What do you guys do for fun now you're sober?
2 detoxes down, 0 to go
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 284
I'm bringing back a lot of old hobbies that got neglected because of my almost constant drinking: playing guitar, reading, working out, etc.
I think it's also a really good idea to develop new hobbies that your brain does not in any way associate with drinking because you've never done those hobbies while drinking or hungover. As soon as I land my next job (hopefully very soon) I'll be saving up for a mountain bike and I'm considering starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons.
I think it's also a really good idea to develop new hobbies that your brain does not in any way associate with drinking because you've never done those hobbies while drinking or hungover. As soon as I land my next job (hopefully very soon) I'll be saving up for a mountain bike and I'm considering starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 611
These are some of the cool things I've been able to do sober :
1.) Guitar Lessons
2.) Get a pilots license
3.) Start to learn Spanish
4.) Learn to work on my own car
5.) Meditate (this one wasn't fun at first but it's getting easier and it's amazing)
6.) Watch funny / educational tv shows and YouTube videos
7.) Begin writing a novel and read some great ones too
8.) Traveled all over Alaska, Hawaii, South and Central America
9.) Become an advanced open water diver
10.) Learned to shoot a gun and took fencing lessons
11.) Took my God-daughter to the zoo, to the movies, and played games with her
12.) Saw lots of live music, concerts, and went to a festival
13.) made dinner for someone I loved
14.) Ran a half marathon
15.) Volunteered my time (again, more rewarding than just for fun but probably my favorite)
1.) Guitar Lessons
2.) Get a pilots license
3.) Start to learn Spanish
4.) Learn to work on my own car
5.) Meditate (this one wasn't fun at first but it's getting easier and it's amazing)
6.) Watch funny / educational tv shows and YouTube videos
7.) Begin writing a novel and read some great ones too
8.) Traveled all over Alaska, Hawaii, South and Central America
9.) Become an advanced open water diver
10.) Learned to shoot a gun and took fencing lessons
11.) Took my God-daughter to the zoo, to the movies, and played games with her
12.) Saw lots of live music, concerts, and went to a festival
13.) made dinner for someone I loved
14.) Ran a half marathon
15.) Volunteered my time (again, more rewarding than just for fun but probably my favorite)
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
All I know is, if I can't stay sober, if I
don't stay sober, then I have nothing.
No fun, no happiness, no family, no
life, no nothing.
It was suggest to me in early recovery
to work on learning to stay sober first
before tackling other things.
All those other things will eventually
become fun, happy, enjoyable, treasured
gifts in recovery.
Take small, simple steps one at a time
and slow down to stop and smell the roses
along the way.
don't stay sober, then I have nothing.
No fun, no happiness, no family, no
life, no nothing.
It was suggest to me in early recovery
to work on learning to stay sober first
before tackling other things.
All those other things will eventually
become fun, happy, enjoyable, treasured
gifts in recovery.
Take small, simple steps one at a time
and slow down to stop and smell the roses
along the way.
Clear Eyes Full Heart
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,272
Listening to music, reading-something I always loved and now have time for again, mindless tv, crafts, swimming, playing with my cats, going out with friends, checking out holiday displays and events...
It's a different kind of fun but the more months I'm sober the more fun ordinary things get so hang in there!
It's a different kind of fun but the more months I'm sober the more fun ordinary things get so hang in there!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 426
Everything I did before, just not drunk. I do everything I did before but I do it better, faster, more careful, I enjoy it, and I accept it for what it is......a choice.........
I choose not to drink......and I choose to live my life on MY terms. Under the influence means something so different now.
I choose not to drink......and I choose to live my life on MY terms. Under the influence means something so different now.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 472
Only on Day 3 at the moment but:
- I'm so looking forward to picking up a book and being able to concentrate on what I am reading and enjoying it.
- I'm looking forward to getting fit and healthy again and working out.
- I'm looking forward to losing my wine belly.
- I'm looking forward to saving all the money I would otherwise spend on wine to have a facial and my hair done
- I'm so looking forward to picking up a book and being able to concentrate on what I am reading and enjoying it.
- I'm looking forward to getting fit and healthy again and working out.
- I'm looking forward to losing my wine belly.
- I'm looking forward to saving all the money I would otherwise spend on wine to have a facial and my hair done
Member of SMART Recovery
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,722
Oooh, some good lists here!
I remember back in my drinking days being asked what I liked to do for fun (besides drink) and having no earthly clue. But since I quit, I've found lots of stuff to like...
1. Travel (US and international)
2. Exercise (not competitive anymore but still have fun with it)
3. Cooking
4. Hanging out with friends and family
5. Reading (can retain the information now and can even read Russian literature without getting lost)
6. Developing my career
7. Pets
8. Music (for some reason my appreciation of music has deepened; not sure why)
9. Movies
10. Lectures
....
It gets so much better...so hang in there!!!!!
I remember back in my drinking days being asked what I liked to do for fun (besides drink) and having no earthly clue. But since I quit, I've found lots of stuff to like...
1. Travel (US and international)
2. Exercise (not competitive anymore but still have fun with it)
3. Cooking
4. Hanging out with friends and family
5. Reading (can retain the information now and can even read Russian literature without getting lost)
6. Developing my career
7. Pets
8. Music (for some reason my appreciation of music has deepened; not sure why)
9. Movies
10. Lectures
....
It gets so much better...so hang in there!!!!!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 2,937
I think that holds true for a lot of us, me included.
If someone asked me a few years ago what my interests and hobbies were I would be clueless.
I would have had no answer to give apart from work and drink. And I did not do these because I enjoyed them I did it because I had to or knew no different way to be.
I cannot say now I am super interesting! In fact very far from it.
However I have surprised myself with some of my new interests.
One, which I have no idea where it came from, is looking at pictures of the insides of derelict buildings. There is a forum on the internet I visit and it has pictures take by like minded people. There are categories such as residential sites, churches, hotels, military and schools. The people that take the pictures never visit the sites to vandalise them or disturb them. Just to take pictures.
I now often drive past buildings that look empty and think that I would love to go inside and see what is left. Some pictures are a bit creepy, but others are strange - it just looks like people got up and walked away and left everything behind!
I hope I have not frightened you!
If someone asked me a few years ago what my interests and hobbies were I would be clueless.
I would have had no answer to give apart from work and drink. And I did not do these because I enjoyed them I did it because I had to or knew no different way to be.
I cannot say now I am super interesting! In fact very far from it.
However I have surprised myself with some of my new interests.
One, which I have no idea where it came from, is looking at pictures of the insides of derelict buildings. There is a forum on the internet I visit and it has pictures take by like minded people. There are categories such as residential sites, churches, hotels, military and schools. The people that take the pictures never visit the sites to vandalise them or disturb them. Just to take pictures.
I now often drive past buildings that look empty and think that I would love to go inside and see what is left. Some pictures are a bit creepy, but others are strange - it just looks like people got up and walked away and left everything behind!
I hope I have not frightened you!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 516
Sasha, funny that you've written about that. Abandoned/derelict buildings fascinate me. There's an old flour mill, now abandoned, close to where I live. I would pay money to be able to see inside it but apparently it's unsafe. Would you mind giving me the link to the forum you visit?
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