Are you looking to keep your sobriety heading into the holiday season? Is this the time that you find it most difficult to detox? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about staying sober during the holidays.
Doing so can help you resist the urge to give in to temptation. No matter what addiction you’re battling, it’s important to remember that your sobriety is more important than the holiday season.
If you can keep a clean slate, you’ll have more momentum when the new year arrives. See below for several tips that you can use to stay sober during the holiday season.
1. Vocalize Your Sobriety
Just to clarify, this isn’t insisting that you have to go around to everyone you meet and immediately tell them about your sobriety. You can be as selective as you wish with who you tell.
However, it’s important to remember that there’s no shame in prioritizing your sobriety. In fact, it’s admirable that you’re cutting out something from your life that has held you back in the past.
The more that you vocalize your intent to stay sober, the more support you’ll find from your peers. More importantly, if they know of your sobriety, they can help you keep that promise to yourself.
Being vocal about your sobriety has a way of speaking itself into existence. It helps remind yourself that your goal, more than anything, is to resist the temptations that you may face at the company Christmas party, secret Santa event, etc.
If you’re nervous about telling people of your sobriety—which is completely normal— then don’t be afraid to practice in the mirror before the event. Rehearse a line or two for what to say if someone asks “can I get you a beer?”. It can help you take control of the situation.
2. Find a Sober Buddy
There’s no shame in acknowledging that you need more accountability. If you do, then it’s always a helpful exercise to find a sober buddy. Someone that’s also prioritizing sobriety at the event that you’re attending.
For example, say you’re going to a Christmas party for your company. While there might not be anyone that’s also prioritizing sobriety, there might be someone that’s been christened the designated driver for the night. If so, you both can keep each other accountable.
If you’re attending a family holiday party and there’s a high likelihood that you run into temptation, ask the relative hosting the party if you can bring a sober buddy along. That way, they can enjoy the party with you but also help you resist the urge to succumb to peer pressure.
It’s all about turning peer pressure in your favor. In the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, he points out the power that peer pressure has on our lives and how it can take over even when we have the best intentions.
If you go into a party where alcohol will be served without someone to support you, there’s a higher likelihood you succumb to peer pressure. But if you bring a sober buddy who went through a Detox treatment with you, you’ll likely resist any urges that come your way.
3. Write Down Your Sobriety Goal
Countless studies have shown the power of writing things down. When you write things down, your brain has an easier time retaining the information and keeping it at the top of your mind.
That’s why heading into all the holiday parties, it’s important to write down your sobriety goal. Writing down anything will do. What’s important is that you write it down and read it aloud to yourself every day this month. Here’s an example:
“This holiday season, I’m making it my goal to prioritize my sobriety. While I might face certain urges or temptations at (list all holiday parties here), I will politely decline. If the urge gets too significant, I will leave the party and head home for the night.”
4. Prepare for Worst Case Scenario
In a perfect world, people would be supportive of your goal to detox and stay sober 100-percent of the time. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the case.
You might have friends or family members that are unsupportive of your goal. You might run into a drunk friend at the holiday party that tries really hard to give you a substance you’re trying to stay away from.
It’s best to prepare for these worst-case scenarios ahead of time. Many recovering addicts experience a setback when they’re faced with a tough situation and fall for peer pressure. If you prepare for that ahead of time, you’re more likely to overcome it.
5. Install New Traditions
Perhaps your old traditions are too risky. For example, if the family get-together has too much alcohol involved, it might be best to stay away.
Instead, you can have everyone over at your house for a separate party where no alcohol will be served. If your family is supportive of your desire to stay clean, they’ll be glad to help you keep that promise to yourself.
You can make a holiday tradition out of virtually anything. Find something that you and your family or other sober friends enjoy, then make that a tradition every year moving forward.
Use These Tips for Staying Sober Through the Holidays
Now that you have seen several essential tips for staying sober throughout the holiday season, be sure to use them to your advantage.
Be sure to read this page to learn more about our knowledgeable staff and how we can help you find and maintain your sobriety through the holiday season and beyond.
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