9 Easy Ways To Help You Stay Sober
When life throws you a curveball, it can be difficult to keep yourself on the straight and narrow. If you struggle with your alcohol consumption, never forget that staying sober is your number one priority in life. It might not always be easy, but there are some things you can do to make it easier for yourself.
1: Get rid of the booze
At the very least, you should throw away any alcohol that’s in your house. It can be very easy to justify having “just one drink”, so not having any around you at all makes it much easier to avoid.
2: Don’t hang out with your drinking buddies
If you spend most of your time with people who like the taste of beer just as much as you do, chances are you’re going to drink. It’s much easier to remain sober if you don’t spend time with them or make plans with them that involve drinking.
3: Change up your routine
A big part of overcoming your alcohol addiction is to change the way you live. By making lots of small changes in what you do each day, it’s much harder for you to fall back into the same old habits. If you start jogging or biking instead of driving, or take a class at night instead of drinking, you’ll be much less tempted to hit the bottle.
4: Be accountable
It’s very easy for people in recovery to build up a bad habit of lying about what they do each day. If there’s no one in your life who knows about your problems with drinking, it’s very easy for you to over-exaggerate how much you do or don’t drink. If there is someone in your life who knows about your struggles, make sure they are aware of what you’re doing each day to stay sober.
5: Keep yourself busy
Most people in recovery know that staying busy is an excellent way to avoid drinking. But, what they don’t realize is that you should also make sure it’s productive busyness. If you keep your mind active and entertained with work or hobbies, it’s much easier for you not to turn to alcohol when times get tough.
6: Listen to yourself
This one is probably the most important. If you find yourself thinking about drinking, do something to stop those thoughts as soon as possible. The longer you let them sit in your head, the more likely it will be that they turn into action. Whether it’s by calling a friend or going for a run, just do anything that will take you away from thinking about drinking.
7: Get professional help
If you want to get sober and stay that way, there’s a lot of help out there. Many people find support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous helpful, and you could also try the Pinnacle Recovery Center. There’s also always the option of talking to a therapist or a doctor if you’re struggling to get by on your own.
8: Remember why you stopped drinking
Whenever you have a weak moment and feel like maybe it would be better to drink, remember all of the reasons that made you stop in the first place. If your problems were severe enough for you to quit drinking, then they will most likely still be there if you start again.
9: Remain positive
There will be a few bumps in the road as you recover from alcoholism, but staying positive is the best way to make it through those times. Keep reminding yourself that you can do it and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
