"Enjoying Sobriety" my List
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 1,021
"Enjoying Sobriety" my List
I'm realizing the only way I'll ever stay sober is by understanding I will need to learn how to enjoy sobriety and that drinking doesn't really offer true, quality happiness and contentment.
To that end I wrote the following list to help me realize and remember that it's possible to enjoy the sobriety journey itself, rather than waiting for some future magical moment where I realize I'm all of a sudden happy being sober. And I read it almost every day or whenever I start to have thoughts that I'm somehow depriving myself of happiness and fun by not drinking.
The list has helped me, perhaps it will help you. And of course, delete any items that don't pertain or work for you and add items of your own:
Enjoying Sobreity
To that end I wrote the following list to help me realize and remember that it's possible to enjoy the sobriety journey itself, rather than waiting for some future magical moment where I realize I'm all of a sudden happy being sober. And I read it almost every day or whenever I start to have thoughts that I'm somehow depriving myself of happiness and fun by not drinking.
The list has helped me, perhaps it will help you. And of course, delete any items that don't pertain or work for you and add items of your own:
Enjoying Sobreity
- My mind is clear
- I have no hangover, sickness, shaking or sweating
- I’m not suffering from severe depression and demoralization
- I am able to sleep properly
- I have more energy
- I remember what I did last night
- I am not putting poison in my body
- I am taking an honorable path
- I have no shame, regret or remorse because of drinking behavior
- Each day I put more distance between my new self and my previous bad, drunken behavior
- I am growing spiritually, morally and intellectually
- I am behaving in a more mature manner
- I won’t smoke cigarettes (which I do when I drink)
- I won’t use drugs (which I've done when I drink)
- I am healthy, and I will become healthier
- I am productive
- I am improving my financial situation slowly, a little bit each day
- I am truly happier without alcohol
- I will have no DUI’s or other alcohol related legal issues
- I am saving a lot of money
- My higher self will grow and assert itself
- I’m learning to enjoy the simple things in life.
- I am a good example for others
- I have the respect of family, friends, coworkers and peers
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Join Date: Nov 2014
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I'm certainly not on cloud nine, but here's mine (Sober Date 6/2016):
I'm biking almost 50 miles a week (during drinking time, I didn't exercise, but was super thin anyway because I didn't eat.
I am really neat and organized; I even make the beds each day and I have a knack for interior decorating, so my houses look really nice, if I can say so myself. My house is almost never messy these days. (when drinking, there was one year where I never really unpacked and the house was always a disaster except when I'd clean a little)
I am doing things that I've been wanting to do for year, like organize 1000s of photos on lots of different sites.
I get things done--I'm talking long list things. This year, it was routine mammogram, full blood work, repaired our credit (which suffered stupidly because I couldn't be bothered, while drunk, to pay 10 dollar copays because it would mean figuring out the password to the account).
I have almost finished completely remodeling my home.
I'm always looking for new opportunities to make side cash.
I'm biking almost 50 miles a week (during drinking time, I didn't exercise, but was super thin anyway because I didn't eat.
I am really neat and organized; I even make the beds each day and I have a knack for interior decorating, so my houses look really nice, if I can say so myself. My house is almost never messy these days. (when drinking, there was one year where I never really unpacked and the house was always a disaster except when I'd clean a little)
I am doing things that I've been wanting to do for year, like organize 1000s of photos on lots of different sites.
I get things done--I'm talking long list things. This year, it was routine mammogram, full blood work, repaired our credit (which suffered stupidly because I couldn't be bothered, while drunk, to pay 10 dollar copays because it would mean figuring out the password to the account).
I have almost finished completely remodeling my home.
I'm always looking for new opportunities to make side cash.
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 1,021
I just want to add that along with reading the list, I take time to really reflect on at least one of the items.
For example, when I read that I'm no longer suffering from hangovers and the profound demoralization after a night of serious binge drinking, I try to remember exactly how horrible I felt on those days after, and compare that to how much better I feel waking up refreshed and without the physical and especially the emotional pain caused by drinking.
For example, when I read that I'm no longer suffering from hangovers and the profound demoralization after a night of serious binge drinking, I try to remember exactly how horrible I felt on those days after, and compare that to how much better I feel waking up refreshed and without the physical and especially the emotional pain caused by drinking.
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 666
Time2Rise, thank you for this encouraging list. I can echo many of them!
A few others..
Never having to strain to not slur my words when talking to my kids, having meaningful conversations that I remember the next day and being proud of being a good example to them.
Losing weight and bloat and feeling prettier and younger.
Reclaiming hours per day that I used to spend running around town buying wine or hiding empties.
Feeling free to schedule early morning appointments knowing I can easily get out of bed for them.
Being able to pick my kids up late at night if they need me, with never a worry about not being able to drive.
Tackling projects I have let linger for years.
Crawling into a comfortable bed and falling asleep naturally (not just passing out).
Having normal, healthy bathroom visits again (sorry if TMI)
No more snoring
Lower blood pressure
Saving hundreds of dollars a month not buying wine
Not posting ridiculous things late at night on social media and waking up to regret them and rushing to delete.
I know these are common to many of us, but as someone said when I posted some of these before.. they really aren't all that special.. they are things that non-drinkers experience all the time. Sad what we grew to accept as the status quo of our lives.
Life is both simpler and richer.
And best of all, I feel like I'm rediscovering the old me, with hope for becoming even better.
A few others..
Never having to strain to not slur my words when talking to my kids, having meaningful conversations that I remember the next day and being proud of being a good example to them.
Losing weight and bloat and feeling prettier and younger.
Reclaiming hours per day that I used to spend running around town buying wine or hiding empties.
Feeling free to schedule early morning appointments knowing I can easily get out of bed for them.
Being able to pick my kids up late at night if they need me, with never a worry about not being able to drive.
Tackling projects I have let linger for years.
Crawling into a comfortable bed and falling asleep naturally (not just passing out).
Having normal, healthy bathroom visits again (sorry if TMI)
No more snoring
Lower blood pressure
Saving hundreds of dollars a month not buying wine
Not posting ridiculous things late at night on social media and waking up to regret them and rushing to delete.
I know these are common to many of us, but as someone said when I posted some of these before.. they really aren't all that special.. they are things that non-drinkers experience all the time. Sad what we grew to accept as the status quo of our lives.
Life is both simpler and richer.
And best of all, I feel like I'm rediscovering the old me, with hope for becoming even better.
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Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 469
I am truly loving this thread - I love to hear how things have changed for the better for people - it gives me hope. Only Day 9 for me but even though it takes a while for me to drop off to sleep - My sleep now is of good quality. My emotions are still all over the place and my diet has been awful because I am letting myself eat what I want. I'm taking this sobriety step by step - its my priority at the moment - I'm sure everything else will fall into place eventually X
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: London
Posts: 2,040
Thanks for the great thread Time2Rise 💜
On my enjoying sobriety list is spending a day off work at a luxury spa relaxing, swimming, unwinding, having a massage and facial instead of sitting at home drinking 2 bottles of wine!!!!
On my enjoying sobriety list is spending a day off work at a luxury spa relaxing, swimming, unwinding, having a massage and facial instead of sitting at home drinking 2 bottles of wine!!!!
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 403
probably the weirdest one and it isn't directly related to sobriety, per se.
I used to have white coat syndrome to a severe degree. My blood pressure (before I was an alcohol and then while I was) would go up in the dr's office. I also put off appointments to go because I was scared I would have cancer. I avoided doctors, etc. like the plague. I didn't even go to the doctor with my youngest (pre-drinking career) until I was six months.
well, my big ole scary trip to the hospital where I almost died completely healed me of that. I'm not afraid to go under or anything. Yes, I wouldn't like it, but the fear I had was paralyzing. It's all relative. My life had never been in the hands of a bunch of doctors until that stay in June of 16. Just the other day, on my way to doctor, I was thinking "hey, I'm not scared at all".
lol at the whole irony of the nonsense of it all.
I used to have white coat syndrome to a severe degree. My blood pressure (before I was an alcohol and then while I was) would go up in the dr's office. I also put off appointments to go because I was scared I would have cancer. I avoided doctors, etc. like the plague. I didn't even go to the doctor with my youngest (pre-drinking career) until I was six months.
well, my big ole scary trip to the hospital where I almost died completely healed me of that. I'm not afraid to go under or anything. Yes, I wouldn't like it, but the fear I had was paralyzing. It's all relative. My life had never been in the hands of a bunch of doctors until that stay in June of 16. Just the other day, on my way to doctor, I was thinking "hey, I'm not scared at all".
lol at the whole irony of the nonsense of it all.
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