With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, everyone is starting to think about how they’re going to celebrate and chances are that their plans involve alcohol. Whether you’re in recovery from alcohol addiction or you simply fancy staying off the booze this year, below are five great tips for staying sober while still having fun as you bring in 2017.
Host your own party
If you think that going out to a bar or club will provide too much temptation, host your own alcohol-free party instead. Gather a few like-minded friends who are happy to stay sober and that way you don’t have to worry about giving into pressure. Make sure there are plenty of soft drinks, nibbles and games to keep you busy so that boredom doesn’t sink in and you start thinking about alcohol.
Attend an AA meeting
Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for those in recovery from alcohol addiction. Perhaps you lost close friends and family as a result of your addiction or you’re finding it hard not to drink because there are so many parties to go to
The festive period is a time when it’s particularly important to ensure that you’re following your recovery process meticulously and don’t feel ashamed or like you’re falling off the wagon if you feel you need to attend more meetings. Going to an AA meeting on New Year’s Eve can not only be great fun, it will also help to strengthen your recovery from alcohol abuse and you may even meet some new friends who can support you on your journey.
Go somewhere new
A major trigger of alcoholism is habit. If this is your first year being sober, you may find New Year’s Eve hard to get through because every other year you have gone out partying. The thought of not being able to go out and do something you’ve always enjoyed could weaken your willpower
To avoid feeling this way, try doing something completely different in a new environment. Go and visit family you haven’t seen for years, gather a group of friends and rent a cottage for the evening or even book a holiday to give yourself something to really look forward to.
Volunteer
If you’re going through a difficult time, helping others is a great way to take your mind off it and make yourself feel good. Plenty of charities look for volunteers during the festive period so sign yourself up. Whether it’s a local drop-in center, a nursing home, hospital or a charity, helping others will make you feel great, you will be helping your recovery from alcohol abuse and the distraction will stop you thinking about drinking.
Do something active
When you’re just sitting around, it’s easy to start thinking about wanting a drink because boredom sets it. Unfortunately, when life seems dull and monotonous, we start craving a high or something to feel excited about and if you’re an alcoholic, having a drink seems like the quickest and easiest way to achieve this. This is a very dangerous cycle for recovering alcoholics because when life slows down, the temptation to drink becomes all-consuming.
The best way to avoid this is to do something active because this will distract your mind. Whether it’s competing in a race, attending a gallery or hosting your own dance party, the busier your mind is, the less likely you are to fall victim to temptation.
If you think that you or someone you know could benefit from alcohol addiction recovery, please feel free to contact Toronto Trauma and Addiction Counselling for more information about the signs, symptoms and different treatments that are available.
