Did you know that boredom is a common relapse trigger for those recovering from addiction? Boredom can lead to overthinking, leading to cravings, which can lead to relapse if left untreated. Participating in sober activities in your new life of recovery is crucial. However, 2020 has thrown everyone for a loop with the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic. You may be feeling lost as to what to do with your free time when you are stuck quarantining inside and can’t see your friends. However, there are various ways you can still have sober fun while in quarantine.
Boredom may be a relapse trigger, but this doesn’t mean you must regularly be doing so many things that cause you feelings of stress. It merely means that you should fill your time to ensure you don’t make negative decisions just to cure your boredom. What kind of bad choices can be made? Well, when people have too much free time, they tend to:
For those fighting to stay sober, boredom is a common enemy to their recovery. Boredom can lead to unwanted cravings, anxiety, isolation, and depression. These feelings can influence a sober person to go back to drugs or alcohol simply to fill their time. This is why sober activities are so important. Finding ones you enjoy doing can help you fill your time without it seeming like too much work.
Staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 is of the utmost importance, alongside maintaining your recovery. It’s been a tough year, causing many feelings of loneliness and sadness, but you can make it fun by trying new sober activities.
You may be thinking that self-care is a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. Self-care allows you to spend quality time with yourself and learn about things you like, dislike, and want to learn more about. You can try new recipes full of nutritious foods, go rollerskating in the park, or relax with a good book to relieve some stress. Self-care can drastically improve your mood, which is much needed when you are quarantining most of your days. Some positivity and a change are good -- consider taking a day to look after your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Have you ever wanted to learn something new but just didn’t have the time? Quarantine is the perfect opportunity to finally get around to that cooking class you’ve always wanted to take or the language you’ve always wanted to learn. Learning something new is a great mental exercise for your brain, which is useful for those recovering from addiction. Keeping your brain active will help it heal and give you more motivation and energy to continue with your recovery. Consider something you have always wanted to learn and start there!
What is quarantine cleaning? It’s like spring cleaning, but it can take place anytime during the quarantine. Perhaps you have too many clothes you never wear or a pile of old CDs you never listen to. Now would be the perfect time to go through your things and get rid of the ones you never use. This will free up space and help with organization. The feeling of letting things go can also bring about experiences of healing. Feeling accomplished after you complete the cleaning is a great way to boost your self-esteem and your mood.
Since you can’t visit friends and family like you used to, you have to get creative in the ways you can spend time together. A great way to do so is to have a virtual game night. Many apps offer multi-way video calls and card games, board games, voting games, and more. Consider downloading one today and enjoying time with friends and family you haven’t seen in a while! This will help you get closer together during this difficult time and bring some relief to all of you.
A great way to keep track of your recovery and try a new sober activity is to journal your feelings, thoughts, and daily activities. This way, you can monitor your growth and notice any behaviors you need to change. Journaling is a great eye-opener, and now that you have all of this free time in quarantine, you can finally get around to it!
Quarantine has been a struggle for everyone worldwide, causing stress, poor mental health, and sometimes even relapse. Isolation and boredom are two dangerous feelings for those recovering from substance use. They may lead to seeking something outside of yourself, which may mean using drugs or alcohol. However, you can improve your quarantine situation by trying out new sober activities that are COVID-19 safe. The world is different right now, and you may never have the opportunity of so much free time again. Get around to learning that new things, cleaning out that room, or finally practicing some self-care. You may find something you didn’t know you wanted or needed. This discovery can boost your recovery by giving you new activities to engage in and avoid boredom. Should you ever need any more recommendations, contact the staff at Northstar Transitions at (303) 558-6400. We can offer sober activities to immerse yourself in that will keep you and your loved ones safe.
