Sweets79

Hi everyone,

Hope everyone is hanging in there and doing okay! Lately, I've been thinking really hard, trying to find some things/hobbies that I might be interested in doing, now that I've stopped drinking. It's kind of embarrasing to say, but I don't really have any hobbies.

Normally, when I drank I didn't feel bored and felt like doing more, which was a totally false feeling because after the effect wore off, I felt like doing nothing. Now that I'm sober, I realize that was a no win situation. I'm trying to focus my sights on things that I might be interested in doing/learning.


I'd like to learn how to dance Merengue or Salsa, travel the country (eventually, when I have enough money to do so), take some classes, learn how to Scuba Dive, I'd like to start gardening (but unfortunately I don't have a backyard right now), learn how to speak Italian, (my grandmother spoke it, but I never learned). I'd also like to start eating better and focus on my health. It took me awhile to think of just those things, but atleast the gears are grinding now. Hopefully more will come to me. What things would you like to do/learn or have learned since you stopped drinking?

lucid

Great thread idea! I know that I need to have some structure in the coming months if I'm to stay sober. I used to enjoy drawing and I've just signed up for an art class with a non-drinking friend. I'm also planning to register in a cooking course (again, with non-drinking friends). I love to cook, but I've been avoiding it recently because it's a huge trigger for me. I'm hoping that the thrill of cooking in a professional kitchen will help me dissociate cooking and drinking.

I'm also hoping to re-focus on my health. I've been putting so much effort towards staying sober that I've been neglecting my work outs. I'm hoping to see some improvements in my running times now that I'm not continually poisoning myself.

ClaretandBlue

Doing more photography.. putting together a reading list of all the books I ever wanted to read but never got around to reading. Playing around with my extra computers for the hell of it.. lots, and lots of movies

Sweets79

Hey Lucid,

That sounds great. I love to cook also, but I haven't been doing to as much as I used too. The art class sounds cool, good luck with that I definitely need to re-focus on my health. I've had upper GI problems for a while, even before I started drinking. When I drank the discomfort would go away, but again that was an illusion, because we all know the havoc drinking can do on your stomach/ digestive system. So, I'm looking to get some tests done and follow up with that, since I've put it off for so long. I definitely want to start eating better also. I don't eat alot of junk, but I could afford to lose a few lbs. Drinking all that Vodka and Whiskey is pretty fattening! Good luck to you on what you're doing. Keep us posted!

least

I have no grand or concrete plans, but find that I'm enjoying my life so much more, no matter what I do, now that I'm sober.

Sweets79

Hey Least,

Yeah, these are just some ideas I have that I'd like to do eventually. I don't have alot of money now, so that makes it tough. As time goes on I would like to try to do some/all of these things. Oh, btw, Glad Beagirl is doing good!

lucid

Try checking out the continuing ed courses offered by your local school board, Sweets. I'm in Canada, so it might be different, but my drawing course is costing me less than 70 bucks. There were a huge range of courses including dancing and exercise.

Don't write off the scuba diving either. My friend was encouraging me to join her class and she told me that they do a free introductory class for the curious. I'll ask her about it next time I see her.

So true.

adore79

I just want to get a life...

Sweets79

lol I hear you.

joedris

Well, I spend a lot of time online with other alcoholics. And there's always my bonsai trees and manic bird to keep me occupied. I'm sure that you'll get a lot of great advice here.

maz09

I'm going to get into arts and craft and more physical activities like take up dance lessons. I always wanted to do that.

Seekingsobriety

Travel more with my kids!!

CarolD

Here is a list SR members compiled......

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.
__________________

Sweets79

Thanks Carol...I especially like "throw cards at a hat" and "go to bed" lol.

coming_clean

mmmm things i wonna do

- maintaining sobriety for the rest of my life
- giving up smoking sigs (day 1 right now yeah baby)
- learning to cope with my hyper sensitivity more
- move to another city and get a more inspiring job that fits my intelligence and personality
- making meditation a part of my everyday life.
- start saving some money (allready out of debts..hell yeah!)

Tazman53

Well I am in process of starting back doing a few hobbies that meant so much to me before alohol took them over:

Doing more with my family
Fishing
Hunting
Working with other alcoholics.
Going back to school to become an alcohol/drug counselor.
Bascally to give away what has been given to me.

Wednesday

I want to:

Lose some weight,
Get into better shape,
Get regular massages/ reflexology,
Go on a sober holiday (I think this will be a big challenge for me)
Spend time with my friends and loved ones more,
Start saving some money,
Redo my garden.

Mine aren't really hobbies, maybe one of the things on my list should be to find a new hobby!

shaun00

things i wanna do now im sober:

get baptist

Get as far away as possible from the old me..

id like to create more time to do 12 step work in jails...

tour through italy on goldwing for a month....ive done it in a van when i was a kid..wonderful.

Tour u.s doing meeting in every state.

Walk the great wall of china..

Catch my first 30lb carp.........currently up 28.9

Sweets79

aaaaaaaaaaahgahahhahahahaha you're too much...and I'm not the one who needs to be watching out for desks. Those poor security guards lmao.

Sweets79

Yes! I definitely want to maintain my sobriety, and move!... I also understand about the hypersensitivity. Feel free to share ways you're learning to cope with it, I struggle with it also.