winothatIknow

I just don't know, sitting here reading different boards to stay busy. Other then running (which is out of the question as I need my knees replaced) I can't remember an activity that didn't involve alcohol. Golf--->beer, bowling--->beer, movie--->stop at the bar before and after and even was known to bring in some airline bottles to add to the soda. I honestly can't remember anything I've ever done that didn't involve alcohol in my 25+ years of heavy boozing.

jerseytomato

It is hard for me to remember as well. I do remember certain events that I was sober at and I remember having a good time being sober, most importantly I remember them though! But the fact is there are so many great things to enjoy in life without drinking (and so many more that you can enjoy if you are not drinking).

It will be a difficult adjustment, but one well worth it in the end. Maybe you can take up a hobby? I've started cooking again and I am excited to have the patience to start teaching my children how to cook. They were lucky to get fish sticks in the microwave before!

winothatIknow

I will need some kind of hobby, used to love running, even ran New York marathon (3:16:14) but knees won't allow it anymore. Good luck with the cooking, it's something I've always done, and other then genes, one of the reasons I became a heavy drinker. Was a chef for 10 years and as most people who have ever worked in a kitchen, the chefs have no problem getting free alcohol. Before I was a chef I rarely drank. Free and, at the time, endless booze was probably just the trigger to get the alcoholic genes started. It will be somewhat of a challenge for me as I put alcohol in virtually everything. Weird though I never drink my cooking booze, just beer/wine and the occasional tequila

LaFemme

Wow! That's a great time on your Marathon! I just signed up for my first...my goal is just to finish

How about swimming? That's something you could do?

When I quit I was the same...at complete loose ends in the evenings especially. The cool thing about getting sober is you get to reinvent the wheel. Try new things...experiment...take up painting anything is possible when you are sober...I started by cleaning and redecorating my house...its now a home

AmericanGirl

Hi WTIK -- it took time for me to be able to feel normal doing "life" without booze because I was used to drinking every night -- even sitting down in front of the TV was hard at first. For me, I took it slowly and took each activity that I had previously associated with booze as a challenge (not a test, but something that I knew would be difficult and worked through). With practice it became clear that I could actually do those things, like spend time with people and bowl and go to movies, and even go out to a restaurant, sober -- and enjoy myself too. Just be patient with yourself and let yourself see each of those steps as accomplishments, because it truly is a different way of living.

And there's nothing wrong with spending plenty of time reading posts here. I know for me, that got me through my hardest early days.

CarolD

Here is a list compiled by other SR members.
hope you find it useful....


150 Things To Do Instead of Drinking

1. Read a book
2. Take a walk
3. Play a musical instrument
4. Knit
5. Clean your closets
6. Research your genealogy
7. Cook a gourmet dinner
8. Write an article for your local newspaper
9. Go take some pictures
10. Clean the mildew in your bathroom
11. Start writing that book you've been planning
12. Plan a garden
13. Plant a garden
14. Play with a pet
15. Read to a child
16. Visit someone in an old folks' home
17. Watch a news special on TV
18. Set up a family budget
19. Make a web site
20. Take up archery
21. Exercise
22. Go to an online recovery meeting
23. Surf the internet
24. Call your mom
25. Learn a foreign language
26. Write a poem
27. Play golf
28. Take a bubble bath
29. Draw
30. Teach a parakeet to whistle
31. Take a nap
32. Listen to music
33. Paint
34. Clean your desk
35. Start a stamp collection
36. Go window shopping
37. Browse in a book store
38. Go to an art gallery
39. Go for a drive
40. Paint a room
41. Watch the clouds go by
42. Play darts
43. Do target shooting
44. Do home repairs
45. Clean your garage
46. Sort your photographs
47. Make a scrapbook
48. Climb a tree
49. Plant a tree
50. Make marmalade
51. Make a list of things to do
52. Write a letter to the editor
53. Volunteer somewhere
54. Take a hike
55. Take a college class
56. Try yoga
57. Meditate
58. Get a massage
59. Make fruit smoothies
60. Bake cookies
61. Do a crossword puzzle
62. Go to the gym
63. Plant a color bowl
64. Sharpen your pruning tools
65. Change your engine oil
66. Sew
67. Groom your dog
68. Go see a play
69. Write a sonnet
70. Sort your recipes
71. Play solitaire
72. Go bird watching
73. Write a letter to a friend
74. Read a poetry book
75. Repot your houseplants
76. Go to a movie
77. Mow your lawn
78. Put up (or take down) your Christmas lights
79. Make pickles
80. Go jogging
81. Watch sitcoms
82. Plan menus for a diet
83. Do a jigsaw puzzle
84. Play chess
85. Write a country-western song
86. Watch a video
87. Go for a bike ride
88. Plant an herb garden
89. Start an online journal
90. Dye your hair
91. Go to a restaurant
92. Lift weights
93. Bake some bread
94. Learn a martial art
95. Polish the furniture
96. Make a flower arrangement
97. Read the newspaper
98. Start some seeds
99. Sort your magazines
100. Do some laundry.
111. Take a nature walk
112. Play with your kids
113. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
114. Volunteer at a school
115. Pick up garbage in a park
116. Tickle your kids
117. Play basketball
118. Volunteer at an animal shelter
119. Read to a child or pet
120. Sign up for obedience training with your dog
121. Take a walk and pick up litter you see on the way
122. Spend time at the library
123. Sort all your digital photos and make an album to print for holiday gifts to family.
124. Help your kid organize his closet.
125. Figure out the melody and chords to your current favorite tune on the piano.
126. Practice your holiday cookie recipes
127. Make crackers from scratch (that one didn't go so well).
128. Make tortillas from scratch (better).
129. Reread a book you haven't read for years.
130. Tango
131. Learn about someone else’s religion.
132. Reread one of your college textbooks.
133. Key out a wildflower.
134. Do your nails.
135. Do word puzzles.
136. Play a board game.
137. Burn CD’s of some of your favorite music for a friend.
138. Plant a bonsai.
139. Play Mad Libs.
140. Speak only in heroic couplets for an hour.
141. Read poetry online.
142. Ride a stationary bicycle.
143. Set up a domino topple.
144. Play backgammon.
145. Build a house of cards
146. Make an entry in Wikipedia.
147. Read a world almanac.
148. Publish a family newsletter.
149. Throw cards at a hat.
150. Go to bed.
__________________

LexieCat

I'm re-discovering all kinds of things that I'd forgotten I enjoyed. Plus a few new ones.

Give it time--fun will reappear.

nitenurse

Been wondering the same thing myself. I feel like I'm under 21 again. I didn't drink before turning 21, period. It just wasn't a part of my life. Peers asked me why, and I just shrugged. I wish I could go back to it being that easy. Go back to having no opinion on it whatsoever. I'm still trying to remember how I entertained myself, but I do recognize that feeling I once had coming back. I've been sober 3 months now, and the fog is starting to lift.

bigred95

I dont know if you have a dog, but one the greatest and fulfilling times for me is taking her to the dog park or just taking her for a walk.