
(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Those who took part in a sober start to the year may decide to stick with it.
Experts say there are health benefits for those who stop drinking for an extended period of time including better sleep, weight loss and a change in energy level.
"You may also notice other benefits like spending less money and that, for a lot of people, is a benefit that they didn't even think about necessarily," said Lauren Fish, director of services at the Hazelden Betty Ford Chicago treatment center.
While it may be fairly easy to get sober for a month, it starts to get tougher and for some, those cravings start to get more intense.
For people looking to keep the momentum going into 2023, Fish offers a few tips like finding a new hobby.
"Introduce something into your life that you didn't have before so that you're focusing on something new and exciting and that brings you joy and that you're not focusing as much on alcohol use like you were before," she said.
Another suggestion? Surround yourself with people who reinforce a sober lifestyle and even consider finding an accountability partner.
Fish said it can be helpful to have someone that's going to check in on you and make sure you're following through with your goals.
At the very least, take things one day at a time.
"You don't have to commit to an entire month or an entire year," she said. "Sometimes just getting through one day is good and that's a small accomplishment, so celebrating those small wins, I think, is also really critical."
Additional sobriety resources can be found at HazeldenBettyFord.org.
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