Staying Sober While Social Distancing for the Holidays
Getting sober is hard enough. When you combine early sobriety with the holidays and a pandemic, the challenges speak for themselves. Here is how you can stay sober while social distancing during the holidays.
This year hasn’t been easy for most of us. If you’re in early recovery, you’ve not only faced the hardships related to a pandemic during an election year, but you’ve also overcome one of the most difficult challenges there is - getting sober. Now, the last thing you have to do to make it through 2020 is stay sober during the holidays. Being a time of year that is usually full of alcohol-filled celebrations and family gatherings, spending this holiday season sober and possibly away from your family may prove to be extra difficult. Here are 5 suggestions that may help you stay sober during the holiday season if you are social distancing and unable to see your family this year.
Be With Your Family Via Zoom/FaceTime
Loneliness and isolation are two major relapse triggers. If you’ll be spending the holidays alone as a newly sober individual, feeling lonely is a legitimate concern. Thankfully, it’s not 1918 and we have tons of technology at our fingertips. If you can’t be with your friends or family in-person for the holidays, consider scheduling a virtual call with your loved ones to celebrate together. While it may not be the same as celebrating in-person together, you’ll feel less alone to have familiar faces and voices in front of you.
Get Outside, Exercise, and Eat Healthy for Mental Health
Since COVID-19 cases in the U.S. began rising earlier this year, rates of depression and anxiety nationwide have skyrocketed. Both mental health conditions, left untreated, can lead people to relapse as there is a major link between drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and depression. Right now, anyone is susceptible to feeling a little anxious or depressed, so it’s important to take care of your mental health. This means doing simple, self-care things, such as getting outside each day to soak up the sunlight, eating a nutritious and balanced diet, and exercising regularly. Taking care of your mind and body will do wonders for your sobriety and your mental health.
Give Yourself a Date Night
If you’re feeling lonely, the family isn’t available, and you’re trying to stay home, consider treating yourself to a date night of all your favorite things. Make or order your favorite dish, put on a movie or show, and enjoy a relaxing night to yourself. This is another part of self-care that involves giving yourself a break, learning to relax, and enjoying being alone without the use of drugs and alcohol.
Remind Yourself of What You’re Grateful For
If you’ve ever been to a 12-step meeting, you’ve probably heard sober people talking about gratitude. Many people say “a grateful heart never drinks.” While some people chalk these sayings up to just sayings, there are actually clinical studies that show a correlation between gratitude and sobriety. People that reported using gratitude techniques or principles were more likely to be sober after a 6-month period of time. Keep a daily list of things you are grateful for, no matter how small they are. Start your day by reading your list from the night before. Practice this gratitude technique each day for several weeks and watch how your mental health and sobriety improve!
Volunteer in Your Community
Maybe you’re newly sober and unable to travel to see your family but don’t necessarily want to stay at home by yourself for the holidays. If so, you could consider finding a local community organization to volunteer with. Whether it’s playing with animals at your local rescue shelter, preparing Christmas dinner for the homeless population, or hosting a meeting or event at a halfway house near you, volunteering always makes people feel better. Volunteer opportunities are always plentiful during the holiday season and it will help you find joy, purpose, and fellowship during the holiday season. Plus, it’s one of the best ways to give back and express the gratitude you have for your sobriety.
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