The holiday season is filled with emotions and temptations. This season can be especially hard for those in recovery. Catching up with old friends, visiting family and holiday celebrations can stir up temptations and emotions that haven’t been felt before.
Don’t let those temptations and emotions become overwhelming. Below are 9 tips to help you stay focused on the road to recovery.
1. Surround Yourself With Supportive People
Keep in touch with your support network. Schedule time to spend with more people in recovery. This will allow you to focus on your goal of recovery and keep you away from many holiday temptations. Also, exchange numbers so you have someone to call during times of stress.
2. Leave Time For Yourself
All of the hustle and bustle of holiday celebrations can be overwhelming. Set time aside to focus on yourself. When things get overwhelming to take a deep breath and a step back and reflect on your own goals.
3. Avoid Temptation
The holiday season offers up many holiday parties and celebrations. With those opportunities often come options to overindulge in anything from food to alcohol. If you know there will be temptations present and it will be hard for you to resist, then kindly turn down the invitation and avoid the situation.
4. Get Involved
Since there are so many people in need during the holidays it is a great time to help out. Reach out to your local shelter, look up food and toy drives and see what you can do to benefit your community. Another way to get involved is to help out at your local meetings by staying late, cleaning up and seeing if there is anything else you can do.
5. Plan Ahead – adequate sober beverages etc.
Know what the atmosphere will be like at events you will be attending. If possible ask ahead and see if there will be non-alcoholic beverages provided. If not, bring your own so you feel more comfortable.
6. Start New Traditions
Holidays are filled with traditions that often revolve around alcohol and other temptations. If these make you feel uncomfortable invite over others in recovery and start your own traditions. This can be another form of support to keep you busy and focused on your goals. Maybe even take a small trip to somewhere in the local Southern California area with some friends. There is so much beauty surrounding us!
7. Be Wary of Hidden Alcohol
Alcohol can be hidden in food such as rum cake. It is always a good idea to ask what is in the food you are eating if you are not sure. Better safe than sorry!
8. Exercise
This is our personal favorite and one that we think is overlooked during the holidays. Don’t let your holiday celebrations get in the way of your normal exercise regime. Exercise is vital for a good balance of mind and body. It is also a great way to relieve stress and pent up energy.
9. Go to a Local Meeting
Here are some links to find out times and locations of local meetings in the area.
http://www.orangecountyna.org/meetings.html
http://www.oc-aa.org/directory/meetings.asp?day=SELECT+A+WEEK+DAY&city=SELECT+A+CITY
http://www.southcoastareana.com/meetings.htm
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/find-local-aa
http://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Leave us a comment with your suggestions and tips for staying sober through the holidays below!