Your Guide to Staying Sober During the Holidays

holiday decor

The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for those on the path of recovery, it can also be a time filled with triggers and temptations.

At Sober Apartment Living, we understand the challenges of staying sober during the holidays and are here to offer guidance and support.

In this blog, we will provide you with seven helpful tips to help you navigate the festive season while maintaining your sobriety.

7 Tips to Staying Sober During the Holidays

1. Plan Ahead for Sober Gatherings

The holiday season often involves numerous social events, many of which include alcohol. To stay on track with your recovery, plan ahead by seeking out sober gatherings or create your own alcohol-free celebrations.

Attend meetings, connect with support groups, or host sober parties to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who understand the importance of staying sober during the holidays.

2. Set Boundaries and Communicate

It’s essential to communicate your sobriety goals with friends and family. Let them know that you won’t be partaking in alcoholic beverages and request their support.

Setting boundaries and being open about your intentions will help avoid uncomfortable situations and unnecessary temptations.

3. Practice Self-Care

Staying sober during the holidays can be emotionally draining, so prioritize self-care. Take time for yourself by practicing relaxation techniques, engaging in your favorite hobbies, or simply unwinding with a good book or movie. Taking care of your mental and physical well-being is crucial during this time.

4. Have an Accountability Partner

Having someone who understands your journey can make a significant difference. Connect with a trusted friend, family member, or sponsor who can be your accountability partner during the holiday season.

Reach out to them when you’re feeling vulnerable, and lean on their support when needed.

5. Avoid High-Risk Situations

It’s okay to decline invitations to gatherings or events that you believe might jeopardize your sobriety. Prioritize your well-being by steering clear of high-risk situations where alcohol or substances are readily available. Your recovery should always be your top priority.

6. Create New Traditions

Instead of focusing on past holiday rituals that may be associated with substance use, consider creating new, sober traditions.

These could include volunteering, organizing outdoor activities, or taking a trip to explore new places. Building fresh traditions can help you fully enjoy the season without relying on substances.

7. Gratitude and Reflection

Staying sober during the holidays can be challenging, but it’s also a time for reflection and gratitude. Take a moment each day to reflect on the progress you’ve made in your recovery journey and the positive aspects of your life. Gratitude can be a powerful tool in maintaining your sobriety during the holiday season.

At Sober Apartment Living, we understand that staying sober during the holidays can be tough, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

Our onsite team is here to support you and provide a safe, welcoming environment for those who have completed treatment. We offer the resources and community you need to maintain your sobriety during the festive season and beyond. If you or someone you know is looking for a supportive place to continue your recovery journey, check out Sober Apartment Living and discover how we can help you thrive. You don’t have to face this challenge alone, and we’re here to make your holidays both sober and joyful.

Get in touch today.

Sobriety Tips to Help You Overcome Addiction

Group yoga class outside

You’ve made the decision to lead a sober life, and that’s worth celebrating! The hardest part is what comes next. Afterall, addiction recovery is not easy – and it’s definitely not something you can do alone. That’s why we’ve put together this list of sobriety tips to help you find success in your recovery journey.

Hopefully these tips on staying sober will be a great help to you. Let’s get started:

Sobriety Tips

Get a head start on your recovery with these highly effective ways to stay sober.

Assess Treatment Options

Because each person is different, the treatment will need to be different as well, personalized for specific needs. Programs can vary from residential, partial hospitalization (php), outpatient, and inpatient treatments depending on the person, the addiction, and severity. In the end, it’s important to always seek professional advice.

Your regular physician can offer the best suggestions for local and out of state sobriety resources, since they already know you, your addiction, and your medical history. This information will help the doctor find the best fit.

As you work on overcoming your addiction, treatment centers will focus on both your physical and mental health. That means you’ll need to think about your life in a whole new way.

Consider these topics as a starting point:

When you’re sober…

  • What will you do in your free time?
  • How will you cope with stress?
  • Who can/should you spend time with?

Your answers will help you maintain your sobriety long after treatment has ended.

Explore Sober Apartment Living & Find Community

We couldn’t make a list of sobriety tips without including this one. Community and support are absolutely essential to overcoming addiction because they provide encouragement and accountability in a time when you’re struggling with temptation.

Some people find this community in a support group, but sober apartment living is another great option! This puts you in an environment FULL of people supporting you and doing the same thing: finding freedom from addiction.

Staying sober is so much easier when the people around you are pursuing a similar goal. For example, at SAL, we provide sober living apartments in AZ with ongoing support through staff who have already found freedom in recovery. They’ll help you in times of need, while encouraging you to take steps toward a brighter future – offering career advice, weekly meetings, and job assistance.

Not to mention, SAL offers fun & exciting sober social events on a regular basis!

Distance Yourself from Temptation & Avoid Triggers

It might sound simple, but this sobriety tip can actually be the most difficult.

In a time where you’re trying to establish a new life, you need to be intentional about putting distance between yourself and the old life. One of the best ways to stay sober is to live differently in recovery than you did in addiction.

Identify your triggers and do your best to avoid the people and places that encouraged unhealthy habits. Maybe you need to change your route home from work to avoid seeing that bar, or maybe you need to find a new store to shop at in order to avoid that person.

You know yourself and your triggers best, so be wise!

Another option, however, is to simply relocate. Moving to a sober living facility out of state allows you to start fresh. This does not mean you are running away from your problems, simply making the hard decision to say goodbye to them.

Our Sober Apartment Living Community in Arizona is full of out-of-state residents who have been able to find solidarity and success in a new place.

Set Goals

Of all the sobriety tips above, this one ranks pretty high in terms of recovery success because it deals with the ongoing struggle of addiction recovery.

Staying sober is a process, and it’s one that you’ll need to plan. Set goals for yourself and track your progress. In our experience, structure is a great way to stay on track because it helps you form better habits and leaves less time to let your mind wander.

Celebrate Every Win

One of the more fun tips on staying sober is simply to celebrate. By beginning treatment and working on recovery, you are committing to do something huge in your life, and each milestone counts.

Don’t forget to take the time to acknowledge each and every win and applaud yourself at the progress. You deserve it!

Additional Sobriety Resources for Staying Sober

As a sober apartment living community, we partner with a handful of organizations to help others find recovery success. If you’re interested in speaking with a team member or learning more about our sober apartments in Scottsdale, AZ, please get in touch.

In the meantime, we’d like to share a few resources below:

Local Treatment Centers:

  • Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center
  • Cornerstone Healing Center
  • Scottsdale Recovery Center
  • Springboard Recovery
  • Calvary Healing Center

…and so many more.

No matter where you are or how long you’ve been pursuing the freedom of recovery, just know we’re cheering you on. Keep up the good work!