Give yourself permission to chill and leave tasks half-done when your energy is low. From time to time, we may also ask ourselves, “Am I drinking too much? ” Perhaps we noticed our drinking increase during the pandemic in response to boredom, loneliness, or the absence of the usual guardrails. Many of us default to alcohol as a way to manage emotions. If we’re stressed, struggling to decompress after work, fighting with our partner, or just celebrating, relaxing, or socializing, we often keep alcohol close at hand.

Don’t be afraid to say no and take care of yourself. The benefit of exploring these healthy coping tools and alternative activities will be long-lasting, and potentially lifesaving. By staying close to home, sober and off the roads where those who are drinking may also be driving, you will be set up to have many more happy and sober holidays to come.

Connect with a professional for a substance

Fresh air and sunshine are wonderful antidotes for depression and anxiety. Try out activities like hiking and surfing to establish a deeper connection. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Long-term sobriety is a relative term—it means different things to different people. But many people consider long-term sobriety to be sobriety that has lasted at least one year.

“Feeling needed and accepted will help those with substance use disorders keep moving in a positive direction,” says Peterson. Here is a toolkit of six coping skills to help you maintain sobriety when you find yourself in difficult moments. #1 Identify and prepare for how holidays, like St. Patrick’s Day, can lead and trigger you to drink. If you have been suffering from alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder, you may have encountered financial problems.

Addiction Is An Everyday Battle That You Can Overcome

After all, everyone has different reasons for getting sober. Plus, some people must also manage mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or even another underlying medical condition. Deciding to become sober is only one step towards sobriety; staying sober is where the work lies.

You can do this out loud or silently to yourself, but start reciting all the things you’re thankful for and appreciative of. Studies have shown that gratitude can improve your mental wellbeing and actually help you make better decisions. Whether tips to stay sober it’s a hike or a nice park, heading into nature is a good way to watch the natural world moving and slow down your thinking. Get your mind off drugs and alcohol, by walking into nature and enjoying the colors, the sights, and sounds.

Recovering at Midwest Recovery Center

If you didn’t know the punch contained alcohol, and you accidentally had a sip, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you’ve relapsed or need to start sobriety at day one. Call your sponsor in a timely manner and talk through the situation. The better you feel physically and mentally, the more enjoyable the holiday season will feel.