Five Fun Activities That Can Help You Stay Sober

Being an addict is not fun. When I first got sober, I thought all of my problems would just disappear. And while getting sober is a wonderful thing, I now faced new challenges to holding on to my sobriety. I learned the sense of fun I thought I was having while I was drinking was false, and that positive fun is only achieved through sobriety, but I didn't know where to start.

I started drinking when I was 15. Newly sober at 33, I had a difficult time remembering when I ever had any fun unless I was drinking. The days were long and the nights were longer, and I was really worried I would relapse if I didn't come up with some way to fill my time with positive activities.

I decided to bring up my concerns at my next AA meeting to learn what other sober people do for fun, and I got a lot of positive feedback. One person said he found his passion for mountain biking by simply trying new activities. He suggested I try each one of the activities that were being recommended to me to find my own passion.

I remembered that I used to love to bake, and I tried to make my creations both beautiful and delicious. So I decided to sign up for a cake decorating class at my local craft shop. It was fabulous! I've been baking cakes for friends' parties for almost a year now, and I absolutely love it.

Making the Change

I suggest starting out by making a list of any activities you can remember enjoying before you started drinking. Then make a second list of activities you always wanted to try. Pick an activity from either list and give it a try. Can't think of anything? Here are some ideas for you:

1. Host a house crawl - A house crawl is like a pub crawl, but instead of serving liquor, each house serves a course of a meal. The first house has the appetizer, the second house has the salad, the third house has the main course, and the fourth and final house has dessert. This is a perfect way to spend time with sober friends.
2. Be a tourist in your own city - I had no idea how much history is right here in my home town until I tried this activity. Contact your local tourist bureau and inquire about walking tours. If your town doesn't offer that, then make your own. I used Google maps to plan my own tour and invited a few friends to go with me.
3. Check out your local YMCA - I found my local Y to be a great place to enjoy individual and family activities. Mine offers wellness and fitness programs for adults and recreation and enrichment opportunities for kids of all ages. I often go there by myself to enjoy some swimming year-round.
4. Discover your local library - My favorite author is Ann Rule, so I simply asked the librarian to direct me, and I found a shelf full of treasures. Reading books and novels is a great and safe way to escape. Don't know who you like? Just tell the librarian what subjects you are interested in.
5. Play a board game - Get a group of family or friends together for a board game night. They bring out the humor in everyone, and you are almost guaranteed to have a good time.

By seeking out sober activities and trying new things, you'll find that sobriety doesn't have to be boring. Instead, it's so much fun!

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