in search of a Hobby..any recs? Hello all, I am starting my 3rd and hopefully last attemt to quit. Once in 2008 and then last November. I can identify some factors that made me relapse. The main one is listening to the voice telling me that I could control one or two drinks. One month I handled it and as posted before the relapses are more severe. Another factor is my way of life and company. Even though I am the one who drinks the most my friends go out drinking from Wednesday to Saturday. I have been lucky several times not to end up in jail or in the hospital. I have flash backs of the few last weekends commiting severe misdemeanors. I think its a call for action...never in the past I have lost control like this and it will get worse! Back to the point...I want to learn other ways to have fun. PLease recommend hobbies and activities to keep us away from the drinking. Its hard because I feel as if I've lost the ability to enjoy everything as I used to. I numbed my senses and happyness with alcohol. Thanks! |
Hey there Hoper! Welcome to SR! I've found that getting sober is much more than just finding hobbies or activities to distract me from drinking. It's really an inside job - I had to want to get sober first and do whatever it took to get there in terms of a physical, emotional and mental change. I found my way through an excellent counselor who specialized in alcoholism, others have found it through AA - there's lots of programs available - it's a matter of wanting to do the work in finding what works for you. Posting here is a great start because it's important to have a support network - with sober people who understand and have been there. |
When I first quit, I made physical activity and time outdoors in nature a big part of my recovery. I walked, lifted weights, rode my bike and swam, and found that being tired at night and falling right to sleep was a huge help. I also upped my work hours. Later, I grew tired of having only friends who drank for entertainment. SR was my main form of support when I quit up until about the 10 month mark, but then I decided I wanted to meet some people who did other things with their time besides drink in my town. I started attended AA meetings, which I had been avoiding. I met some really great people there, and I get lots of really useful suggestions on living sober. The AA community here has camp outs, bbqs, bowling nights and cruises. They have dances at our alano club, and groups of people even go "bar hopping" on the weekends to catch the local live bands. I don't do all of that stuff, only some. I spend a lot of time reading, researching and enhancing my recovery progress. I do a lot more art, make time for people who need me, and spend as much time outdoors as I can. I have been sober 15 months, and my life is full and rich and I rarely find the time to be bored. Congratulations on your decision to get sober. |
Originally Posted by Gypsy Feet
(Post 2566966)
When I first quit, I made physical activity and time outdoors in nature a big part of my recovery. I walked, lifted weights, rode my bike and swam, and found that being tired at night and falling right to sleep was a huge help. I also upped my work hours. Later, I grew tired of having only friends who drank for entertainment. SR was my main form of support when I quit up until about the 10 month mark, but then I decided I wanted to meet some people who did other things with their time besides drink in my town. I started attended AA meetings, which I had been avoiding. I met some really great people there, and I get lots of really useful suggestions on living sober. The AA community here has camp outs, bbqs, bowling nights and cruises. They have dances at our alano club, and groups of people even go "bar hopping" on the weekends to catch the local live bands. I don't do all of that stuff, only some. I spend a lot of time reading, researching and enhancing my recovery progress. I do a lot more art, make time for people who need me, and spend as much time outdoors as I can. I have been sober 15 months, and my life is full and rich and I rarely find the time to be bored. Congratulations on your decision to get sober. |
Hi Hoper We have a list here of things to do that may kick start some ideas. http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ething-do.html Just keeping busy and occupied isn't always enough for some of us to turn our lives around, though - I know it wasn't for me. If you find the same, I hope you'll think about some of the other suggestions people have made here :) Welcome! D |
How you gonna stop that little voice? |
My 'hobby' is feeding and sheltering the stray cats in my neighborhood. And now that I'm not spending so much money on wine every day I have more money for cat food and such. I have two dogs and three cats and can't afford any more animals, but at least the homeless kitties have me to look out for them.:) Don't know how you feel about animals, but maybe volunteering at an animal shelter might be a good thing to do and make you feel good about yourself too.:) (or a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen) |
I put some time and effort into my house...which i never did when I was too hung-over. I am cleaning out my mother's house (to sell) and i also upped my hours at work. I am spending more time on myself, my appearance and as others have said, physical work-outs help me to be much less depressed and sleep well. now that good weather is here i like to be outside too....I just started reading for entertainment again. |
You never mentioned if, you got to AA. We hve camp outs spring, summer and fall. I go sailing on weekends, comedy clubs, baseball games, concerts movies are good to go to. Take a vacation to somewhere you've wanted to go but have always put it off |
Thanks all for your posts! I did go to my first AA meeting today and heard some great stories, some sad as well but it felt good. I guess this time I will try to shut down the little voice with the bigbook (got my copy today) and understanding that I have no will against alcohol. I definitely need to shape up so that will be a priority, working out. Outdoors activities sound good, i just need to gather a couple of sober friends to enjoy the sun. I guess I have some catch up to do with my studies and work so I can keep my self busy. This is a good start. I am excited to start this journey but a little afraid given that my whole lifestyle evolved around alcohol. Thanks for the support! |
Welcome to SR, Hoper! Looks like you're off to an awesome start! |
I guess this time I will try to shut down the little voice with the bigbook (got my copy today) and understanding that I have no will against alcohol. hoper...sorry my post may have sounded flipant. but im glad you noticed it....... my life has turned into something wonderful. but only after i got to grips with the depth of the problem and found a solution to the obssesion (little voices).. in the bigbook you have, i found a solution to my chronic alcoholism. laid out simply in the form of 12 steps. i hope you find the book as vital as i did and wish you peace and freedom. |
Welcome....:wave: Here is a list of things to do instead of drinking It was compiled several years ago by SR members. Perhaps you can find something of interest....:) 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. __________________ had mostly singles. We did all sorts of interesting things outside of meetings. We had a blast...and we stayed sober together...:a122: |
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