Living an alcohol-free life provides even more opportunities to create meaningful connections with others. Early sobriety is a critical period when community and support networks are critical. This can be hard if your social life previously revolved around drinking. It’s even harder if your loved ones don’t support your sobriety. When you keep to yourself and you’re always alone, it’s not uncommon to feel bored. So, the best way to avoid this scenario is to surround yourself with a support network of friends.

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Feeling bored, sad, lonely, or anxious about something are all very human things to feel. If nothing else, it starts to chip away at any notion you might have that you’re unworthy. Volunteer at your local shelter or thrift store. Sign up to do some work in your community garden.

Practice Healthy Living

• I used to think I had Italian blood in me because I would blow my top at the slightest thing, shouting and gesticulating like a Neapolitan fish wife.
• Nothing against normal drinkers, I wish I could be one, I love alcohol and I’m a bartender.
• It’s even harder if your loved ones don’t support your sobriety.
• You could feel angry, frustrated, sad, confused, or a mixture of all of those.
• Regardless of your strong desire to remain sober, you need time to process what it’s like to be sober.

Getting outside and communing with nature is scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve mental health and cognitive function in both kids and adults. When you get sober, you realize there is an entire daytime pulse in your city or town that you never really felt before. Things that people do during that day that don’t involve recovering or boozy brunch.

Best Foods to Cleanse Your Liver After Alcohol

To take this hobby to the next level, consider joining a book or film club. Meeting with others regularly can help you discover new books or movies, stay accountable to your hobby, and feel part of a community (beyond the Monument Community!). Sometimes one of the best ways to get out of your head is to seek out an adrenaline rush. Roller Coasters and other amusement park rides are a great way to get a thrill without any substances needed. If you’re looking for something slightly more tame, you can go out laser tagging, arcading, indoor skydiving, zip lining, or dancing at a silent disco.

• Another not-so-noticeable effect of a drinking problem is that sipping too many Margaritas can also cause you to gain a bunch of excess pounds.
• For many people with a substance use disorder, it’s simply a matter of never having learned the appropriate way to manage anger.
• Resurgence offers numerous resources, support, and numerous methods to navigate sobriety.
• Volunteering is a great way to show sobriety is not boring.

And while these things might sound serious and scary, it’s important to note that it’s one piece of a larger puzzle. Recovery and sobriety are often complicated. A therapist can help treat the underlying symptoms through therapeutic modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or trauma-processing techniques. Once I realized that I had to rediscover what fun meant to me.

Then, we invite you to post any additional questions in the comments section at the end. We value your feedback and try to respond personally and promptly to all legitimate inquiries. This article provides 5 TIPS on dealing with boredom in addiction recovery that commonly occur shortly after treatment. The real question is why is being able to “hold,” your liquor, even something worth being proud of? Today with social movements that support sobriety like, Dry January or Sober Curious are encouraging all kinds of people to realize sobriety is not boring. The Royal Palms is a 21+ Shuffleboard Club located in Gowanus.

Overdoing something, even when it has perceived benefits, is still overdoing it and actually can be counterproductive if not downright harmful. Boredom, on some level, is a natural part of transitioning into a sober lifestyle and finding new ways to fill your drinking because of boredom time with activities that amuse, challenge, or entertain you. You should spend your time feeding your soul, not your habit. You might even choose to spend your time doing something adventurous or taking healthy risks. Many addicts never finished high school.

However, research suggests that while 12-step groups are effective, people often don’t continue their involvement at beneficial levels over the long term. Sobriety means not being under the influence of a substance. However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts.

Accept that you are in a transitional phase, which will take time.