Staying Sober During the Holidays

Staying Sober During the Holidays

Staying sober during the holidays can be tough, but it’s definitely possible! Here are some thoughts on how to navigate the season while maintaining your sobriety:

Plan Ahead:

Ask your sponsor for guidance: Ask your sponsor for suggestions on holiday sobriety.

Identify triggers beforehand: What situations, people, or places might tempt you to drink or use? Once you know your triggers, you can create a plan to avoid or cope with them.

Have an exit strategy: If you think you might be made to feel uncomfortable or tempted at a holiday gathering, have a pre-planned excuse to leave. “I have an early morning” to “I’m not feeling well” are good possibles.

Bring your own drinks: Bring a non-alcoholic beverage you enjoy so you don’t feel left out.

Use the buddy system: If possible, attend events with a supportive friend who is also sober, or who understands and respects your commitment to sobriety.

Focus on Self-Care:

Be mindful: Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings so that you know when to take action to keep you sober.

Prioritize your well-being: Get enough sleep, healthy food and time engaging in activities that help you to relax and de-stress. Exercise, meditation and communing with nature can help.

Attend recovery and support group meetings: Keep up your schedule of meeting attendance so as to maintain your connection with others in recovery for each other’s support and encouragement. If away from your home, find and attend meetings; and remember that there is an abundance of Zoom meetings out there.

Set Boundaries:

Communicate your needs: You’re likely going to need their support and understanding, so let your friends and family know that you’re not drinking. If you believe that it’s emotionally unsafe to tell them, have a supportive buddy with you when associating with them.

Say no: It’s alright to decline invitations to events where you think that your sobriety could be challenged.

Find Alternate Activities:

Volunteer: Giving back to your community provides a rewarding way to divert your attention to positive efforts.

Start new traditions: Since some holiday traditions may be subtly or not-so-subtly connected to alcohol, create new ones like game nights or movie marathons.

Remember Your Reasons:

Stay connected to your why: When things get tough, remember the reasons why you have chosen sobriety, and keep those reasons in the front of your mind.

Remind yourself of your progress: Remember to give yourself credit for your efforts to get, and stay, sober. You have made a decision to seek a new life and are working toward it, and that is commendable.

Lastly remember that recovery is a journey. If you happen to slip, try not to dwell on the slip and take the next indicated step to resume that journey to a better life.

Oh, and one other thing: We are not a glum lot, so HAVE FUN!

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