Top 5 Tips To Stay Sober This Holiday Season
The start of December marks the beginning of the silly season and for anyone in sobriety, it can be a really challenging time. Whether it’s the office Christmas party or an extended family gathering, alcohol is everywhere. The question then is this: If alcohol is close to impossible to avoid, how can you ensure you’re setting yourself up to have a successful sober holiday season?
Below I’ve put together my Top 5 Tips which have helped me stay sober at many a social gathering…
1. Arrive Early and Leave Early
If possible, aim to arrive at the venue half an hour earlier than the designated start time. If you’re at someone’s home, this allows you to help them finish setting up and be of service. You’ll also find that you can have a much more connected and authentic conversation before people start drinking. When the time comes to leave, you won’t feel guilty if you’re leaving early as you were able to help out and share quality time at the beginning of the party.
2. Bring Your Own AF Drinks
I find that even if the host says they will cater non-alcoholic drinks, it’s always best to bring a selection of your own. Firstly, this ensures there will be something that you enjoy drinking and secondly, you know that the selection won’t run out. You may not know how many other people are opting to have an alcohol-free day and sometimes these drinks can disappear quite quickly.
In regards to whether or not you stick to soda water or you try one of the many “faux-booze” alternatives, it really is a personal choice. One school of thought is that the non-alcoholic alternatives are dangerous as they can trigger cravings, however this won’t apply to everyone. Whatever decision you make, be sure to choose wisely and always double check the label as some brands marketed as “zero-alcohol”, will still contain a small percentage.
3. Have An Exit Plan
It’s important to note that sometimes a trigger can come out of nowhere and completely blindside you. If this happens, give yourself permission to leave the party immediately. You don’t need to apologise or explain yourself. Remember your recovery must come first and the people that care about you will understand. Don’t let the fear of letting people down, potentially cause you to let yourself down.
4. Connect With Your Community
During the early days of my sobriety, I found it really helpful to have a sober buddy on call when I attending events where alcohol would be present. Before arriving at the party, let your sober buddy know where you’re going and the hours you plan to be there. Then depending on the level of support you require; you can check in with them every couple of hours by sending a simple text message. Then at the end of the night, give them a call as you’re driving home. Not only does this help you to stay accountable to someone other than yourself, it can often be really helpful to debrief with another sober person after you’ve spent time around alcohol.
5. You Can Say No
This took me a really long time to understand but once I realised, I didn’t have to say “yes” to every invitation, I felt a huge sense of relief. December is a busy and often stressful time for many of us and it’s important that you don’t burn out! The acronym HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired and is defined as the four risk states that affect your mood and behaviour, therefore putting you closer towards a potential relapse. My advice is to avoid HALT by choosing the events that are most important to you and give yourself permission to say no to the rest.
The best laid plans are the ones you’ve put thought into, so don’t attempt to just “wing it.” Apply these Top 5 Tips to your social calendar and set yourself up for sobriety success this holiday season.