Every year, February is probably the worst month for me—winter blahs pile up, I get sick, and overall, it just feels very difficult to have forward momentum. Every February, I feel on a plateau, like I’m not making the progress I wanted to make in some area of other. But what I need to remember is that the plateau each year is a little higher. If you’re feeling the same this month, ask yourself where your plateau is relative to this time last year. Small changes and consistent effort lead to year-over-year progress, even though there will of course be setbacks and plateaus.

And if you’re sailing through February feeling better than ever, extend a hand to those around you. Maybe there’s someone in your network who decided to keep Dry January going and is starting to wobble. Know that even small casual comments or gestures can help someone. If you’re at an event and overhear someone else (especially someone in a junior role) comment that they don’t drink or order something non-alcoholic, considering saying “oh that sounds good” and getting the same, and mentioning that you feel so much better the next day for not drinking.  It’s a small remark, but those of us who came up in the 2000’s (or earlier!) never heard even those small remarks!  And they would have helped us!

Better yet, offer to get someone a mocktail if you know they aren’t drinking. Two or so years ago I met a woman at a boozy conference and offered to do just that. I didn’t think much about it, but last fall that woman met my husband at a conference and told him that it meant so much to her. It prompted me to get back in touch with her, and it turned out that she had stopped drinking shortly before we met and was dreading the social events of the night. I guarantee that at any boozy or professional event, someone is uncomfortable, stressed about drinking, and deciding how quickly they can bolt for the door. Take care of those people.  Small gestures are lifelines.