Let’s learn why boredom is the enemy and what you can do to squash it. I have found new friends through groups like these. I’ve also made friends through my (inevitable, predictable) sober passion for exercise and fitness. But I also realised that there were already sober people in my life whom I had previously ignored. I spent time looking out for sober role models in my social and professional circles – men of a similar age who were sober but still funny, smart, confident and capable.

• I used to believe the lie that life would be boring if I didn’t drink.
• Feeling bored, sad, lonely, or anxious about something are all very human things to feel.
• If you have other coping skills you can reach for you, you may be less likely to turn to alcohol to help you regulate your feelings.
• Picking up that drink to get past feeling bored is a dangerous practice that can only get worse.
• But drinking alcohol doesn’t solve any of these problems.

It also opens up space to approach your internal world differently. One of the biggest impediments to my sobriety during my relapse days was my inability to avoid getting consumed by emotions. Not on its own, but maybe it starts a conversation and a friend comes over just to sit with you and make sure you’re good.

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But I PROMISE you, if you keep moving forward, things in your brain will start to click. And one day, it will occur to you that you’re actually happy and enjoying your life. Volunteering is a great way to reconnect with your community. Helping others actually boosts our own mental health and feelings of self-worth.

In the meantime, the Soberish community is here to support you and help you get there. This is the part where you figure out how to enjoy life without a little something extra to help loosen you up. So now comes the arduous task of learning how to manage the tough stuff without a chemical crutch like alcohol. 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.

Tips to stop drinking out of boredom

It’s even harder if your loved ones don’t support your sobriety. On the one hand, you have no idea what you’re supposed to do with yourself. A lot of people don’t feel good when they first get sober, so it’s totally understandable if your feelings are all over the place. Ignoring the harmful effects of alcohol consumption and regularly indulging can have short-term and long-term effects on your health.

These qualities may feel impossible to find elsewhere. Do you think you’re choosing if you don’t want to imagine a life without a mind-altering substance? You’re in control, or is it controlling you? And if you really just don’t want to—do you have another reason other than the excuses I used to give myself? Although eating snacks when you’re bored may give you momentary pleasure, that empty calorie-filled satisfaction can only last for so long. And, as much as I would like to say that after conducting research on this topic, my habit of unnecessary snacking will completely dissipate, I don’t think that will be the case.

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Volunteering could be spending your whole weekend assisting low-income campers or it could simply be stacking chairs at your favorite 12-step meeting. Volunteering helps fill in stretches of boredom, helps you think about others, and can help you get a great night’s sleep. “I love drinking out of boredom that the ladies there are so nice and supportive. And they take time to listen to you and help you set new goals each week . It really helps in weight loss .” You can find more about my work and private coaching, as well as additional support resources at hellosomedaycoaching.com.

• For other people, drinking alcohol out of boredom is a much more active choice – they drink to cope with negative feelings like anxiety or loneliness.
• So much of an addict’s life is spent thinking about, obtaining, or using drugs, but when that’s taken away when you go to inpatient treatment, you’re left with a lot of free time.
• Swapping our routines and habits that are damaging you for ones that can strengthen your body and soul will give you a really clear reason why you want to stop drinking out of boredom.
• As with anxiety, COVID has seen rates of loneliness soar, as people have been forced apart for months, or have lost connections to friends or social groups.
• Overdoses can also create a series of negative consequences.

When I had been sober for three months, I received a really big job offer – the sort that warranted a celebration. But without the option of going straight to the pub to raise a few glasses, I was clueless as to how to express my excitement. I used to believe the lie that life would be boring if I didn’t drink.

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Located in Central Ohio, our comprehensive addiction treatment facility offers several levels of care to fit the needs of each individual. Boredom doesn’t https://ecosoberhouse.com/ always have to be an enemy. It’s important to fight long periods of boredom to keep yourself sane but you can also embrace the peace of boredom.