People who do not have a drink problem almost never have to justify their drinking habits. Those of us who do have the most creative imaginations ever when we need to think up reasons – or really excuses – for our drinking. Amazingly, once we stop drinking, our minds can go blank and we have little imagination as to what to do to fill the time we now have. At least we have had the courage to take the step though – and it has taken courage as at the end of our drinking while many of us acknowledged that we could no longer live with alcohol, we also could not see how we could live without it. But we have already begun to see that this is possible.
Indeed, as the days, weeks and months pass, we find we have amazing amounts of mental and physical energy that just were not there in our drinking days. So here are some suggestions as to what to do to keep occupied – apart of course from going to Alcoholics anonymous meetings.
Go For a Walk
First, think about going for a walk – especially if you can do this in some nice countryside. You will find that you suddenly start to notice the beauty of nature, hear the birds singing, marvel at the beauty of the changing seasons and the weather. Some of the most enjoyable things in life are free!
Open your mind and enjoy a good book – or start reading a daily newspaper and to engage with the real world.
Visit museums and art galleries, if you think these could be of interest to you.
General Well Being – no drinking
Start to take an interest in your general wellbeing – take some gentle exercise, such as swimming, keep fit, running etc. Take an interest in your personal appearance – treat yourself to a haircut, some new clothes etc. If you are lucky and still have an acceptable income, you can spend some of the money you no longer spend on alcohol on making yourself feel good.
Tackle a long neglected chore, such as cleaning out a room, cupboard or drawer etc. This will give a real sense of progress and achievement. Don’t try to achieve too much at once though in case it is not achievable and you end up feeling disheartened.
Try a new hobby or revisit an old one.
Enrol on a course or volunteer to help in your local community.
Do something frivolous! No drinking!
Two cautionary notes though – don’t overdo all the new activity in the early days. And do not add entering into a relationship to your list. New relationships are not advisable in your first year of recovery as you are still quite vulnerable and if anything goes wrong it can be an easy road back to drinking. When i first heard this, I was not a great supporter of the advice. Now, though, i have seen many people fall into this trap and subsequently it has led them to relapse. So I can now see why it is wise advice!
The Haynes Clinic is a drug and alcohol rehab clinic offering detox and treatment for those suffering from addiction to alcohol, drugs and prescription medication.
Call 01462 851414 for confidential help and advice.
