10 Lively Ways to Have Sober Fun
Most people struggling with addiction have found it challenging to rebuild their lives on a foundation of sobriety. Each new activity is approached with thoughts like, “How can I do this sober” and “I was only able to do this before because I drank/used.”
Life met with sobriety can be a whole new learning process. Like a toddler learning how to walk, being clean and sober means relearning everything we thought we once knew how to do. When our medicine or “liquid courage” is taken away, we are faced with all sorts of emotions such as anxiety, fears, doubts, and more.
One of the many reasons why it is so important to have a recovery buddy or a sponsor is to be able to express those feelings in the moment. While a therapist can help you work out and heal lifelong issues over time, a sponsor is someone you can call from the bathroom of a concert venue to tell him or her how triggered you are, so they can talk you off the ledge by sharing their experience, strength and hope.
Of course, the most effective way to avoid your triggers is to engage in activities that do not depend upon alcohol or drugs. We call that having “Sober Fun,” which may sound contradictory at first. But as we progress in our recovery, we start to get to know who we are, discovering our true interests, likes, dislikes and hobbies; these may be very different from our family of origin or former peer group.
Recovery is about discovery, so we encourage you to embark on a journey to discover what you enjoy without using substances to “numb out.” To get you started, here are ten sober fun activity suggestions for you to explore with friends or your recovery buddy:
- Comedy clubs: Many of these clubs, such as the Comedy Store and Laugh Factory, require a two-drink minimum—but don’t worry, they serve soda, tea and water. Invite your recovery buddy or attend this event with a group of people so you can be held accountable.
- Dinner and entertainment: Whether cooking at home or dining out, enjoying good food with friends is always fun. Making dinner is also about the process of choosing the recipes, shopping for ingredients and sharing the results of your efforts. You caFor entertainment, simply rent a movie…or, just talk and catch up on your lives!
- Games: Whether a rousing round of charades, or old board favorites like Scrabble, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, playing games is a great way bring people together! So pull them out, brush off the dust and plan a regular game night.
- Local events: Use the internet to look up what’s going on in your area, from art openings to community events to open mike at the local coffeehouse.
- House crawl: Unlike a pub crawl, this activity involves visiting different friends’ homes without alcohol or drugs. Each house is responsible for providing a course of food (appetizers, salad, entrée, dessert), entertainment and socializing, ending up at the last house with a movie or game night.
- Theme party: Host a Super Bowl party for the guys, organize a spa pampering for the girls, or throw a costume bash for Halloween. Make it something fun and provide lots of snacks and beverages.
- Fellowship: Invite everyone out to dinner before heading out to a great 12-step speaker meeting.
- Celebrating holidays: Holidays, birthdays and just regular days with family can be a reason to set us off and fall off the wagon. Knowing this ahead of time, you can plan for a Thanksgiving celebration with your friends instead of your family.
- Girls Night In/Out: Invite over a few of your closest girlfriends for manicures and a movie night. In our disease, we tend to view people out to “get” us. As women, strengthening our relationships with females can be a very healing process.
- Guys Night Out: Supported by your sponsor or recovery buddy, plan some fun male bonding with a group of guy friends, like camping, hiking, beach volleyball or attending a game of your favorite professional sports team.
Just because you are in recovery doesn’t mean things are going to be easy from now on. In fact, the opposite usually occurs. We become more vulnerable, emotional and closed off if we are not part of a supportive community. Make sure there is at least one person you can talk to about your recovery and enjoying a sober life that is full of FUN!