Staying sober: 10 top tips

Getting sober is one of the hardest things you might ever have to do, and it's not something you ever want to have to repeat.

And yet, some people choose to return to drinking, despite knowing the carnage, chaos and despair it will cause themselves and others around them. It's true that relapse is a part of addiction but there are many things that can be done to prevent it permanently.

One of the greatest challenges of staying sober is the perception that life can be boring without alcohol. That's a myth that needs to be busted, and is usually just an excuse to pick up a drink. If drinking is what you want to do, any excuse will suffice and if you've made up your mind, nothing much will stand in your way.

However, most people in sobriety do want to stay sober but it's not guaranteed they might get bored or dissatisfied occasionally. This is normal.

You might feel bored in sobriety but relapse is totally preventable

Staying sober when you're bored

The trick is to get through the boring patches, to stay on track and not sabotage your success.

Here are some tips from the team of clinicians at Ocean Hills to stay sober when you've hit a rough patch:

1. Change your routine - if your sobriety feels stale, challenge yourself by adding something new and positive to your day, like going for a walk at lunchtime, or having dinner earlier so you can walk after dinner.

2. Connect with positive people - if you are isolating and your friendship and family circle feels small, expand it. Reach out to someone else in recovery to offer support and friendship. Make a time to meet up for coffee and share how you're feeling. Connection is the opposite of addiction and isolation can lead you back to drinking.

3. Review your health goals - if you're feeling stale, look at what you're eating, how you're sleeping and how you're moving. See a doctor if you have concerns but otherwise, something as simple as adding more fresh food to your diet, drinking a bit more water and adding steps to your day can do wonders for how you feel.

4. Practising gratitude - our guests at Ocean Hills know that we recommend a daily gratitude practice. It's a way to highlight the many good things in life, rather than focus on the inevitable problems. Even if don't feel grateful, you could note that you're still alive, you are sober and you have shelter and food. There's always something to be grateful for.

5. Helping others - there's always someone worse off than ourselves, and who might need help. Reach out to a friend or a family member to see how they're doing, or check in with someone else in recovery. You might make someone's day and inn turn, will help you feel good.

6. Start a new hobby - it's easy to get stuck in a rut, doing the same old thing day after day. Challenge yourself to trying something you've always wanted to do, whether it's a creative or sporting pursuit. Keep yourself accountable by telling someone what you're going to do, then do it!

7. Change up your sobriety practice - if you attend a peer support group, see if you can change the meeting you go to so you can meet new people and hear different messages. You could join a social media support group, or get yourself a great book on sobriety that you've had your eye on.

8. Journalling - this daily discipline helps to get tricky thoughts out of your head and onto paper, where they can be acknowledged and left behind. A clear head is in a much better space to stay sober than a cluttered and confused one.

9. Plan a break away - if you're in a position to have a holiday, do it. If not, even spending a night or two away from your usual life can refresh you, leaving you recharged to get back into life with enthusiasm.

10. Write down your why - remembering why you chose to get sober in the first place is a powerful exercise. Maybe this is a time to go back and remember some of the worst times of your drinking, and how they affected you and your loved ones. It's easy to forget how horrible things were when we're feeling better but if you write it down and see it in black and white, it can be a reminder of why you chose a life of sobriety.

If you're looking for support to get sober for yourself or someone you love, give Elaine a call on 027 573 7744 for a confidential chat. Private, premium seaside rehab - fees apply.