If you just completed a rehab program, you may find yourself wondering what to do with your day. Since you aren’t spending your days getting, using, and then recovering from drug use, you have plenty of free time on your hands. If you don’t find a healthy way to alleviate your boredom, thoughts of using and cravings can return. Finding fun and healthy sober activities is an essential part of your individual recovery plan.
This article will explain why it is important to have hobbies in recovery. Also, you will see examples of fun, sober activities that will help minimize boredom and reduce the risk of relapse. Despite what you may think, engaging in fun activities to stay sober helps you stay motivated and takes your recovery to the next level.
Why Are Sober Activities ?
If you recently completed a treatment program, you may look and feel the best you have in years. You feel as though you are at the top of the world. While completing a treatment program is a major achievement, it does not mean that your recovery ends. The real work in recovery begins when you resume your daily life. To minimize the risk of relapse, your primary focus should be on relapse prevention and building the coping skills needed to deal with the triggers that can lead to substance use.
Finding fun, sober activities is an essential component of relapse prevention. Engaging in activities while you are sober helps redefine what is fun. Before recovery, your idea of fun was using drugs and alcohol with others who used substances. However, any fun that was had came at a tremendous price to your health and your relationships with others. Now that you are sober, you have the opportunity to find fun things to do that are physically, mentally, and psychologically healthy. These sober, fun activities can be enjoyed by yourself, or family and friends can join in on the fun.
Explore Some Fun Sober Activities
In your search for fun, sober activities, the world is your proverbial oyster. The key is finding those activities that connect with yourself and allow you the space to explore the new and sober you. The following are some examples of fun things to do while sober:
Exercise
One of the most common and fun sober activities is engaging in exercise. Regular exercise releases vast amounts of dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is the brain’s “feel good” chemical and is an excellent replacement for substances. Exercise is also helpful in combating depression which can be common in early recovery. Examples of exercise include simply going for walks around the neighborhood, biking, hiking, and weight training. You can also join a sports league, take a CrossFit class, or practice a martial art.
Be Creative!
In sobriety, you learn to confront feelings and emotions that were repressed during your active addiction. A great way to express those emotions is through the arts. Take up a musical instrument, a watercolor or sculpture class, write poetry, or get into woodworking. These avenues are healthy ways to express and connect with yourself.
Join a Club
Do you have a passion or interest? Chances are, there is a club in your area that has people who are also passionate about the same thing. There are gamers clubs, book and writing clubs, and service clubs that focus on your community’s volunteer work. If there isn’t a club in your area focused on your particular interest, form one!
Travel
Now that you are not spending all of your income on substances, you can take the money you are saving and go travel. This can include anything from going to a state park or city you’ve always wanted to visit, to traveling globally. Seeing the world can put your recovery into perspective and help ground you.
Volunteer
Among the things to do while sober, volunteering is one activity that can vastly enrich your life. When you give of yourself and your time to others, it enriches your life and helps bolster your confidence in recovery. You can volunteer for a local youth group, non-profit, or hospital.
Sober Things to do in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, TN, offers a vibrant scene full of fun and exciting sober activities to enjoy. Here’s a list to get you started:
- Explore the Outdoors at Radnor Lake State Park: Enjoy hiking, bird watching, and immersing yourself in nature’s tranquility.
- Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame: Dive into the rich history of country music in a museum filled with memorabilia and exhibits.
- Take a Walk on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge: Offers stunning views of the Nashville skyline, especially at sunset.
- Enjoy Live Music: Nashville is known as Music City for a reason. You can find live music performances in various venues that don’t focus on alcohol.
- Tour the Grand Ole Opry: Get a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic venue that’s been showcasing country music legends since 1925.
- Attend a Workshop at The Skillery: Engage in community workshops or classes ranging from business skills to arts and crafts.
- Explore the Frist Art Museum: Delve into the visual arts with exhibits ranging from local to international works.
- Spend Time at Centennial Park: Visit the full-scale replica of the Parthenon, walk around the lake, and enjoy the beautiful gardens.
- Join a Fitness or Yoga Class: Many studios and gyms offer classes where you can meet people and stay healthy.
- Take a Cooking Class: Learn new culinary skills and recipes at places like The Cookery or Sur La Table.
- Visit the Nashville Farmers’ Market: Enjoy local produce, artisan foods, and crafts.
- Stroll Through the 12 South Neighborhood: Full of unique shops, cafes, and a friendly atmosphere for a relaxing day out.
- Go on a Coffee Shop Tour: Nashville has a thriving coffee scene with plenty of cozy spots to discover.
- Attend a Sports Game: Cheer on the Nashville Predators, Nashville Sounds, or other local teams.
Nashville’s diverse offerings ensure that there’s always something new and exciting to explore, whether you’re into music, art, nature, or sports, all while maintaining a sober lifestyle.
Start on Some Fun Sober Activities Today
Finding sober activities is easier than you think. Maybe there is an old hobby you can revisit and rekindle your love and passion for it. There might be something that you’ve always wanted to try, or maybe a family member or friend is inviting you to join them in one of their hobbies. Keep an open mind; you never know until you try.
If you are newly sober and looking to strengthen your coping skills to minimize relapse, attending an aftercare program in Tennessee at Nashville Treatment Solutions is an excellent option. We offer intensive outpatient, traditional outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs in Nashville that are customized to fit your needs. With the help of experienced and dedicated treatment staff, you will get learn the life and coping skills needed to strengthen your recovery.
Call Nashville Treatment Solutions and take your recovery to the next level.
