Surviving the Holidays: Tips for Staying Healthy and Sober

Remember, you have every right to decline these invitations or just stay for a short while. People may feel a bit disappointed but your true friends will respect and even applaud your sobriety efforts. Sometimes we get caught up in how we have always celebrated the holidays. If someone pushes your boundaries, don’t feel bad about stepping away or leaving the situation altogether. When you take the opportunity to connect with others—to see, value and honor their experience—you exercise empathy.

Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays

For one thing, such a location can allow you to engage in healthy activities that will help you stay fit and active during your vacation. In addition, a healthy and active lifestyle can help to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. One easy way to give yourself an exit when situations, crowds, or environments become uncomfortable is by bringing your own vehicle or planning to use a ride share service. This way, you won’t be stuck in a space where you’re surrounded by high-risk activities and where your recovery is constantly being challenged. It’s also okay to let people know that you aren’t comfortable visiting specific locations or spending time with specific groups of people. One of the best exit plans for any recovering addict is simply giving yourself permission to say no.

Places to Travel for Sober People

This may seem silly, but it’s very easy in a party atmosphere to accidentally pick up someone else’s drink, which may be alcoholic. Order your own non-alcoholic drinks, watch how they’re made, and keep track of them. With a plan in place, you’ll be better prepared to face the temptations and challenges of sober holidays the holiday season. Finding support after a relapse, or during times of struggle during the holidays, can be crucial. An estimated 40% to 60% of people who receive treatment for substance abuse experience relapse at some point. What’s most important in the event of a relapse is how you respond to it.

Be of Service to Friends and Family

Keeping in touch with your support system throughout the holidays doesn’t just make for a merrier season. And it’s important to have someone to text or call if you find yourself struggling with alcohol cravings at a holiday event or in general. While you don’t owe anyone an explanation for your healthy choices, filling your glass with a nonalcoholic beverage is one way to avoid drink offers.

• 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.
• Some alcohol can be found on the tourist islands, but it is otherwise hard to come by due to the Maldives being a Muslim country.
• The Mile High City is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado.
• Maintaining your sobriety during the holidays doesn’t have to cause unease.
• If you know Cousin Sadie is going to grill you about rehab, avoid her.

Make sleep and good nutrition top priorities, and stay on top of your exercise routine. If you enter the holiday season feeling good about yourself and especially on-target, you’ll be far less likely to succumb to unexpected challenges. It may be overwhelming to be with your family or at holiday parties, even if you have a sober buddy or sponsor with you.

It’s also important to reflect on what triggered the relapse and make adjustments to your relapse prevention plan to prevent future slip-ups. The holidays are a great time to focus on your sobriety goals. Focusing on your goals will make you less likely to be tempted by drugs or alcohol. Here are some relapse prevention tips and self-care ideas for the holiday season, or any time. They also might involve drinking, which people in recovery from alcohol addiction often find to be another trigger.

Addiction treatment initiated during the holidays could be the best gift you give to your family, your friends and yourself. On top of that, you can’t attend your home group meeting, and you haven’t heard https://ecosoberhouse.com/ from your sponsor in two days. Here are seven tried-and-true tips and strategies that will prepare you for the holidays, help you avoid relapse and protect you from any uncomfortable situations.

Some popular options include yoga retreats, national parks, sober cruises, meditation retreats, and wellness retreats. No matter where you go, a sober vacation can be a great way to get away from all the bad stuff and focus on your health and well-being. When you are sober, your choice of traveling companions can be as important as your destination and activities. “Don’t go on vacation with people you used to use substances or anyone you have highly conflictual relationships with,” advises Weston.

What To Look For When Choosing A Place For Sober Vacations

It’s only a sip, and it doesn’t mean you’ve relapsed—or that you should entertain the thought of relapsing now. Family members expect holiday perfection, and they often demand every ounce of your time and energy—and patience. The family menu is a constant carb-load, and traveling puts a strain on your wallet. Packed airports, tight schedules, liquid lunch for Aunt Sally. Everyone is running on empty, and the annual fight is just waiting to happen. Deloitte is projecting overall holiday sales totaling $1.58 to $1.59 trillion during the November to January timeframe.