Now that you’re sober, what do you do at night?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 308
Now that you’re sober, what do you do at night?
My old routine was drink until 7:30, eat, then pass out. Sleep (lay in bed)for 10-11 hours and feel like crap in the morning.
For me, my mornings/days/early evenings are so jam packed I don’t have time to get bored. But when 8:00 hits, its new territory for me being up and sober and I’m struggling to find something to pass the time.
Don’t get me wrong, drinking doesn’t even cross my mind. I have so much time on my hands at night now. Just wondering what everybody else filled their nights with.
For me, my mornings/days/early evenings are so jam packed I don’t have time to get bored. But when 8:00 hits, its new territory for me being up and sober and I’m struggling to find something to pass the time.
Don’t get me wrong, drinking doesn’t even cross my mind. I have so much time on my hands at night now. Just wondering what everybody else filled their nights with.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
9PM is bedtime for me, so...
Sometimes bedtime is 8.
I'm up at 5AM and there's plenty to do all day long to stay busy.
I used to stay up doing God knows what until midnight or so. That led to me becoming an over-weight alcoholic.
Now I'm a sober, fit, healthy weight person with normal hours.
Sometimes bedtime is 8.
I'm up at 5AM and there's plenty to do all day long to stay busy.
I used to stay up doing God knows what until midnight or so. That led to me becoming an over-weight alcoholic.
Now I'm a sober, fit, healthy weight person with normal hours.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 374
I start work early, but I am home by 3pm. I'd have to put a few shots of vodka back just to steady my handwriting to pay bills. I would run some errands, do some cooking for myself and the family. Then lock myself away to watch some TV or youtube. It would be a miracle if I would remember seeing 7:30pm or even 8pm before blackout/passout. Feel like absolute garbage in the morning but would power through it.
On days off, like the weekend or holidays, I'd be in the sauce by mid-morning easy, trashed by late afternoon. Wake up the following morning around 4am wondering why I'm not dead!
Although I'm barely a week into sobriety, I'm already staying up to 10pm easy. Remembering what I watched on TV, even! Now around 3pm I go for my workout at a local park instead of hitting the bottle.
I started de-cluttering my life, so any "downtime" I may have is kept occupied organizing shelves and throwing stuff out.
On days off, like the weekend or holidays, I'd be in the sauce by mid-morning easy, trashed by late afternoon. Wake up the following morning around 4am wondering why I'm not dead!
Although I'm barely a week into sobriety, I'm already staying up to 10pm easy. Remembering what I watched on TV, even! Now around 3pm I go for my workout at a local park instead of hitting the bottle.
I started de-cluttering my life, so any "downtime" I may have is kept occupied organizing shelves and throwing stuff out.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 308
Originally Posted by Notch8 
I start work early, but I am home by 3pm. I'd have to put a few shots of vodka back just to steady my handwriting to pay bills. I would run some errands, do some cooking for myself and the family. Then lock myself away to watch some TV or youtube. It would be a miracle if I would remember seeing 7:30pm or even 8pm before blackout/passout. Feel like absolute garbage in the morning but would power through it.
On days off, like the weekend or holidays, I'd be in the sauce by mid-morning easy, trashed by late afternoon. Wake up the following morning around 4am wondering why I'm not dead!
Although I'm barely a week into sobriety, I'm already staying up to 10pm easy. Remembering what I watched on TV, even! Now around 3pm I go for my workout at a local park instead of hitting the bottle.
I started de-cluttering my life, so any "downtime" I may have is kept occupied organizing shelves and throwing stuff out.
On days off, like the weekend or holidays, I'd be in the sauce by mid-morning easy, trashed by late afternoon. Wake up the following morning around 4am wondering why I'm not dead!
Although I'm barely a week into sobriety, I'm already staying up to 10pm easy. Remembering what I watched on TV, even! Now around 3pm I go for my workout at a local park instead of hitting the bottle.
I started de-cluttering my life, so any "downtime" I may have is kept occupied organizing shelves and throwing stuff out.
It’s like looking into a mirror.
I too started exercising. I was never that big of a tv watcher because I knew I wasn’t going to remember it anyway. I do hear it’s the golden age of tv now so maybe I’ll give that a shot at night.
AKA ComputerMan
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 91
Originally Posted by biminiblue
9PM is bedtime for me, so...
Sometimes bedtime is 8.
I'm up at 5AM and there's plenty to do all day long to stay busy.
I used to stay up doing God knows what until midnight or so. That led to me becoming an over-weight alcoholic.
Now I'm a sober, fit, healthy weight person with normal hours.
Sometimes bedtime is 8.
I'm up at 5AM and there's plenty to do all day long to stay busy.
I used to stay up doing God knows what until midnight or so. That led to me becoming an over-weight alcoholic.
Now I'm a sober, fit, healthy weight person with normal hours.
AKA ComputerMan
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 91
Originally Posted by Zebra1275
I have so many things that keep me busy that I don't want to list them all.
But one thing I do almost every night just before I fall asleep is read my Kindle. I spend a fair amount of money buying electronic books.
But one thing I do almost every night just before I fall asleep is read my Kindle. I spend a fair amount of money buying electronic books.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Originally Posted by ClarkGrizwold
How long did it take you to change your bed time? i keep working it back i started from 11 PM and i tried to start at 10:30 Pm and it threw everything out of wack lol. I laid there until midnight watching the clock!
Ya have to go to bed tired.
So whatever that looks like to you. I have a full day, so 9PM is about it for me. Are you getting any exercise? That always helps me to fall asleep and stay asleep. I don't drink caffeine other than one cup of coffee in the morning and an iced tea with my afternoon meal, so that helps. Also, my mind and conscience are clear so I don't lay in bed with anxiety. When I had trouble sleeping I just got up. No need to lie in a dark room torturing myself with my own thoughts.
AKA ComputerMan
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 91
I kow i have comented here 3 times but i sware this is it lol
I read and also do pushups until my arms feel like they are going to fall off. it helps to reduce stress and makes me feel great and i do fall asleep faster. And i love putting my headphones on and listening to rock music for a few hours every day, it helps clear my head.
I read and also do pushups until my arms feel like they are going to fall off. it helps to reduce stress and makes me feel great and i do fall asleep faster. And i love putting my headphones on and listening to rock music for a few hours every day, it helps clear my head.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,229
initially in early sobriety i paced and was restless asf. i absolutly hated it and had nothing to do with myself. oh sure i did the usual things people suggest but it all was down right awful and i felt horrible i was merely going through the motions and passing the time fake it till you make it if you will. I drank tea and would read etc and pace.
now i guess i feel like a normie of sorts. i chase after the kids cook food and relax and it doesnt feel abnormal to do any of this.
now i guess i feel like a normie of sorts. i chase after the kids cook food and relax and it doesnt feel abnormal to do any of this.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 308
Keep posting Clark! My problem isn’t sleeping. Well, it is but I know that’s just because my mind is getting used to going to bed naturally.
I’ve noticed that I can function just fine right now on 3-4 hours of sleep. My goal is to get to 7 hours. But that still leaves ~4 hours of downtime at night that I need to figure out how to fill.
I’ve noticed that I can function just fine right now on 3-4 hours of sleep. My goal is to get to 7 hours. But that still leaves ~4 hours of downtime at night that I need to figure out how to fill.
AKA ComputerMan
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 91
Originally Posted by VinnyMcM
Keep posting Clark! My problem isn’t sleeping. Well, it is but I know that’s just because my mind is getting used to going to bed naturally.
I’ve noticed that I can function just fine right now on 3-4 hours of sleep. My goal is to get to 7 hours. But that still leaves ~4 hours of downtime at night that I need to figure out how to fill.
I’ve noticed that I can function just fine right now on 3-4 hours of sleep. My goal is to get to 7 hours. But that still leaves ~4 hours of downtime at night that I need to figure out how to fill.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 308
My music taste is all over the place. Being from northern WI, you’re kind of forced into country so I listen to a lot of that. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I do like hip-hop. Not mumble rap and fake artists (lil Wayne and drake. Artists who actually portray a positive message.
What I really recently got into is any song about alcohol/drug recovery. It’s inspirational to hear even with millions of dollars and fame, these artists use their stage to voice problems that they are going through that us “normal” folk go through.
What I really recently got into is any song about alcohol/drug recovery. It’s inspirational to hear even with millions of dollars and fame, these artists use their stage to voice problems that they are going through that us “normal” folk go through.
AKA ComputerMan
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 91
Originally Posted by VinnyMcM
My music taste is all over the place. Being from northern WI, you’re kind of forced into country so I listen to a lot of that. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I do like hip-hop. Not mumble rap and fake artists (lil Wayne and drake. Artists who actually portray a positive message.
What I really recently got into is any song about alcohol/drug recovery. It’s inspirational to hear even with millions of dollars and fame, these artists use their stage to voice problems that they are going through that us “normal” folk go through.
What I really recently got into is any song about alcohol/drug recovery. It’s inspirational to hear even with millions of dollars and fame, these artists use their stage to voice problems that they are going through that us “normal” folk go through.
https://www.soberpod.com/
Guest
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 12
I get insomnia sometimes, so I have gotten good at filling time. I do Pinterest a lot if I can't sleep. I also pick a show with several seasons and will trickle through that if I feel like it. I use the evenings to clean, so sometimes I put on headphones and catch up on housework. I'm very introverted, so I don't get the itch to go out in my free time. I do enough of that for work!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 308
Originally Posted by EmeraldCoastGal
I get insomnia sometimes, so I have gotten good at filling time. I do Pinterest a lot if I can't sleep. I also pick a show with several seasons and will trickle through that if I feel like it. I use the evenings to clean, so sometimes I put on headphones and catch up on housework. I'm very introverted, so I don't get the itch to go out in my free time. I do enough of that for work!
Life Goes On
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 6,069
- Go to IOP
- Read and post on SR
That pretty much fills up all of my time in the evenings at the moment!
Once I'm done with IOP, I intend to go to a meeting every evening for at least a good long time, continue to read and post here, read and study recovery and mental health literature independently, listen to "This American Life" and "The Moth Radio Hour" while doing some more coloring to switch up my avatar, have good long cozy chats with people who love me and new friends I'd like to cultivate, work on jigsaw puzzles, and... I dunno what else. Other stuff will come up, I presume.
The possibilities are endless, really.
-take a walk
-do a crossword
-read a book
-start writing a book
-learn how to knit
-bake cookies
-clean out the junk drawer
-download the pokemon go game on your phone and go downtown to start playing it (we can become friends; I already play)
-go to a meeting
-try a new food
-cruise a thrift shop to see what interesting bargain you might find
-go to the book store and read for awhile
-go to the library!
-vaccuum the heat vents (when's the last time you did that?)
-etc etc etc
If you are flailing about, make a list of things today for tomorrow. And do them, even if it feels weird. Include on your list to make a new list for the next day.
In my mind, the essential recipe includes pointed efforts to sustain/shore up sobriety, continued work to improve my mental well-being (meds, therapy, mindfulness), connection to others, doing things to engage my brain and others that allow me to disengage in a healthy way. Topped off with physical activity - that will come in time, no doubt. But for me, my insides are in the most critical need of scaffolding right now.
O
- Read and post on SR
That pretty much fills up all of my time in the evenings at the moment!
Once I'm done with IOP, I intend to go to a meeting every evening for at least a good long time, continue to read and post here, read and study recovery and mental health literature independently, listen to "This American Life" and "The Moth Radio Hour" while doing some more coloring to switch up my avatar, have good long cozy chats with people who love me and new friends I'd like to cultivate, work on jigsaw puzzles, and... I dunno what else. Other stuff will come up, I presume.
The possibilities are endless, really.
-take a walk
-do a crossword
-read a book
-start writing a book
-learn how to knit
-bake cookies
-clean out the junk drawer
-download the pokemon go game on your phone and go downtown to start playing it (we can become friends; I already play)
-go to a meeting
-try a new food
-cruise a thrift shop to see what interesting bargain you might find
-go to the book store and read for awhile
-go to the library!
-vaccuum the heat vents (when's the last time you did that?)
-etc etc etc
If you are flailing about, make a list of things today for tomorrow. And do them, even if it feels weird. Include on your list to make a new list for the next day.
In my mind, the essential recipe includes pointed efforts to sustain/shore up sobriety, continued work to improve my mental well-being (meds, therapy, mindfulness), connection to others, doing things to engage my brain and others that allow me to disengage in a healthy way. Topped off with physical activity - that will come in time, no doubt. But for me, my insides are in the most critical need of scaffolding right now.
O
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 308
Originally Posted by Obladi
- Go to IOP
- Read and post on SR
That pretty much fills up all of my time in the evenings at the moment!
Once I'm done with IOP, I intend to go to a meeting every evening for at least a good long time, continue to read and post here, read and study recovery and mental health literature independently, listen to "This American Life" and "The Moth Radio Hour" while doing some more coloring to switch up my avatar, have good long cozy chats with people who love me and new friends I'd like to cultivate, work on jigsaw puzzles, and... I dunno what else. Other stuff will come up, I presume.
The possibilities are endless, really.
-take a walk
-do a crossword
-read a book
-start writing a book
-learn how to knit
-bake cookies
-clean out the junk drawer
-download the pokemon go game on your phone and go downtown to start playing it (we can become friends; I already play)
-go to a meeting
-try a new food
-cruise a thrift shop to see what interesting bargain you might find
-go to the book store and read for awhile
-go to the library!
-vaccuum the heat vents (when's the last time you did that?)
-etc etc etc
If you are flailing about, make a list of things today for tomorrow. And do them, even if it feels weird. Include on your list to make a new list for the next day.
In my mind, the essential recipe includes pointed efforts to sustain/shore up sobriety, continued work to improve my mental well-being (meds, therapy, mindfulness), connection to others, doing things to engage my brain and others that allow me to disengage in a healthy way. Topped off with physical activity - that will come in time, no doubt. But for me, my insides are in the most critical need of scaffolding right now.
O
- Read and post on SR
That pretty much fills up all of my time in the evenings at the moment!
Once I'm done with IOP, I intend to go to a meeting every evening for at least a good long time, continue to read and post here, read and study recovery and mental health literature independently, listen to "This American Life" and "The Moth Radio Hour" while doing some more coloring to switch up my avatar, have good long cozy chats with people who love me and new friends I'd like to cultivate, work on jigsaw puzzles, and... I dunno what else. Other stuff will come up, I presume.
The possibilities are endless, really.
-take a walk
-do a crossword
-read a book
-start writing a book
-learn how to knit
-bake cookies
-clean out the junk drawer
-download the pokemon go game on your phone and go downtown to start playing it (we can become friends; I already play)
-go to a meeting
-try a new food
-cruise a thrift shop to see what interesting bargain you might find
-go to the book store and read for awhile
-go to the library!
-vaccuum the heat vents (when's the last time you did that?)
-etc etc etc
If you are flailing about, make a list of things today for tomorrow. And do them, even if it feels weird. Include on your list to make a new list for the next day.
In my mind, the essential recipe includes pointed efforts to sustain/shore up sobriety, continued work to improve my mental well-being (meds, therapy, mindfulness), connection to others, doing things to engage my brain and others that allow me to disengage in a healthy way. Topped off with physical activity - that will come in time, no doubt. But for me, my insides are in the most critical need of scaffolding right now.
O
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