Congratulations on becoming sober after your alcohol addiction rehab! The worst of your battle is behind you, but many people often face a new set of challenges when learning how to stay sober after rehab. You could be looking for a way to gain more support from family and friends, or want to limit possible triggers for relapse that can be present in everyday life.
These are common challenges that are combated after rehab. Making a few small changes in your life can go a long way in the battle for sobriety. Listed below are a few ways you can stay clean and sober.
What Does it Mean to Be Sober?
Being sober can have a variety of meanings. For someone in recovery sobriety often means lifelong abstinence. While lifelong abstinence is easier said than done, taking the proper steps can go a long way on the road to recovery. This includes finding ways to prevent or limit any relapses.
Sobriety is attainable and you can do it too. Getting sober may have been difficult, but staying sober can be just as much of a challenge. Relapses do happen so it is important to stay diligent and continue to aim toward your goal of sobriety every day. These are some of the ways you can help to make your recovery easier.
10 Tips For Staying Sober
- Develop an easy exercise routine
- Put yourself in less risky situations
- Avoid old habits
- Find a mentor or sponsor
- Identify your triggers
- Drink non-alcoholic beer or cocktails
- Establish healthy family relationships
- Start a new hobby
- Get organized
- Surround yourself with people who support your recovery
1. Develop an Easy Exercise Routine
Figuring out how to stay sober can be a struggle. Beginning with something simple like an easy exercise routine can be a great way to get started. This can include something like walking for twenty minutes a day or going to the gym with a friend three times a week.
Find a friend or family member who would like to join you and get started. Set a few goals and watch yourself reap the rewards over time. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and can combat anxiety by releasing endorphins. It can help tremendously on the path to sobriety.
2. Put Yourself in Less Risky Situations
Alcohol consumption can be common in many areas of life. Staying away from places that typically promote alcohol consumption can help to limit any kind of temptation. Places like bars, nightclubs, or parties are common areas where alcohol is present and encouraged. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a saying that applies considerably when dealing with alcohol. If you can keep away from it you will be less likely to consider using it.
3. Avoid Old Habits
In order to learn how to stay sober changes will have to be made in everyday life. Old habits can lead to past mistakes that you don’t want to repeat. This could include staying away from friends that you used to drink with often or even something as small as deciding to start making your bed every morning. Some of your old tendencies could be part of the reason for your past alcohol abuse. If you continue to do things the same way as before, it will be hard to expect to keep your sobriety.
4. Find a Mentor or Sponsor
A sponsor or mentor is someone you look up to that has typically been clean for a long time and can act as extra support for you. You should never be afraid to ask for help. Places like alcoholics anonymous or other support groups are great ways to find a possible sponsor. In doing so you can gain knowledge and experience from someone who has been in your shoes before.
Having a sponsor can allow you to have someone in your corner with experience who can hold you accountable. The process of recovery doesn’t have to be done alone. If you want to know how to stay sober there is no better person to ask than someone who has done it before.
Trying to stay sober isn’t something that lasts for just a year. Staying abstinent is something that will be with you your whole life. If you have been sober for over a year you could consider becoming a sponsor yourself. When it comes to support, the sponsor and the person in recovery are able to mutually benefit each other.
5. Identify Your Triggers
Learning about how to stay sober can be different for everyone. At first, you may not realize that there are certain people, places, or even activities that can make alcohol much more difficult to abstain from. These are also known as triggers. They will not necessarily force someone to use alcohol again, but significantly increase the chances.
A trigger for you may be driving past the liquor store where you used to commonly purchase alcohol, while a trigger for someone else may be a coworker they have gotten drinks with previously. These can vary for anyone who is looking to stay sober. The important thing is to identify what could be a possible trigger for you, and attempt to eliminate it from your life or avoid it the best you can. If you are struggling with this, alcohol addiction treatment is a great way to learn what works best for you.
6. Drink Non-Alcoholic (NA) Beer or Cocktails
You may find yourself in a situation like a family gathering or hanging out with friends and alcohol is present. Others may be encouraging you to drink and don’t realize that you are aiming to stay sober. If you are afraid of not fitting in because you are not drinking along with others, non-alcoholic beer or cocktails are a great option. You may not be comfortable telling others you don’t drink anymore and can still be confident with a non-alcoholic drink in your hand.
In other cases, many people just enjoy the taste of beer. If this is the case for you, NA beer is the perfect way to enjoy the drink you love while being able to maintain your sobriety.
7. Establish Healthy Family Relationships
Your loved ones can play an integral role in your road to recovery. Some family members may be unaware that they were contributing to your previous alcohol abuse while others may want to help, but are unsure of how. Gaining the support of your family and keeping them aware of how they can help you is one of the most important tips for staying sober. Establishing and continuing healthy family relationships can make all the difference when you may be in need of help.
Family therapy is a great option for anyone who may be struggling to establish or keep these important relationships. Family therapy can:
- Improve communication
- Help to monitor progress
- Make conflict easier to resolve
- Allow for family members to express their feelings
8. Start a New Hobby
Change can bring some unexpected joy into your life. Starting a new hobby can help you to meet new people and create original experiences. You could join a local basketball league or try knitting. Different hobbies work better for different people, but you should be open to trying something out of your comfort zone. This way you can keep your mind and body occupied.
9. Get Organized
Recovery can become much easier when you live an organized lifestyle. You can start by setting up daily and weekly routines and making sure you follow them. In addition, you can set goals for yourself that could be daily or future goals. Sticking to routines and using them to help you achieve goals can help to distract you from alcohol as well as give new motivation to stay away from it.
10. Surround Yourself With People Who Support Your Recovery
Recovery is not something that should be done alone. Out of every tip, being around others who support your recovery could be the most important when figuring out how to stay sober. Having one or multiple positive influences on your life can make all the difference when it comes to alcohol abuse.
More likely than not, family members and close friends will be supportive of your recovery. Don’t be afraid to lean on them when times may seem tough. When multiple people are working with you to help achieve a goal it becomes that much easier. Support groups are another way to find people who will be able to help you. Support groups will typically have others who are going through similar circumstances. Being able to hear about their experiences and knowledge, as well as being able to share your own will make recovery that much easier.
Let Lifetime Recovery Help You Learn How to Stay Sober
If you are struggling with alcohol addiction or want to learn more about how to stay sober, contact Lifetime Recovery today! We are more than happy to help with any problems you may have regarding addiction. Let us help you on your journey of recovery.
