"Dry dating" this month? Sober dating tips for Dry January and beyond, from a dating coach

Whether you're taking a break from alcohol for Dry January or reassessing your relationship with alcohol in general, dating without "liquid courage" can feel daunting — but it doesn't have to be.

"Dry dating" can actually have a lot of positives, says Connell Barrett, a dating coach based in New York City and author of "Dating Sucks But You Don't."

"I'm a big fan of dry dating because it allows you to generate a potential connection with that other person not based on the buzz you're feeling from the alcohol, but rather from the genuine clicking and connecting you're doing as people," he says.