6 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays

Staying sober during the holidays can be a little tricky for those who new to recovery.

The holidays are a time of hustle and bustle, shopping, parties, gifting, and family time. The holidays can be wonderfully fun sometimes, but they can also cause some serious stress and anxiety. Some people just have a glass of wine to wind down after a long day of festivities, and others imbibe throughout the season, without thought or care. But what about those in recovery? How can they relieve stress, stay sober, and avoid getting stuck in the holiday blues?

Here are 6 tips for staying sober during the holidays:

1. Plan. Plan to spend time with supportive friends and loved ones who know you are in recovery. If you have made new friends in your treatment program or 12-step groups, see what they have planned for the holidays.
2. Donate. Think about donating your time to a charitable organization to help those in need. When we are thinking of others, we get more perspective on our own situation.
3. Meet. Make sure you know of 12-step meetings nearby that you can attend whenever you get a chance or need the extra support.
4. Rest. It is vital that you take some quiet time for yourself to rest and relax. All of the socializing and outings can drain us emotionally and physically.
5. Focus. It is easy to let up on a recovery program as you get swept up in the busyness of the season. It helps to make a conscious effort to address your program daily.
6. Be Grateful. Instead of thinking about how it used to be or what you cannot do this holiday season, remember what you are achieving by living sober; it is undoubtedly greater than anything this season may be lacking.

Learning how to live sober is a process, but it is infinitely rewarding, and those who are nearest and dearest to you should respect and appreciate your commitment to a new way of life. Happy holidays!