How to Have Fun without Drugs or Alcohol
If you have never used drugs or alcohol, you’ve probably developed a lifestyle and group of friends which aligns with that. But if you have recently quit using drugs or alcohol (or are trying to quit), it can be hard to find a group and activities that don’t involve them. It takes a little creativeness and a definite change of lifestyle.
For many people who return home after completing a drug rehab program, this is one of the hardest challenges they face. What do I know do for fun? If all your old friends are still out partying or hanging out at the bars, you either join the crowd or stay home. Neither option is appealing or conducive to your sobriety.
But there are many drug-free and sober activities you can participate in, and there are more people than you may think who are involved with them. One way explore this is to reach out online to one of the many recovery and sober groups. Here you find like minded people in the same situation, busy creating a rewarding and fun filled life without drugs and alcohol.
There’s even a site called www.meetup.com where you can find groups of people in your area or even start one of your own. Within this site you can find many sober related groups who gather for surfing, skiing and other recreational outings, as well as the arts and music. Some of the topics you will find these groups under are sober-hangouts, sober activities, alcohol and drug free.
Here are a few activities that you might consider, many of which you can do on your own or with a group:
- Take up some form of art whether it’s painting, drawing, sculpting, or photography. One of the greatest abilities we have is to create and that ability can increase dramatically when you are sober.
- Learn to play a musical instrument. Maybe you always wanted to play piano or guitar. Now’s the time to do it.
- Go for a hike. In almost every area there are hiking trails, whether you’re in the mountains, the plains or by the sea. Online you can find trails in your local area at alltrails.com or www.everytrail.com.
- Lean a new sport. There’s something for everyone whether you are young or old, an athlete or not. There is a wide array from extreme sports such as rock climbing and sky diving, to more moderate sports such as golf, and everything in between such as softball, surfing and skiing.
- See a movie. Sometimes you can find interesting venues such as outdoor theaters during the warmer months.
- Take a road trip. Find some drug and alcohol-free buddies and hit the road and explore a new area. It can be just a day trip or a week long adventure. National Geographic has a great online guide to road trips around the U.S. http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/americas-best-road-trips/
- What’s your specialty? What’s your interest? https://www.volunteermatch.org/ can help you find organizations in your local area. Taking time to help others can be one of the most satisfying things you can do.
Afterwards you’re sure to feel a lot better than you would with a hangover.
