You've made it! You've arrested your addiction and are ready to start building your new, sober life. Your old habits might not fit your new lifestyle. It's never easy to find new ways to spend your time, especially if it doesn't involve alcohol or drugs. Luckily, there are plenty of sober activities out there for you to try!
How to Find Sober Activities
Get Creative! Think about how you can be creative and active without drinking. Use the newfound time away from alcohol to explore unknown places and interact with other people, something that alcohol may have previously prevented. To find the healthy activities that will ensure your free time is enjoyable and productive, try some of the following.
Make a list of ideas. Finding new hobbies is difficult, but it's possible. Think about what you liked to do before you had a problem with substance abuse. It's helpful to write some ideas. And use the list as a launching pad.
Find new experiences. When creating your list, consider experiences that you never tried because of the time you spent in active addiction. It is never too late to try something new.
Include several individual activities. Gather a variety of activities on your list that involve just you. This way, if you find yourself restless but on your own, you can go to an activity that satisfies both needs.
Being flexible. You may find that sober activities you try out don’t exactly fit your personality, lifestyle, and athletic ability. Don’t worry! Learning what you don't enjoy is part of the process, and you won't be an expert at anything overnight. Keep trying new things until something sticks.
You've made it through the hardest part and are ready to start building your new life. Your old hobbies, friends, and habits might not fit your new lifestyle. Find a support network of people and activities that support your sobriety and prevent relapses.
9 Mind-Blowing Ways to Fill Your Leisure Time
There are plenty of sober activities to prevent relapse out there for you to try. Use our list to get started.
#1. Sign up for a dancing class. There's a dance class out there for everyone! Whether you take hour-long hip-hop or salsa class, or a basic class that allows you to learn the basics of ballroom or musical theatre, it's time to stop making excuses and moving to the music. Dancing's benefits are endless. You can get your groove on, release endorphins in your brain, increase blood flow, and even make new friends!
#2. Join a Meetup group. Meetup.com is a non-profit organization that helps people find and join groups in their area who share their passions. Whether you're into board games, yoga, or meditation, there's a group for you! Find a Meetup group online to see the events they offer near you.
#3. Volunteer Your Time. Volunteering helps reduce depression and helps you reconnect with your community. It also gives you a sense of purpose. There are so many amazing places to volunteer in your own community. You don't have to travel across the world to give back. Contact schools, daycare centers, hospitals, shelters, charities, food banks, animal shelters, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters.
#4. Pamper Yourself. A nice spa day will leave you with a renewed sense of wellness. Whether you enjoy facials, body scrubs, nail art, or massage sessions, you'll leave feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
#5. Get your fitness on. We're designed to move our bodies. Besides getting rid of excess stress, it has been proven that physical activity improves our heart health and blood circulation, boosts our mental health, helps us sleep better, improves our immune systems, and increases our metabolism. Physical activity gets your endorphins pumping, clears your mind, boosts your energy levels, and burns calories at the same time.
#6. Take up learning. Learning is a great way to improve yourself. Sign up for a class, or attend a lecture, or join a training program. You can learn a new language, paint, skill for employment, code, sculpt, etc. It will amaze you with the new perspectives you will have!
#7. Join a sports team. Whether it's football, soccer, basketball, bowling, or racquetball, find an intramural team sport you can join. Sports provide the "team" element that you may desire while providing stress relief.
#8. Get out and enjoy the outdoors. Sitting and staring at your laptop on a park bench will never be as enjoyable as going for a hike in nature. Camping is a great way to get out of the city and enjoy the tranquility of nature.
Don't wait to experience the sober world — it's the best place to begin your new life. Use your newfound time and energy to find a new passion project. Remember, recovery from alcohol and drug use is a lifelong process. The best activities are ones that provide you with healthy highs, opportunities for making new friends, and ways to express yourself. The possibilities are endless. Go on a road trip and have a fun adventure. Spend the day walking along the beach, visiting an amusement park, and experiencing the great outdoors. Visit a historical museum and take a tour. Go rollerblading or biking around town. Have a barbecue with your friends and family. Go swimming at a local pool. Take a cooking class. Come to Monte Cristo, where you can begin your sober life. At Monte Cristo, our integrated treatment program provides you with medically supervised detox to get your recovery started. Call us at (714) 824-9896 for more information.