite knowing that alcohol is linked to poor sleep quality.

Drinking alcohol can also encourage that sneaky sense of ‘just one more glass’ that makes you want to burn the midnight oil and slip in another Netflix episode. With nothing to keep me awake and determined to stick to my new healthy habits, I was in bed by 10pm most nights and managed to get a full eight hours of sleep.

4. I had more energy 

In January I ate way more plants and wholefoods than usual, and took a regular multi-vitamin too, which gave me so much more energy throughout the day. Without takeaways and throw-in-the-oven meaty options to tempt me, I took more care over preparing healthy and nutritious meals.

Plus, because I was sleeping better, I found I didn’t need to rely on caffeine to get me through the waking hours, and that had a massive knock-on effect on my mood and general wellbeing.

5. It’s really hard to take two things away at once

Don’t get me wrong, there were some evenings where I was sorely tempted to order a Nando’s on Deliveroo, crack open a bottle of wine and pack it all in. Usually this was when I was stressed about something that was going on at work or home.

When you’re not used to a certain type of lifestyle, it can be difficult to get into the swing of it. And while usually, without alcohol, I could find joy in a big plate of cheesy pasta or an indulgent tub of chocolate ice cream, in Veganuary these were off the menu too. Instead, I had to challenge myself to find alternative pick-me-ups.

6. I’m an ‘all or nothing’ person

That being said, I’m definitely someone who likes extremes. Because I was eating healthier and not drinking too, I naturally fell into a bit of a monk-like state: I exercised most days, kept on top of my skincare routine, practised good sleep hygiene and made sure I was drinking plenty of water every day

Weirdly, giving up the two things at the same time made the whole process a little easier, because it forced me to abstain from all my vices at once.

7. I felt healthier

The best thing about doing Veganuary and Dry January in tandem is how consistently great I’ve felt every day. After a month of no booze or animal products, my skin is less blemished, my gut feels settled and my mindset is definitely more positive.

Another key learning is that I often just drink alcohol when others are doing it. When my keyworker flatmate returns home after a stressful day with a bottle of wine in tow, I now have the resilience to consciously resist joining him in a glass or two.

Trying this experiment has proved that I don’t need alcohol, or that meaty takeaway, to get through a bad time – and I’ve definitely learnt some lessons that I’ll be taking forward into February and beyond.