Reach out to friends and family, attend social events, or consider joining a club or group that focuses on specific interests. Building a strong network of friends and loved ones can help to provide stability and joy in a way that drugs and alcohol never can. Many communities have alcohol-free meetups or activities that are advertised on social media platforms, community bulletin boards, or local websites. Start by searching online for sober groups or events in your area. You can also inquire at community centers, gyms, or places of worship.
Create Your Own Holiday Traditions Sans Alcohol
There’s nothing more satisfying than hand-kneading a gooey dough, smelling the yeast as it rises, and eating a slice of bread you made from scratch. Plan a date night around cooking a new dish together. It can be as elaborate as you’d like—just put on your favorite playlist and enjoy doing something tactile with the person you love.
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You’ll see how drinking less can make your world bigger, not smaller. The early days of changing your relationship with alcohol are filled with self-discovery. As you start to substitute things to do instead of drinking, focus on how each alternative activity makes you feel. The clarity that comes from decreased alcohol consumption allows you to retain memories of things that make you feel good and might want to return to in the future. That said, it might be difficult to find alternatives to formerly fun, but toxic and harmful activities. Many individuals who have achieved sobriety find that it is hard to come up with fun sober activities that don’t involve drinking or substance abuse.
- Put together a playlist, turn on a disco light, and grab your dancing shoes.
- Instead, all of your energy and focus can be spent where it’s really needed, which is on overcoming addiction.
- Steve Kobashigawa, a marriage and family therapist based in L.A., said that when you feel a craving come on, do what you need to do to get into a more positive headspace.
- At the risk of sounding cliche, reading can transport you from your current life and show you new worlds.
- There are countless ways to experience art, and they don’t always have to include expensive tickets.
How to Unwind at Night Without Drinking Alcohol
Contact The Sanctuary to pursue a new, sober life with compassionate support and evidence-based, integrative treatment. Sharpening the skills you already have also presents opportunities for fun sober activities. For example, if you enjoy writing, you can join a critique group and share ideas with like-minded individuals or attend an open mic night and share your poetry.
Spend Time With Your Pet
Add a solid foxtrot or some swing to your repertoire. A little magic is one of those things that sounds cheesy, but is actually always welcome at a sober party. Embrace a regular yoga practice. Even if meditation isn’t your thing, yoga is a great way to get centered.
Get Outdoors and Enjoy Nature
You can explore a heritage site to learn about local traditions and culture or peruse an art gallery to nourish your soul and spark creativity. A pottery class is another great option for an activity to explore solo or with friends. You can create pottery from scratch, and have a finished product to adorn your home or to give away to others.
We’ve created a list of things to do instead of drinking in those situations where it once was your instinct to have a drink. Each of these have correlating activities and plans of action that serve as fulfilling, healthy alternatives to drinking. Find inspiration from this list sober house dorchester ma of things to do instead of drinking, and find what drives you toward your personal goals. Make sure you’re surrounded by people who champion your sobriety and are ready to lend a hand when you need it. Your squad might include friends, family, a therapist, or a support group.
- If you don’t have the time for a planned trip or you’re looking for something to do within the next couple of days, consider going on a local hike.
- It can, in fact, be infinitely more fun than active addiction.
- For example, if you were particularly knowledgeable about wine, you could transfer that interest into specialty olive oils.
- Find a balance between establishing a routine that’ll help you feel grounded and seeking out new experiences that you’ll appreciate.
- Check out this list and let me know if you have other suggestions for our readers to explore soberly.
- You can even take dance classes online.
Summer is the perfect time to take a day trip; the days are warm and sunny, and the evenings are pleasant. Many local attractions and restaurants will extend their hours during the summer, so you can feel free to take your time and soak up the day. Support groups and recovery meetings are great places to meet like-minded people who are also looking for fun, sober activities. Volunteering is one of the best things to do instead of drinking. It allows you to socialize with others while giving back. Research has shown volunteering has yielded mental health benefits by improving access to social and psychological resources.
- Consider joining a book club to connect with others and engage in meaningful discussion.
- A reader asks about different ways of thinking about substance use treatment that have developed since AA was founded in 1935.
- Taking all the necessary safety precautions before starting your ascent is essential, especially if you’ve never climbed outdoors.
- You can also practice self-care by reading a book in a cozy spot, going for a relaxing swim, taking a leisurely walk or enjoying a warm bath with relaxing music.
- Rediscovering your creative side is a great way to find inspiration in sober daily life.
- This list is full of sober activities for you to try.