Tips for Staying Sober during Holiday Celebrations
For many people, staying sober during the holidays is a challenge. If you're in recovery, or just want to survive the holiday celebrations with your dignity intact, here are 10 tips which will help:1) Celebrate new traditionsIf your usually holiday traditions are centered around the consumption of alcohol, it's time for some new traditions. Organize parties at locations without alcohol (family restaurants or the church basement) or celebrate with activities, like sledding or going to a concert or play. If the people you typically celebrate with aren't being supportive, perhaps the best new tradition is spending the holidays with people who want to stay sober too.2) Identify and avoid triggersWhether it's walking in the door of your favorite watering hole, hanging out with the person who can't stand to see everyone "enjoying" themselves with a drink in their hand, or that drink to "help" you unwind after hectic holiday shopping, identify your drinking triggers and avoid them.3) Choose parties wiselyJust because you're invited to a holiday celebration, you CAN say "no" if you're worried about the amount of alcohol being served, insufficient beverage alternatives or the risk of pressure to "just have one". The people who care about you will understand if you decline an invitation - do you really worry about the opinion of those who don't?4) Plan aheadIf there's a celebration you just cannot avoid, plan ahead and be prepared. Bring your favorite nonalcoholic beverage. Bring a friend who doesn't drink who will support your choice of sobriety. If you're feeling confident you won't succumb to temptation, offer to be the designated driver, so you have an excuse to NOT drink, which even the most hardcore drinkers will support.5) Go late and leave earlyWhen attending celebrations, arriving late will help you avoid the awkwardness at the beginning of every party which might tempt you to have "just one" to get in the mood. Plan on leaving early to avoid the people who, when drinking, just can't stand to see anyone without a drink.6) Don't skip meetingsIf you attend regular support meetings, don't skip them, even for an "essential" celebration. If you are really struggling, it may be useful to attend even more meetings than usual. Another alternative are AA marathon meetings - Alkathons - organized by some support groups over the holiday period.7) Celebrate with supportive peopleShift your point of view on the changes you need to make to get through the holidays. Rather than avoiding the wrong people, a more useful approach can be to concentrate on celebrating with the supportive people in your life - family, friends and other ex-drinkers.8) Stay activeStaying busy and productive over the holidays can help fight the holiday blues which often lead to holiday drinking, especially if you tend to spend holidays alone. Consider volunteering at a local soup kitchen or animal shelter, take up a new hobby or join an online support forum.9) Meditation and AffirmationsMeditation can help reduce the holiday stress which can weaken your resolve. All that is necessary is a few moments in a quiet place several times a day, let your thoughts drift and dwell on positive feelings. If you don't do affirmations already, the holidays may be a good time to start. Consider the following, and repeat them to yourself 10 or 15 times, several times a day:
"I am whole and complete without alcohol"
"I don't need to drink to have a good time"
"I am at peace"
"I am moving in the right direction"
and of course:
"I accept the things I cannot change"
10) One day at a timeFinally, remember that the battle against alcoholism is fought one day at a time, even during the holidays.
