10 Tips for a Sober Lifestyle and how to Maitain Clean Living
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I can easily find a gold nugget in an otherwise negative situation. I can see the necessary lesson in almost every difficult situation. Though this mindset shift has required a lot of self-work, I now have a feeling…or a sense of knowing…that something/someone is watching over me and that no matter what I do; I’ll be taken care of. We drink at baby showers and work events, brunch and book club, graduations and funerals. Yet no one ever questions alcohol’s ubiquity—in fact, the only thing ever questioned is why someone doesn’t drink. It is a qualifier for belonging and if you don’t imbibe, you are considered an anomaly.
- That suggests that being ‘sober-curious’ for many Millennials means reducing or limiting alcohol, rather than removing it completely.
- The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- Why put yourself through all of that when you can live a happy, sober, and healthy life instead.
- People in recovery can experience a lot of shame simply for having become addicted in the first place.
- I have bad weeks where I slip into zombie-like routines, eat too many sugary foods, and generally feel bad about myself.
Living a sober life after going through addiction gives you a new perspective on life. This is because it allows you to see the world through new eyes after being clouded by alcohol and drugs for so long. When you abuse substances to the point that it rewires your brain and consumes you, you struggle sleeping through the night. That’s why it’s so important to get the proper amount of sleep each night.
What are Some Steps Addicts Can Take to Stay Clean and Sober?
You might want to learn a new language, rediscover a love of reading, art, you might pick up some more video games if you like that. Many people find at least some degree of fulfillment at work if they like their job. If you want to go back to working for a company, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recognizes substance abuse disorder as a disability and offers some protections.
- You don’t sign up for that fitness class because you’ve thought about it, and people in there will probably talk about you; you don’t have anything to wear, and you’ll hate every second.
- We also include supervised, short-term housing to provide support for newly sober individuals.
- Many aspects of some cultures revolve around alcohol — networking events, date nights, celebratory champagne toasts — so it isn’t always easy to avoid alcohol entirely.
- Continuous substance abuse can even do things like cause your blood pressure to spike or decrease to an unhealthy range.
It felt like I was constantly apologizing for someone else’s rude behavior. Since then I have learned how to have fun and deal with stress in healthy ways and I have found productive outlets for negative feelings. The “Sober Curious” movement has grown in recent years after author Ruby Warrington published the book called “Sober Curious” in late 2018. A CivicScience survey published last month, shows a greater percentage of people report they are curious about living a sober lifestyle, from 12% in 2020 to 19% this year. That is why, instead of creating a list of rigid New Year’s resolutions that must be accomplished this year, we recommend creating a list of personal goals that you can work towards in 2018 and beyond.
The rise of the sober curious: having it all, without alcohol
Consider taking a break from friends who might, whether they mean to or not, make you feel pressured to drink socially. Exercise increases endorphins, which are the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain. It can be a good replacement for the release of endorphins caused by drinking alcohol.
The people we surround ourselves with reflects on our quality of living, as we are who our friends are. If our friends feel down when they are around us, we will start feeling down just like them. Find friends who like https://curiousmindmagazine.com/selecting-the-most-suitable-sober-house-for-addiction-recovery/ to do what you like to do – if you like to read then surround yourself with readers, if you like to write, surround yourself with writers. There are people who want to be there for you, even if you have a slip.