Jason Tartick is getting real about his Dry January struggles.
“The one area I am struggling a little bit, and I could see where you’re starting to see this with the different generation is just the social side of things,” Tartick, 37, explained during the Monday, January 12, episode of his “Trading Secrets” podcast. “I’m saying no to a lot of social things because I’m like, ‘They’re there, they’re drinking.’ I’ll just stay at home.”
He went out to a bar to watch a Buffalo Bills football game recently, marking the “first time I’ve been out of my house in 12 days.” While at the bar, Tartick was offered a beer, though he said he turned it down to drink water.
“I [had] never been so tempted to do anything in my life, but I passed,” he said, noting that his life right now consists of just work and exercise.
“I hate that I use, I guess, alcohol maybe as a crutch in social situations or just as a thing. But I went to dinner with friends the other day, everyone was drinking but me,” Tartick continued. “I feel like I’m less willing to say ‘yes’ to social things knowing I’m not drinking. But once I’m there, I’m having a great time. I don’t need alcohol.”
Despite the ups and downs Tartick has been feeling about a month without alcohol, the former Bachelorette star actually has some major takeaways from his experience thus far.
“I feel better. I look better. I’m sleeping better. I have more energy. Those are all really real things,” he explained. “I’m so much more productive. I’m up early and I’m thinking clearer.”
Dry January, for those who are unaware, is a way to kick start a new year by abstaining from alcohol. Some people go without for the first 31 days of the year for their physical health, mental health, because they’re sober-curious or just as a way to reset after the holiday season.
Tartick, for one, had a busy holiday season, especially when he took things public with his new girlfriend, Kathryn Hurley.
“From the dogs you save every day to the people whose lives you change, you make everything around you more beautiful,” he captioned a social media post last month, celebrating Hurley’s 34th birthday. “Happy Birthday Kathryn!”
Us Weekly broke the news in November 2025 that Tartick and Hurley started dating after he adopted his dog from her nonprofit, Wags & Walks Nashville. Hurley launched the foundation in 2019, and Tartick adopted his dog Teddy from her last year.
“Not sure who rescued who, but we got each other!” Tartick captioned a March 2025 Instagram post, tagging Wags & Walks. Hurley also detailed the first time she met Tartick during an interview with People at the time.
“We are thrilled to have helped Jason find his forever pup! At Wags & Walks, we believe every rescue dog has a perfect match, and seeing them find that connection makes our work so rewarding,” she said. “Jason’s decision to adopt not only changes his dog’s life forever but also helps raise awareness about the importance of giving rescue dogs a second chance.”
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