And she arranges the flowers, and she puts them in front of her house for neighbors to pick up as drinking out of boredom a little dope dose of joy for other people or leave them on their front stoops. She says that she enjoys arranging them and looking at them and smelling them. And when the vegetables show up, she suddenly has a ton of mushrooms. And she has to figure out what to do with them, or fruits that she had never discovered. Now, I personally love Pinterest, and I don’t know if you guys do, too. But Pinterest for me is a great tool to learn and to dream.
Why Shouldn’t You Drink Out of Boredom?
Unstructured time leads to unpredictable behaviors, which are problematic in recovery. Always have a list of people that support your recovery available. This provides quick access to those who empower you on your recovery journey. Surrounding yourself with people that support you can help alleviate possible remnants of guilt and shame from past behaviors. Whether it’s your partner, friends or colleagues, ask those who know you for ideas of things you can experiment with to fill your time differently.
- And the call I just got off of what’s a zoom call and it was about the book, The Sober Lush.
- She believes she was probably a rodeo queen in another life and recharges by spending time with friends and family.
- And it held me in a place where I was stuck and where my world got smaller and smaller.
- Do what you love to do and you won’t be bored.
- Drinking out of boredom because you feel anxious is likely to make you feel worse because alcohol is a depressant, so if you are already feeling low, it makes those feelings more extreme.
Eat regularly throughout the day
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. While boredom is to be expected and is nothing unusual, some individuals equate boredom with lack of productivity and negative connotations.
- It’s even harder if your loved ones don’t support your sobriety.
- Some of my clients have done this and they absolutely love it as sober treats.
- Alcohol use disorder impacts millions across the nation, many of which are considered high-functioning.
- Losing relationships to the substance can be challenging but anchoring to others in recovery can be the very thing you need to feel worthy of recovery.
- It’s a way to care for yourself by committing to a practice that releases positive, mood-enhancing endorphins and alleviates stress.
Use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify triggers.
Planning interactions according to “Sober in Seven” can help reduce feelings of loneliness and prevent reliance on alcohol. Having a list of supportive contacts is beneficial because it can provide you with immediate access to people who will encourage and support you on your journey to recovery. Boredom can indeed lead to cravings for alcohol, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With understanding and a few targeted strategies, you can retrain your brain to seek healthier, more fulfilling ways to escape boredom.
Reward yourself for not drinking when bored.
I’m going to drink coffee and read good books in a house without my kids and without my chores. And I pinned a picture of that farmhouse to my vision board to look at for an entire month. I joined a running club, and I did my first 10 K in 5 years. When I was drinking every night and every activity centered around happy hour. I also got to listen to great music when I was jogging music that I hadn’t heard in years, I listened to songs from college and from high school.
4. Maintain a healthy diet
And that’s what it’s like, when we take away our wine, Right? We’re like, there’s nothing to do if we’re not drinking. You suggest it sounds good, or as good as my wife?
Tip 4: Reach out to others
Sometimes we would watch a show, but even that become untenable for me after a couple of drinks because I did not have the attention span for it. In fact, when you first quit, it feels like everyone in the world is out getting drunk but you. Download my pep talk for a dose of inspiration to keep you on track tonight. I founded The Sober School to show you there’s another way out of your shame that doesn’t involve AA or rehab.
The Mindset Shift That Helped Me Get (And Stay) Sober For Good
Because the dopamine release makes you feel good, your brain starts to crave alcohol whenever you’re bored, reinforcing the behavior and making it harder to resist. In her time here, Karlie trained as a clinical supervisor and an Acudetox therapist. She has a passion for working with clients to help them develop a more profound sense of identity to navigate depressive and anxious symptoms. She’s passionate about working with clients to work through trauma and improve mental stability. In her personal life, Karlie likes reading sci-fi and fantasy and going to Marvel movies. She enjoys playing board games and having home karaoke nights with her friends.
Yet, if boredom eating is affecting your mental or physical health with side effects like weight gain and anxiety, you may be looking for a way to stop. Your mood and emotions play a significant role in psychologically induced hunger like boredom eating. Learning to be aware of your emotions, hunger triggers, and fullness cues can help prevent you from eating because you’re bored.