So deep, in fact, that when he does ask for juice, his parents give him lectures on how it’s unhealthy and full of sugar. It helps to mentally focus on a chosen sober activity rather than fixating on the desire to drink or all the drinking around you. Be the designated driverIf you volunteer to be the chauffeur it will be easier to avoid drink – and you will earn the eternal gratitude of everyone else.

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Seek support if you are stressed

Visit Al-Anon’s holiday link for details on the Al-Anon phone bridge. Often in gatherings where drinking is common, having a drink in your hand is habit. Take control by bringing your own non-alcoholic (NA) beverage of choice, removing the option to fill your glass with an alcohol-based drink. There are quite a few traditional holiday beverages that are just as good (or better!) without alcohol…eggnog, hot chocolate, and hot cider, just to name a few. Find more by searching online for “NA holiday drinks” or “holiday mocktails”. I’m not alone in not being especially worried about my drinking but also wanting to drink less on holiday; the pandemic has accelerated a growing trend for sober vacations.

• Know what your biggest triggers are (whether people, situations or environments) so that you can steer clear of them and not enable unnecessary temptations.
• You may be tempted to join the children’s table if your adult loved ones are in the “party” mood.
• The process of reaching your destination and the possibility of being around people who don’t support or understand your recovery journey can be challenging.
• Remind yourself that just one drink usually leads to more.
• “In reality, sober guests are much more likely to relax and appreciate the night [and yes, be fun] if they don’t feel pressured into drinking,” says Bodkins.
• If you come prepared to protect your sobriety, you should be able to outmaneuver addiction and avoid any potential relapses.

As we learn during addiction rehab and in the meeting rooms, recovery is a one-day-at-a-time endeavor, no matter the season. Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. Lastly, it can also be helpful to have a non-alcoholic beverage in hand to avoid people offering you a drink. You might need help preparing yourself before and processing the experience after you attend a holiday party.

Stay busy

This encourages your group to celebrate around food as opposed to drinking. The rise of alcohol-free beer and non-alcoholic spirits is further evidence that Britons are slowly changing their attitudes towards drinking – there’s money in them mocktails. The consensus is that coronavirus has had a polarising effect on British drinkers. While consumption in pubs and bars, which were closed, fell dramatically, drinking at home increased. Drinking alone went up, and 2020 was the worst year for alcohol-related deaths for 20 years; more than 7,000 were recorded.

If you’re comfortable sharing your journey — there’s nothing shameful in taking control of your life and caring for yourself – then talk to others when the subject arises. Being honest with people might help make you comfortable. No matter your faith, many religious groups offer a variety of family-friendly events to participate in during the holiday season. It’s easy to drive through a light display or visit a live Nativity scene.

Trying to Stay Sober This Holiday Season? We’ve Got You Covered

If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate that deviate from the traditional party, try visiting the places you’ve been meaning to see. The holidays are a great time to catch up on historical tours, museum visits and sober holidays art shows. Many places offer special hours during the holiday season to welcome guests who are visiting family from out of town. Use this time to take a quieter approach to the holidays as you find sober activities.

The holidays can be a fun and exciting time of year, but also a stressful and emotional time as well. Here are 10 quick tips for maintaining your sobriety, and sanity, during the winter holidays and into the new year. A significant part of recovery and maintaining sobriety is having a community and connection.

Bookend a Party With a Sponsor or Recovery Group

While 70% of her customers are booze-free, 30% are simply “sober-curious”. In June, the New York Times reported that a poll of more than 20,000 Americans found that nearly a third planned an alcohol-free trip after the pandemic. According to the Global Wellness Institute, a US non-profit organisation, by 2022 wellness tourism around the world will be worth nearly $1tn, a fifth of the market. Always ensure that you stay in touch with people who understand and support your sobriety. If you are on holiday with them – great, but if you are not then I suggest that you check in daily with someone that knows you’re sober, even if it’s just a quick WhatsApp message. It is all too easy to get swooped back into the old normal – especially if everyone around you is doing júst that.

• As warmer days turn cold, don’t become stressed as you turn the calendar another month closer to the holiday season.
• For others, it may mean avoiding certain substances or using them only in moderation.
• This means thinking ahead about all the possible triggers and situations that may come your way during the holiday season.
• So here are some ways to stay sober during the holiday season.
• Living with addiction takes the strength of a superhero, regardless of if you are the addict or the loved one.

Several churches also offer support programs for people overcoming addiction. Being able to pair your religious practices with your sobriety can often help you feel more secure in the process. Keep in mind that there’s no need to be ashamed of your past or the journey you’re on now. Christmas dinners, New Years Eve parties and even religious celebrations can seem to bombard someone who is trying to stay sober during the holiday season. You turn down a glass of red wine at a family dinner and deny yourself a champagne toast at the stroke of midnight to welcome the New Year.

But while you’re enjoying yourself and your sober holiday lifestyle, it’s easy to feel alone. Stay involved with your sober community or support group. This is especially important if you’re feeling lonely or isolated. There are plenty of online and in-person support groups available for people in recovery during the holidays. Also, reach out to friends and family members who support your sobriety.

• If you feel yourself getting frustrated or lonely in your sobriety, talk to someone you trust.
• While it might seem unfair or harsh to say no, it’s necessary.
• The holidays are not a time to hold on to resentment.

During the holidays, such as Thanksgiving, many places that host meetings will have meeting marathons, where they hold meetings every hour on the hour. It’s also a good idea to provide yourself with distractions. First, find a non-alcoholic drink you enjoy that you can sip on throughout the night.

If Uncle Brian is going to mix you a stiff drink, stay away from him. If the office New Year’s party is really all about drinking or other drug use, make a brief appearance or don’t attend. It’s unrealistic in all of these scenarios to say, “I can soldier through it.” That’s what Step One of the Twelve Steps teaches us, right? So why put yourself in the position of having to “power through” an obstacle course of relapse triggers? Staying sober and safeguarding your recovery must always come first.