KellyToronto

actually, it's from 5 - 10 pm, 5 hours, daily.

the "zone" - the only part of the 24 hour day that I think about drinking.

Any suggestions on how to Conquer the Zone, once and for all?

I expect many replies on THIS one!

Keeping sober, though - woke up refreshed, today!

K out

PaleMale

Personally, I needed something extra to help me after work as well. Something that felt really good and took my mind off the world. I re kindled my love of guitar playing, and chose the most interesting and difficult aspect of guitar that I in the past always intimidated me as something "I could never do.) Jazz guitar...

Wes Montgomery and Django Reinhart, John Scofield and John MacLaughlin are my goals now. And you know what? It's working! A day at a time, I remain sober and a day at a time I'm getting much better playing difficult guitar material. I'm even reading music now! I play guitar over 5 hours a day now! I buy picks and strings in bulk packages now.

So that's my advice. Take up something that is difficult, rewarding and time consuming, that takes a lot of practice. Not all of learning something is fun all the time, but as you improve, the 'high' gets better and better.

Some people do knitting or needle point. Some will draw or paint. Other may build wood sailboats, or solder a Theramin together from parts.

SDSurfn

Do something, anything, everything different.

smileyblue

PaleMale thanks for the inspiration. A good reason to sign up for the Chinese lessons I have been meaning to start for two years!

Latte

That is when I clean the house. It's cooled off, my husband is home to wrangle the kids and move heavy stuff if I need him to. Sometimes I can even get in a small workout too.

raindancer11

Nice that you woke up refreshed, Kelly! Good suggestions on this thread.

For me, that witching hour window was a problem long before I started drinking and before I had kids. I felt the best when I went straight from work to the gym. Those endorphins really helped the mind chatter. It's something struggled with then and definitely now, getting myself to the gym or doing something active. I'm too tired to exercise at that time but exercise is what I need to get over the tiredness.

PaperDolls

Try this: http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ething-do.html

Reset

That was my zone too. Whenever the urge would hit, I'd make some tea. The process took my mind off the drinking and the hot tea did something to my stomach that made alcohol seem unappealing.

Also reading, watching movies and SR.

BTW that zone went away after a couple of weeks. I just had to re-train myself.

cleareyes

My problem is keeping myself from making an excuse to leave the office to go buy wine. I find myself finding some silly excuse everyday. Right now there is no wine at my house oh and my hubby has the car so I have no way to get out anyway today. Let's hope this is what it takes to get past that Day 1 hump.

At home I play with my little girl - swimming pool
Clean house or do laundry
Cook supper
Read a book
Watch TV
Take a bath
Go to bed early

Dee74

I never had problems with a particular time, as I drank all day - but I think it's important to mix up your routine if you have a witching hour problem, Kelly.

If you usually cook at a certain time, cook earlier or later. Usually watch TV? - add new things into your evening - go for a walk, or get stuck into a hobby, even chores...

what does your sponsor recommend Kelly?

D