bymyself

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been drinking this week and now that the weekend is here I need to fill that void. I'm busy during the week with work but was just curious what kind of hobbies any of you took on to replace drinking. I'm just looking for some ideas. I was never interested in anything besides "drinking" but I'm trying to replace drinking with a fun hobby to fill the void.

Theresa

barb dwyer

kinda. I took up AA.

Dee74

Hey Theresa,
well, I've gone back to an old hobby and am seriously making music again...

D

Alive

same "hobby", Different Addiction! find something that drives you to positivity Theresa!( haven't told you, but beautiful name)

stay strong

Zencat

I find making arts and crafts things rewarding and interesting to see if they sell.

2stop

Photography is great.....you look at things differently when sober so it's kinda fun to take the ol camera out and get reaquainted with all the beauty there IS in this world. I have about 14,000 pics, my husband thinks I am nuttier than hell..I am...but that's okay...I'm a sober nut so it's alright! LOL....

Weekends can be a challenge, but there are so many things to do besides drink/use..we just gotta step out and DO them.

********{Huge Hugs}}}}}

Good for you for making your life healthier.....and saner! It DOES get so much better. It doesn't have to stay a struggle to not drink or use forever...I fell in love with life.......and I am still finding beauty and activities that enrich my life so much.

write in a jouranl maybe, explore your passions, what excites you, what calms you.it can be tough at first knowing WHAT we like at all! It's okay though.....in time it won't seem like achore or burden to fill your time with nondrinking, but a JOY to fill youir time with freedom..and doing something becase you want to and don't have to feel guilty about.

parentrecovers

a full and balanced life. one of the rewards of recovery. blessings, k

SaTiT

I did..most recovery addict/alki...don't..that why they have a harder time.
all work and no play...the heck with that..
That what drinking and using was at first...a past time.

while I can get addict to my hobbies..becuase I'm an addict.
the consequences are not the same. I can snap out of my hobbies,
plus I have something to show for it. I build R/C planes..it gives me
peace and I enjoy it. it dosen't happen over night and I know I can
put a pile of balsa wood into something that'll fly and also trun into
a work of art. Plus I had to learn aviation..I love aviation.
Plus when i go fly it..I need a flight instructor (sponsor)..follow instructions
Plus I had to join a club...and nobody drinks or using while putting
$500 to $2000 in the air and a labor of love in flight.
it can actually kill you if you don't follow instructions. Plus i had to focus on the
birdy.lol and master all the manuvers, one manuver at a time and build on
that. plus I have to make small adjustments at a time to fine tune the
airplane to get it to fly correctly..I practice patient.
Plus by control and R/c..I get an insight of seeing the bigger picture
or being outside of myslef.
Plus there's always room for growth..cuz I'm having a heck of a the
flying Helis..so, I'm a baby at it...follow instructions

keep you eyes an the birdy..lol and don't your mind driff...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg9uwjW5AGc

don't drink and fly..lmao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N28riwi9T70

get a sponsor....you don't have to do it alone..lmao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPy3LXzhZTo

here's my other hobbi..i love playing and writing music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_oUkD8ZNo4

Rowan

No real hobbies - still working on that one.

But - I'm learning a bit about gardening, I bought a kayak and look forward to getting out soon, I love to read, bike, work out - and nap. I love napping.

parentrecovers

long live naps!

GlassPrisoner

The first time I got sober (about 4 years) I did it without AA and replaced my drinking with all sorts of things. Work, school, hobbies and Mountain Biking. The Mountain Biking was a great release for all of the anger and frustration I was experiencing.

But, after a while, it got old. It was no longer fun. Gradually, I'd make my daily ride shorter, and stop at the local liquor store for a couple of those little bottles of vodka once or twice a week. Than it was every other day, than it was a 1/2 pint.....My bike and other hobbies started collecting dust, I dropped my classes. And thus started another 10 years of drinking, eventually ending up drinking 24/7 and experiencing withdraw when I didn't have alcohol in my system.

I eventually walked (literally, both my cars were broke down) into AA. It's been 7 months now, and life has never been better. I am not tormented by anxiety , regret or depression. Life is good.

Just last week I dusted my keyboards off and plugged them into my mixer. Interest in things other than recovery are slowly coming back. But this time I'll put recovery first, and try and maintain a balance in life.

f911

I live in a large home and finally started to do some serious cleaning. I've also gotten into decorating it more (on the cheap).

I use to run alot. I've resumed that (entered a half-marathon in July). This keeps me motivated to eat right and not even think about returning to drinking.

jane

hopeOct31

Today I did some gardening and landscape maintenace at home, which I haven't done in a few years. I really enjoyed it...to my surprise!
It was so great to be able to enjoy a beautiful day off work rather than spending the whole day recovering from friday night.
HopeOct31