If you are newly sober, life after treatment is a significant shock to the system. When you were active in your addiction, you spent your days getting, using, and then recovering from your substance of choice. Now that you are in recovery, you have plenty of free time—and plenty of time for boredom to set in. Idle time is often the devil’s playground, and too much free time in early recovery often allows cravings and urges to take up space in your mind. If not addressed, you run an increased risk of relapse.
A great way to fill your free time in recovery is through engaging in fun, sober activities. We will explore why it’s necessary to find sober fun activities in recovery, and we will talk about common activities to stay sober. Despite what you may think, sober activities are fun, engaging, and actually help you grow more confident in your recovery.
When you are new in recovery, the primary focus is on relapse prevention. In order to minimize the risk of returning to active drug use, new must learn to embrace your new sober life. To do so, you must continue going to 12-step meetings, rely on your support network, practice healthy life skills, and find and utilize the community resources that will enhance your recovery efforts. Another important facet of your relapse prevention plan is finding fun, sober activities. Having activities to stay sober fills up your daily schedule and keeps you engaged and away from the thoughts that may tempt you to use drugs and alcohol.
Having hobbies will help you re-conceptualize the meaning of “fun”. When you were actively using, fun meant being getting high or drunk with using friends and like-minded people. While those high times may have been a lot of fun, they came with a terrible price. In sobriety, you have the opportunity to find fun things to do that are physically, mentally, and psychologically healthy. These sober, fun activities can be either old hobbies you once loved or new and exciting hobbies that motivate and excite you.
As stated earlier, a life of sobriety can be extremely jarring and full of sensory overload. While you feel ready, learning a new way of life can feel overwhelming. Finding fun things to do while sober may seem like an oxymoron. For many people on the outside looking in, sobriety seems boring. Despite prevailing opinions, many fun and exciting things to do in recovery fill the senses and keep boredom at bay. Depending on your personality type, you can find sober fun things to do that will truly fill your life with zest and zeal. Consider the following activities:
Are you a thrill-seeker that has a spirit of adventure and spontaneity? Consider the following activities:
Do you love the great outdoors? Do you enjoy the grandeur and majesty of nature? You may want to consider the following sober, fun activities:
Maybe you are the type of person that is totally in touch with your inner child. You realize that sobriety does not have to be a plain and boring existence. Because of that, you may like the following activities to keep you sober:
The great thing about sober fun activities is you can always find something new and exciting to try as long as you keep an open mind. Maybe you can rediscover an old hobby or explore new interests. Better yet, get family and friends involved—the more the merrier!
Finding fun things to do that are healthy and recovery-centered can be hard if you are new to recovery. If you have just completed a treatment program, like an inpatient treatment program in California, or feel the need to reignite your enthusiasm for sobriety. Give Sober Mind a call toll-free today. We offer inpatient and outpatient treatment programs that are tailored to meet your needs. Our dedicated staff can help you address your addiction and find your passion for life.
Call Sober Mind today for comprehensive aftercare and help finding sober hobbies at a drug rehab in Southern California.