As we have all discovered throughout recovery, we must plan ahead and stay flexible in order to respond to life’s challenges while walking in sobriety. This includes a measured and sober response to summertime activities. Here are some tips for staying sober during the summer months that will help you keep your hard-won sobriety and continue on your recovery path without missing out on any fun.
1. Your sobriety must come first: Before the calendar turns to another month, recommit to your recovery program. Make sure that recovery comes before all else. Keep to your meeting schedule during the summertime, and continue working your steps and staying involved in recovery work. The more you’re around people in recovery, the better.
2 Attend meetings: Many people in recovery attend more meetings during stressful times in their lives, so their attention is fixed on recovery. If you normally go to meetings a few times a week, try going every day. If you’re traveling, make sure to find local meetings to visit or go to an online or phone meeting. It may be fun to make recovery friends in other countries! It’s also a great reminder that addiction isn’t limited to any one race, creed, or nationality.
3. Plan ahead: Summer often involves parties and other occasions where alcohol is served. If you’re meeting friends, meet them for a walk instead of at a bar. Plan appropriately, so you’re not caught in a situation where it’s hard to resist cravings. Consider bringing non-alcoholic refreshments so that you have your own tasty options at parties.
4. Serve yourself: Don’t let others dictate what’s on the table in front of you. If being around alcohol makes you uncomfortable, serve yourself. You should be the one to choose what you drink and how you drink.
5. Use the buddy system: If you’re worried about how you’ll behave at a party, ask if you can bring a friend. Then bring a sober friend. That way, you know you’ll have at least one other person there who isn’t indulging in alcohol or drugs.
6. Plan safe & sober fun: Who says that your friends who aren’t in recovery get to plan all the fun? Take the lead and plan some sober adventures for the summer. An afternoon picnic at the beach are all times to enjoy yourself without alcohol or drugs.
7. Pace yourself: Former addicts tend to be people of extremes. Pace yourself on vacation and throughout the summer. It’s easy to get carried away when you’re in a wonderful place like a resort, or when you’ve got time off from work. Remember the acronym HALT: never let yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired.
8. Don’t focus on old memories: It’s easy to “romance drug use” or to mull over fond memories of summers gone by when you thought you could indulge to excess. Summertime may trigger these memories, especially if you’re traveling to areas you used to frequent during your using days. Avoid dwelling on those memories.
9. Create new vacation plans: If you’ve always gone to the same vacation spot, and that place brings back memories of your former days, consider changing plans. There’s no law that says you must go to the same place every year. You are growing and changing throughout recovery. This may lead you to new adventures, or to discovering new interests. Returning to your old haunts may be a relapse trigger. Change your plans if you think it may be a problem.
10. Take an official sober vacation: With so many people in recovery these days, tour companies, hotels, and resorts are offering alcohol-free vacations. Companies like Sober Travelers specialize in finding resorts, cruises, hotels and other travel arrangements for people in recovery. Not only do these trips avoid alcohol, but they cater to people in recovery, and they can help you connect to others, attend meetings, and enjoy some recovery workshops while on your trip.
11. Become a summer volunteer: Volunteering, both at recovery meetings and to others outside of recovery, are important 12-step tools. There are volunteer opportunities at Summer camps, religious programs, nonprofit organizations, and more. Find a causes that are near to your heart, then you can find volunteer around the world. It’s a great way to take a meaningful vacation and stay sober.
12. Relax a bit: Sometimes expectations about an event like summer vacation make it seem more stressful than it really is. Summer comes around every year. Try to let go of your expectations about the perfect summer vacation or trip. The more expectations you place on yourself and the more stress you add.
If you or a loved one is struggling with sobriety design the summer, we are here to help! Please contact us online here or call us at (760) 342-6616
