For some people in recovery, staying sober can be tough. You don’t have to let unfulfilled expectations, tense family dynamics, or crazy in-laws threaten your recovery. Here are seven ways to ensure you keep your sobriety during this holiday season.
- Remind yourself how good it feels to be sober
When you wake up every morning, plant this thought in your head. Stick a note on your bathroom mirror, refrigerator, or anywhere you will see it most often. The more you tell yourself this, the easier it will be to remember. Eventually, this thought will become habitual, and so will your sobriety.
- Plan activities other than sitting around talking and eating
Don’t avoid your family. Instead, find new ways of celebrating the holidays with them. Go for a hike, take a trip together, do something that you wouldn’t be able to do without your sobriety. This will help you appreciate your sobriety that much more.
- If you’re traveling, go to meetings wherever you are
Traveling often messes up any typical schedule you might adhere to. Be sure to attend regular meetings, even if you’re out of town for the holidays. This gives you a chance to meet new people on the same quest as you, and hopefully find some new inspiration to stay sober. Find meetings here.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
There are some places where temptation is unavoidable. If you’re flying and recovering from alcoholism, for example, planes don’t have non-alcoholic sections. Don’t be afraid to ask your steward (ess) if they can change your seat next to someone who won’t order something stronger than tomato juice.
- Take it easy
The holidays are a time for rest and relaxation as well. Getting plenty of sleep, watching what you eat, and adhering to your typical exercise schedule are easy ways of ensuring you don’t jeopardize your road to recovery.
- Bring recovery reading with you on your travels
If there are e-book versions of any material you are reading for meetings, make sure they travel with you over the holidays if the hard copy can’t fit in your suitcase.
- Remember it’s okay to tell people you’re in recovery
The holidays often bring people together that haven’t seen each other in some time. If this is true of your holiday season, remember it’s okay, to be honest about your recovery. If no one knows you’re recovering, they may lead you to unwanted temptation.
Staying sober over the holidays requires preparation. The sooner you start preparing, the easier it will be to make it to the New Year without falling into temptation’s trap.