How to Plan Your First Sober Holiday Season in Recovery?

Holidays are a great season for you, your family, and friends to get together and just enjoy what life has to offer. Yet, coordinating holidays can be stressful - especially if it is your first sober holiday in recovery. The key is to plan ahead and be prepared for the outcomes. In this article, we will explore some sober holiday tips that can get you started!

Key Points to Staying Sober This Holiday Season

• Plan ahead and be selective about which events you attend. Skip events or environments that may threaten your recovery.
• Identify your personal triggers early (sensory, emotional, or social) so that you are not caught off guard.
• Set strict boundaries around your time, conversations, and activities at holiday gatherings.
• Communicate your sobriety clearly and practice saying no without over-explaining.
• Bring a sober friend or stay connected to your sober community for accountability and support.
• Prepare an exit strategy so you can leave safely if things become overwhelming.
• Prioritize self-care basics - sleep, hydration, nutritious meals, and mindfulness.
• Create new sober traditions that reinforce connection, joy, and recovery.
• Reach out for help when needed - therapists, sponsors, AA, NA, or local community resources.

First step to beginning your first sober holiday season is to map it out - pick and choose the events you will attend. You do not have to attend all of them. You can pick those events that are sober-centered - there may not be many of them, but it is safe to keep out of those that can threaten your recovery.

Holidays are a joyful time, but also a stressful time that comes with its challenges. In fact, 62% report feeling stressed out during this period. Understanding the challenges to your first sober holiday season can help you plan ahead and avoid stress to a great extent.

Some common challenges are:

• Events: What makes the holidays a holiday season are events, yet they can be stressful. Most events have the wine flowing red and music playing loud, and this can be emotionally challenging for you so early in your recovery.
• Family: Your family is your strength. Yet, unresolved family conflicts and challenging dynamics can stress you out.
• Triggers: Holidays can be full of triggers - sensory, emotional, and otherwise. If you do not identify and avoid/manage these triggers, they can negatively impact you.

While challenges can look different to everyone, identifying what your challenges are is your first step to managing them. You can plan ahead and even reach out to your therapist/counselor or sober community for additional support during this time.

Here are some tried and tested sober holiday tips for navigating events:

• Set Boundaries: Clearly set limits as to how long you will stay and what things are off-limits for you (conversation-wise and activity-wise) in your sobriety.
• Communicate: Communicate your recovery goals clearly. For instance, if someone offers you a drink, learn to say no clearly.
• Bring a Sober Friend: Bring a sober friend with you so that you both can motivate each other to stay personally responsible for your sobriety.
• Drink Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Even in parties where there is alcohol, there are going to be non-alcoholic beverages to go around. You can drink non-alcoholic beverages so that you have something in your hand.
• Prepare Your Exit: If you are on your own, prepare your exit strategy in advance when things get too threatening for your sobriety. Have believable excuses, like work, ready.

Holidays are known to increase your stress levels, so here are some ways you can manage your stress levels during this season:

• Identify Your Triggers: Identify your triggers and apply the recovery principles you learned in therapy to manage them. If you can, avoid them.
• Nutritious Diet: Focus on incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein into your diet regularly.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink water at regular intervals. Keep a water bottle with you so that it can serve as a reminder for you to drink water as well.
• Sleep: Aim for a good night’s sleep of 7-9 hours every day.
• Meditation and Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness exercises like mindfulness meditation, grounding, and breathing techniques to keep your mind and body healthy.
• Reach Out: Reach out to your sober community or therapist/counselor for additional support.
• Contact AA, NA, or Sponsors: For immediate community, you can reach out to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or sponsors.
• Local Programs: You can also reach out to local community programs for practical assistance to reduce your stress levels. For instance, your local church.

• Get into the Festive Spirit With a Photo Walk: Take a walk through your decorated neighborhood, capturing holiday lights and seasonal decorations. It is mindful, gets you outside, and connects you with the beauty of the season. Especially if you do it with a sober friend.
• Hot Cocoa and Sunset: Perfect for cold winters, gather your family and friends for a cup of hot cocoa as you watch the sun go down from a scenic place near you.
• Host a Craft Night: Gather family and friends to make holiday ornaments, wreaths, gingerbread decorating, or other seasonal crafts while sipping non-alcoholic drinks.
• Have a Festive Dinner Party: Invite loved ones to help cook a holiday meal together; non-alcoholic beverages and shared food make this a fun, interactive celebration.
• Create Your Own Traditions: Create new traditions that will not just allow you to celebrate the holiday season, but also strengthen your sobriety. For instance, you can make drinking hot cocoa and catching a sunset a tradition for you and your family.

At Design For Recovery, we understand the challenges you can face during the holiday season. We will be with you as you navigate your first sober holiday in recovery. We offer sober living services and connect you with other services for your urgent needs. We are your sober community and can offer you immediate assistance when you contact us.

Reach out to us at (888) 891-5560 to connect with our experts today!