Congratulations on leaving behind the 10% of Americans who abuse alcohol. Now that you’ve stopped drinking, it’s time to fill your free time with some fun, sober activities.
The activities below will help you keep your mind off drinking and give you a sense of accomplishment. Keep reading for 12 things to do that don’t involve alcohol.
Water Aerobics
If you’re looking for a way to get your heart rate up in a comfortable environment, try taking a water aerobics class. Water makes it easier for your body to move and carry out more complex motions than dry land would allow. The buoyancy of water also helps protect joints and muscles from injury.
If you’re interested in trying out water aerobics, sign up at your local gym. Most places have them available at least once per week during the summer.
Meditation
Meditation is a great way to focus your mind on staying sober. It helps you reduce stress and relieve anxiety. It’s also a great way to get in touch with yourself and the world around you.
You can meditate anywhere and at any time, so it’s easy to fit into your busy schedule.
Volunteering
Volunteering is one of the best ways to meet new people while giving back to the community. You can learn new skills and make a difference in someone’s life.
Volunteering gives you an opportunity to spend time with people who share your goals. You might even meet a friend who can help keep you accountable on your recovery journey.
Go Hiking
Hiking is a great way to get exercise and enjoy nature. Try hiking with a group, or join an organized hike in your area.
You can also go hiking alone. Just leave a note at home that says where you plan to go so someone will know where you are.
Create a Vision Board
A vision board is a collage of images, words, and phrases that represent your dreams. You can use it as a motivation tool during your addiction recovery.
You can create a vision board on your computer or use pictures from a magazine. If you want to make one on your own, use photos that represent what you want in your life (e.g., travel, family, health). Remember to choose words that inspire you and relate to your goals (e.g., happiness).
Take a Self-Care Day
When you’re working on your recovery, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day struggles of life and neglect yourself. Taking a self-care day gives you the opportunity to spend some quality time with yourself.
There are many ways that people choose to spend their self-care days. You can take a bubble bath or do a face mask. You can even take the day off from work if you need to.
Whatever you choose to do, remember that it’s important to take care of yourself. It helps you feel refreshed and ready for the challenges of sobriety.
Stay at a Recovery Home
If you’re struggling, the best place to be is in a recovery home. You might ask, what is recovery housing? Recovery housing is a place where you can live while you’re getting sober.
It’s like a college dorm, but it’s for people who are just starting their recovery journey. You’ll have access to services that can help you stay on track with your sobriety goals.
Reading
When you’re feeling tense, reading your favorite book from childhood can help calm your mind and put things into perspective. Reading can also be a distraction from the urges to drink or use drugs. It’s important to find a book that interests you so that it doesn’t feel like a chore.
Talk With Your Sponsor
Your sponsor is there to help you through difficult times. Talk to them when you’re feeling stressed, frustrated, or confused about your sobriety.
If you don’t have a sponsor, find someone who is in recovery and can offer you support. This person should be someone whose opinion you trust. You should feel confident that they will respect and accept your feelings.
It can be a counselor, family member, or friend.
Learn to Cook
Cooking is an important skill to have as a sober person. Making food for yourself and your friends is more than just eating in a group. It can be an experience that doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol.
Having some tasty dishes in your repertoire will come in handy at parties where alcohol is being served. Cooking also helps keep your mind busy while making sure that your body gets the nutrients it needs.
Look for Employment
It’s important to have a sense of responsibility. Having a full-time job will help you keep your mind off drugs and alcohol. Your workplace might even require drug tests, which will further encourage you to stick to your sobriety.
You can look for jobs on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. You could also go to your local government office and ask what’s available.
Don’t get discouraged if you have trouble finding a job right away. Volunteer with an organization while you wait on employers to get back to you.
Get a Massage
Massages are a great way to destress. They help you feel better about yourself, which is especially important if you’re trying to stay sober.
You can get massages at a salon or spa in your area. If you want to save money, consider asking a friend if they’ll give you one as a gift.
Try These Sober Activities
You don’t have to sit around bored during your treatment center for recovery. There are plenty of things you can do that will keep your mind busy and help you feel good about yourself. Try these sober activities the next time you want to get out of the house.
Whichever activity you choose, make sure you feel relaxed. If you’re looking for new ways to relax, our lifestyle articles can provide inspiration. Have a read and try them out.
Read more articles at Ibomma News