The holiday season is a busy time, but it should be joyful and a good reason to stay sober. However, the holiday season is also a time when pressures and temptations are around every corner—and staying mindful comes with deliberate thought and some assistance. Here’s how to get ahead of the holiday hustle and tips for the holidays while staying sober.
Staying Sober Through the Holiday Hustle: Tips for a Joyful Season
Sobriety During The Holidays
For many people, the hustle and bustle of the holidays brings them joy. For others, the stress can be difficult, especially for those in recovery from substance abuse. Holiday parties with family and friends, family gatherings, and holiday traditions can make you feel uncomfortable this season.
Follow these tips on staying sober, surrounding yourself with those who support your recovery, and enjoying the holiday season.
Set Small Short-Term Goals
Start the holidays by setting small, short-term goals for yourself. Decide how you will approach the holiday season. Set milestones that will make you feel good about yourself and ones that aren’t difficult to accomplish.
This keeps your brain goal-oriented while still allowing you to enjoy the holiday season to the full. Goals can be anything you would consider progress. This could mean eating less carbohydrates to buying your favorite album by the 15th of the month.
Don’t Stop Your Sobriety Clock and Schedule Your Time
Don’t stop your sobriety clock. Keep counting your sober days throughout the holidays, marking them as usual.
Routine is a friend of sobriety. Continuing to count how many days you’ve won over your addiction is an excellent way to maintain positive thoughts. Maintain your sobriety clock. Counting achieves an important goal. This keeps the holiday season going on the right track.
Schedule your time carefully. The holiday season can add increased pressure to keep up with meetings and dates, but you don’t have to with careful thought. Stay connected to loved ones in neutral environments, and attend events where you can maintain control. Scheduling your time carefully avoids feeling much of the “holiday pressure” people associate with this time of year.
Maintain Your Diet
Don’t make any drastic changes to your diet over the holiday season. Diet should remain constant because it makes it easier to keep everything else at the same level of normality.
The sudden introduction of traditional “holiday food” can confuse the body and cause an adverse immune system reaction!
It’s OK to have fun at holiday events. Just remember, the main goal is to be healthier after the holidays!
Switch to Alternatives
There are always more practical alternatives to tastes you might have used to enjoy at this time of the year. Choose other options to taste without some ingredients’ health risks. The most popular tastes, from cola to cinnamon, thanks to food science, have a close taste alternative.
For sobriety, watch out for foods that might activate the brain’s pleasure centers. Chocolate can be a trigger-related food for some, while for other people, it can be as wide as asparagus.
This is personal, and you should know more or less what to avoid.
Always Ask About Holiday Drinks and Desserts
Sobriety is a conscious, personal choice. However, there can also be many hidden pitfalls. These pitfalls lead to consuming things without thinking (or asking) about their ingredients.
Holiday foods might contain taboo ingredients or things enhanced with ingredients on your “do-not-consume” list.
Treat sobriety like food allergies. Always ask for a list of ingredients, and ensure it’s safe to consume.
Connect with Your Support Network During the Holidays and Stay Sober Through the Season
Mental health is easier with a support network. During the holidays, there’s an increased pressure to be social. Connect with your support system, and leave the door open when they might need to do the same.
A trusted support network is key to knowing where to turn during challenging times or situations. Nobody should feel alone during the holidays; your support group is always available.
Emergency hotlines for mental health emergencies remain open throughout the holidays. Remember to have the most essential contact details written down within close reach.
Stay Sober During The Holidays And Avoid Potential Issues
Avoid potential issues, such as excessive alcoholic beverages, and know when to leave the holiday party.
Some people are triggered by being alone. Others find themselves more easily set off when in a group. Only you will know which situations have been high-risk and which to avoid.
There’s no more shame or stigma in admitting that you’re avoiding your triggers. In most cases, people will respect your progress!
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