Staying sober is perhaps one of the most challenging things that a recovering addict needs to do. Withdrawal from addiction is hard, but to live an everyday life sober is a lot harder than you think. So if you are trying to stay sober during sober October, this article can help you with that.
What is Sober October?
Sober October is basically a fundraising campaign aimed to challenge social drinkers to change their drinking habits for 31 days or the entire month of October. This encourages people to drink responsibly and stick to the recommended guidelines for those who want to continue or quit drinking for the rest of the year. If you haven’t heard of this or if this is your first time to do so, then you need to read the following tips on how to stay sober during this month.
9 Tips on How to Stay Sober in October
Make a choice and stick with it
Sober October may just be an “event” for some people, but for some people, it’s more than that. If you want to stay sober, then, by all means, make that choice and live it. It is important that you do this for yourself and not for other people. Sure, it is awesome to have people around you to support your journey, but no one else can do this for you. So once you have made the decision to stay sober, you have to gather all your strength to stay that way. It’s always good to follow through with a decision while it’s still fresh in your mind and you still have the determination to do so.
Be ready
There will be a lot of triggers during this time of the month since October is a time for festivities. This includes Halloween parties and other occasions. That being said, there’s no denying the fact that there will be alcohol on some occasions, so if you are trying to sober up during this month, you must be ready. You have a lot of options to take as substitutes for alcohol. You can either drink coffee, tea, juice, or whatever it is that you wish to take besides alcohol. You can also nibble on some fruits or healthy snacks that you can have other than spirits or hard liquor. Yes, it can be demanding and oftentimes tempting to get yourself a bottle of beer or a glass of wine, but if you want to stay sober, you have to plan ahead for these kinds of events so you know what to do in case triggers are around you.
Take an outdoor hike
October is one of the best times of the year as autumn is starting and making way for winter. Going outdoors is a great idea since this month shows you how the colors around you are changing. So why not take a hike or camp if the weather allows for it? You must take advantage of these things as they only come once a year. It could definitely take your mind off your substance of choice! Enjoy the sceneries and do something adventurous for a change, you will surely enjoy it.
Stay Active/Find Hobbies
Autumn can sometimes be very cold which is why some people prefer to stay indoors and warm themselves. This can create a lot of boredom so some people may resort to substance abuse while indoors. However, you don’t have to do this. You can stay indoors, but at the same time stay productive. You can try yoga indoors and other exercises to get yourself moving. Clean up the house, do chores, read a book, create something fun, cook more, etc. Just because you are trying to be sober this month of October doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Doing exercises and activities around the house can definitely help you stay away from triggers.
Stay away from alcoholic friends
If you have friends who love to drink alcohol after work or even during lunchtime, it’s best to stay away from them to avoid temptations to break your pledge. If you already know these friends, then you might as well announce ahead that you’d appreciate their cooperation with your pledge to be sober. If they do not respect or support your decision to do so, it’s best to separate yourself from them while you remain sober.
Do some self-care
When was the last time you had a haircut or went to the spa? When was the last time you had your nails done? Or get that facial care? Perhaps ages! If you haven’t done anything that could be labeled as ‘self-care’, take some time to treat yourself. This can help you relax and take your mind off of substance abuse and help manage anything that may trigger a relapse.
Be kind to yourself
Staying sober does not happen overnight. In fact, it is a gradual process and you have to help yourself too. So don’t be too harsh on yourself if you think of using a substance again. Staying sober is a process and you must go through each stage. What’s important is that you know that you are helping yourself by going through this process. Be patient, these things take time, so make sure you are being kind to yourself. The second you start falling into a self-loathing attitude, you could easily slip back into addiction. Don’t give up, you’ve got this!
In Closing
Sober October is only for 31 days but if you can surpass this month without falling succumbing to any triggers, then congratulate yourself! The biggest challenge however is how to stay sober for the rest of the year and the next years to come. If you can surpass this challenge, don’t give up, keep going! Take small steps and see how it goes. Progress is progress, no matter how big or small. Soon you will see that all your hard work has paid off. So don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, stay sober this October and you will find that sobriety is actually an incredible thing.
