The holidays can be a difficult time for anyone, but for those in recovery, it can be particularly challenging. With all the festivities and temptations that come with the season, it’s important to have a plan that will help you navigate through the holidays without compromising your sobriety. Here are some tips to help you stay on track during the holiday season.
Make a Plan and Stick To It
Before heading into any social setting, make sure you know what you’re going to do if someone offers you alcohol or drugs. Having a plan ahead of time will help take away some of the pressure when it comes time to make a decision.
Additionally, don’t forget to plan out an exit strategy if things become too overwhelming or uncomfortable. Decide ahead of time how much time you want to spend at each holiday event and inform yourself of who will be there and what their relationship is with alcohol/drugs.
Find Alternatives
Instead of spending your evenings in bars or parties where drinks are flowing, look for other activities that still allow you to enjoy yourself without putting your sobriety at risk. From ice skating rinks to movie theaters and comedy clubs, there are plenty of fun activities available this holiday season that don’t involve alcohol or drugs.
You could also consider joining a sober meetup group so that you can find people with similar goals in mind who can provide support during difficult times like these.
Take Care Of Yourself
Self-care is essential during the holiday season! Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods so that you have enough energy throughout the day. Take regular breaks from stressful situations and give yourself permission to say “no” when necessary—you don’t have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations just because it’s the holidays!
Create Healthy Coping Habits
The holidays can be overwhelming, but there are plenty of healthy ways to cope with stress without resorting to drugs or alcohol. Exercise is a great way to take care of yourself mentally and physically by releasing endorphins (the “happy hormone”) while also providing an outlet for the physical release of energy or emotion.
You can also practice breathing exercises or mindfulness activities like journaling or coloring as a way of calming down your body and mind in moments of high stress or anxiety. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, try one of these activities as an alternative solution before reaching for drugs or alcohol.
Stay Busy
Being busy during the holidays can help keep your mind off of substances; it also gives you something else productive to focus on rather than dwelling on cravings. Make a list of fun activities ahead of time so that when the cravings hit, you have something meaningful and distracting to turn to instead of reaching for substances.
Join a fitness class with friends or volunteer at a local charity – whatever helps keep your mind off using drugs or drinking alcohol!
Lastly, remember that it’s OK if things don’t go as planned; allow yourself some grace whenever possible so that setbacks won’t derail your progress toward sobriety.
The holidays can be an especially tough time for those in recovery due to all the festivities and temptations present during this time of year. But with careful planning and self-care, it is possible to stay on track with your sobriety journey even amidst all the chaos!
By following these tips, those in recovery can confidently navigate through even the most daunting holiday season without compromising their commitment to staying sober.
