This film follows the story of a father and son and they struggle to deal with the younger’s addiction. Every time you think he can’t sink any lower, it gets worse. The plus side of this one, is you can choose between plenty of different soundtracks (I love the 80s feel good mixes) – and it also tracks your distance, speed, GPS route and calories burned. First up, I read Catherine Grey’s The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.

• Moreover, drinking literally increases your anxiety.
• It was something I looked at every day, and it inspired me to keep going.
• When we’re bored, the first thing that pops into our minds to alleviate the boredom is alcohol.
• What we do—the behaviors we choose to engage in—heavily affect how we feel about ourselves.
• That’s why it’s important to try and change your environment in the early days as much as possible.

One of the biggest impediments to my sobriety during my relapse days was my inability to avoid getting consumed by emotions. So much of this list is not just about finding things to do, but treating the underlying causes of extreme boredom in sobriety. Exercise is critically important in early sobriety and for ongoing mental health and wellness.

What Is a 12 Step Program for Addiction?

And not just in essential oils and bubble baths, which by the way I adore and long walks with podcasts, but also in things that are fun. Because those are the things that are going to keep your sobriety going. You need to follow the divine breadcrumbs of things that spark some joy in early sobriety, you need drinking out of boredom to follow joy and pleasure that exist without substances, creativity and ideas. I found that other people who exercise, especially exercising early in the morning, are not the people getting drunk every night. These are the kind of people who are hiding in plain sight, who you’ve never noticed before.

• Now that I’ve quit drinking, I am just living, just living, I am just going through life, not recovering.
• While boredom is to be expected and is nothing unusual, some individuals equate boredom with lack of productivity and negative connotations.
• If nothing else, it starts to chip away at any notion you might have that you’re unworthy.
• Helping others actually boosts our own mental health and feelings of self-worth.
• Surround yourself with people that support you and help you in whatever
  you’re going through in the present moment.

But they are smart and interesting, and do activities that aren’t centered around alcohol. There is a quiet time between drinking and your life after drinking. You sleep a lot and you feel a little down your body and your mind and your emotions are adjusting to life without alcohol. But it will lift little by little and new interests and joy will come into the picture.

I signed up for an online course on giving up alcohol

On average, members see a 30% reduction in alcohol consumption in 3 months, leading to improved sleep, diet, and overall wellbeing. Are there certain days where boredom is more likely to sneak in? At the beginning of those days, plan to work on a hobby or some other activity when nothing else is scheduled. You’ll find it easier to settle into the activity should boredom strike. One of the best ways to deal with bored drinking is to anticipate it — why is not always easy. For example, CBT might help you realize you look at boredom in a negative light.

Plus, you might meet some cool people, and that’s always a double win. That is the activity I’ve buried my energy into since quitting. Choosing a new hobby to occupy your time is not always easy. It may require a bit of soul-searching, especially when your motivation is at historically low levels. But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community.

Everyone Gets Bored

When I was a heavy drinker, everything involved alcohol. If I was sad, I drank alcohol to feel better. If I was hanging out with friends, we were getting drunk. Learning healthy coping skills, unfortunately, is not as intuitive as it might seem. Dealing with monotony and underlying mental health issues typically requires self-awareness and outside assistance through various forms of therapy addressing underlying conditions. According to Medical News Today, the average adult in the United States experiences around 131 days of boredom per year.