The holidays are meant to be a joyful time full of light, love, and merriment. But for people living with an addiction, the holiday season can pile on added anxiety and fears of relapse.
Many holiday celebration events are marked by alcohol, whether that means having a beer at a holiday party or wine with Thanksgiving dinner.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people are more likely to drink beyond their limits during the holidays than they are at any other time of year. For some people, this consumption spikes to twice the amount they normally drink outside of holiday celebrations.
If you or a loved one are concerned about how to maintain your sobriety during the holidays, know that you have options to help avoid any triggers. Below is a roundup of ideas for having festive, sober holiday celebrations.
7 Ways to Enjoy Sober Holiday Celebrations
1. Bring Your Own Non-Alcoholic Beverage
When you’re attending a gathering where people will likely be socializing and drinking, bring a non-alcoholic beverage to enjoy. This helps fulfill the habit of holding something in your hand and makes it less likely for anyone to offer you a drink.
There are plenty of festive holiday drinks that don’t contain alcohol. Sip on some non-alcoholic eggnog, apple cider, or hot chocolate. If you’re at a restaurant, order a festive holiday mocktail while remaining sober to participate in the celebration.
2. Take Up a New Holiday Hobby
Certain activities make more sense to do during the holidays. To consume your time in a healthy way, consider taking up a temporary hobby, such as:
- Ice skating
- Making tree ornaments or crafty gifts
- Entering gingerbread house decorating contests
- Perfecting your holiday cookie recipe
You may even find an activity you want to continue throughout the year.
3. Create New Holiday Traditions
Instead of sitting around and gabbing at holiday parties, sell your family on creating some new holiday traditions you can all do together to create lasting memories.
Examples of sober holiday traditions include:
- Hosting a family cook-off
- Having a holiday movie marathon
- Going caroling
- Driving around to see the holiday lights in different parts of town
- Attending holiday-centered performances, such as The Nutcracker
4. Give Back
Giving back to your community during the holiday season not only brings merriment to those around you but also brings you joy. Consider gathering friends, family, or people from a sobriety group you attend to volunteer your time as a way to enjoy a sober holiday.
Impactful ways to lend a hand during the holidays include:
- Serving meals at a local soup kitchen
- Creating holiday cards for children or families in the hospital
- Writing letters to soldiers stationed overseas
- Hosting a toy drive
- Delivering cookies to first responders or nurses who have to spend their holiday at work
5. Keep Support on Hand
While it’s always important to have support nearby, it’s especially helpful during the holidays when you may be exposed to more triggers than usual. Plan ahead and bring a sober friend to holiday celebrations where there may be alcohol or old acquaintances you used to drink with to help keep you accountable.
6. Excuse Yourself if Necessary
An important principle to remember during holiday celebrations is that they’re not mandatory. If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of attending an event or feel like you’re stretching yourself too thin, you can always politely excuse yourself. Your sobriety is more important than meeting others’ perceived expectations.
The same is true when you’re already at an event. If you begin to feel triggered, removing yourself from the situation may be best. Be sure to always have your own mode of transportation when attending holiday gatherings, so you have the option to leave.
7. Leave Time for Self-Care
This season is busier than most between family visits, social gatherings, and holiday events. This can lead to added stress, which has been shown to increase alcohol use.
Remember to set aside time for yourself no matter how busy the holiday season gets. Pencil in tasks such as exercising each morning, contributing to a gratitude journal, or slowing down to read your favorite book. Choose something you enjoy and challenge yourself to stick with it into the new year.
Purposes Recovery: Achieve Sobriety With Luxury Detox in Los Angeles
For those who need additional help this season, Purposes Recovery offers luxury medical detox services for those in the Los Angeles area. We also offer a residential program and a dual-diagnosis program for those who have an addiction alongside another mental health condition.
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