Bunny211

I've heard a lot of folks say their AV is trying to kill them. How to deal with cravings? How to pass time etc.

I thought maybe we could share some hobbies or passions we developed that helped shut up the AV for a little bit!

I'll start:

In 9 months of sobriety I formed mini-obsessions. With Netflix shows. With internet message boards etc.

I've always been a true crime buff. It has been my experience that a lot of other alcoholics and addicts in recovery are as well. I could spend hours watching ID Discovery.

Anyway, One true crime case I became very interested in is that of the "Original Night Stalker" - a serial killer in 1970s/80s California who has never been caught. Crazy scary and interesting. If you are into true crime, and have some time to kill (haha, I used a pun...aren't I punny...haha another one!) I suggest these websites for hours of amateur sleuthing:

https://www.reddit.com/r/serialkille...ight_stalker/?

Night Predator Files -- Case of the EAR/ONS -- Introduction

In the Footsteps of a Killer - Los Angeles Magazine

East Area Rapist/Original Night Stalker

There are several documentaries and podcasts on YouTube as well.

Dee74

I did a lot of service work in the beginning

I still do but just SR now...I find I have a lot of hobbies and interest that came back to life - I enjoy silent cinema (as well as current movies lol), music, reading, writing, history, and hanging out with friends and loved ones

life is good
D

least

I occupy myself with my dogs and cats and their needs. I take good care of them and get so much love in return.

red3215

Gosh, that's funny. I didn't realize that interest in true crime was common with drinkers.
I was obsessed with researching some deaths that were never solved like Marilyn Monroe (accidental overdose I decided) and Kurt Cobain (murder, I think), and Natalie Wood (Could not decide if it was murder or drunk accident).
It's interesting to find all these little known facts with some digging. The Kennedy murder had me crazy for a while lol, with a lot of other people, I know. It will def. keep your mind occupied if you like mysteries

getright15

I'm a real sports buff. I love basketball so I'm caught up in college and NBA hoops. I have my Sunday night weekly shows and I too love Netflix. Waiting for House of Cards to get back. Amazing show! During the week I have 2 jobs, 2 kids I have been attending daily AA meetings.

SoberLife90

That's funny. The first year of my sobriety I watched ID during all of my spare time (I had a lot not being able to drive at the time so I was at home more often.) Lots and lots. Now 2 and a half years I watch less than 1 hour per week. Things like school, work, AA, spending time with family and friends...stuff like that keeps me pretty busy. Trying to have some balance. School/studying takes up most of my time though. I need to continue to work hard to balance everything. Glad to see ya :-)

FormerWineGirl

Another true crime fan, here! (Well, not a fan of the actual crime, but you know what I mean!) I watch lots of Discovery ID, I even have the hubs watching it.

Another hobby that I have taken up as of late is adult coloring. I hate calling it that, as it sounds like a pornographic activity which it is NOT, just color art marketed to promote creativity and relaxation to adults.

I used to ride horses drunk. Now I ride them sober. No longer do I have to worry if there is enough alcohol in the saddle bags to finish the ride.

But the most rewarding use of time by far is time I spend with my grandchildren. While I made sure I was never drunk when they were visiting me and I would never drink if I was taking them somewhere, having a clear, sober mind allows me to enjoy everything even more!

HollyWouldnt

Obsessed with ID!
Imagine my surprise to come across a story about a crime in my little town..

Also I've gotten back into reading.
It never quite worked out while drinking. I had to keep rereading the same chapters every night....
Holly.🎋

MariahGayle

Wow....Love Discovery ID

Gardening (great stress reliever), strength training & really want to take up photography.

Talkinandwalkin

You are too funny. You also have a gift of wording advice so it sticks. Also I am in amazement as your advice above is a duplicate of what I would say. Yours is just worded better haha! I exhaustively research true crime at night as well. The serial or potential serial cases are an obsession. The last one I looked over was the Highway Of Tears Canadian. Mystery serial or multiple serial one? After reading above I just realized I can not write that in a way that I do not come across as a complete looney!

Delilah1

I have been reading a lot, exercising, especially yoga, and spending time with my kids. However, Netflix does suck me in at times. I have gone through almost the entire series of The Gilmore Girls again. I should finish up season seven this week, and wish the darn revival would start, my husband keeps laughing at me saying I am watching a teeny-bopper show. Now I will need to start planning my next series. Any suggestions Netflix fans?

Outonthetiles

I love ID Discovery.

Soberwolf

I like what D said

Meraviglioso

I like cooking and gardening.

Bunny and other true crime fans, you might like this site: Blink On Crime -

Not a crime fan myself but visited it regularly a few years ago when i was following a particular case.

Nonsensical

I looked back at my life and thought about the things I liked to do before drinking had taken over. I knew joy before the bottle, what were those things that gave me joy? For me it was woodworking and hiking in the mountains. I had mostly stopped doing those things, so I started doing them again and found that I still loved them.

Later I realized that I while there are many terrific aspects of my job (the people I work with are great, the pay and benefits are good, short commute, etc.) I found it unsatisfying. I just don't feel like the work I do matters. That lack of satisfaction is demotivating and stimulates my AV. I CAN deal with it, but I don't WANT to deal with it.

I took some classes, passed some exams, and took a part time job in another field to get some experience (and to see if it was something I would actually enjoy (I did/do)). I launched my own business last year. Still working it part time, but I expect to leave the job I don't like later this year and work full time for myself. (Then I might have some time to hike and build some furniture again - been a while!)

I am 51. I drank excessively for decades. The last few years I drank tragically. I am proof that if you make changes your life can change. I learned that here on Sober Recovery.

You can do this, too!

PurpleKnight

My top 3 in the beginning were:

-Online scrabble . . . I'd play it over and over, and each game would just eat time away in the evenings after work, the goal being just making it to bedtime and I could tick off another day, that's what is all about in the beginning.

-I used to spend hours sorting out old bank statements and bills, boxes and drawers of paperwork that would occupy me for many a weekend, that was a great way to feel like I was accomplishing something, even though I hadn't the energy to do much else.

-SR is a great way to kill a few hours, distraction simply reading or posting, there's threads and Forums here for everyone, from the serious to the light hearted, the wise words, the encouraging, the support, you could do worse than spending an evening here on SR!!

Jacks123

I like to do puzzles to keep myself occupied and playing video games. I binged watched the first two seasons of the killing in about a week and I finished the following series. I also did a lot of cooking a baking. I get excited of all of the possibilities that I could do in my spare time, and actually remember doing them.

I'm looking forward to do some fishing this year.

I've been wanting to get an adult coloring book. Looks like a lot of fun and relaxing.

Delizadee

I am occupying myself with holding down my computer chair today.

I am far too lazy to even bother with thoughts of drinking. Ha.

That sounds like fun though, i will check that out. I am netflix obsessed too. I used to be an avid reader. I am looking forward to getting back into that.
I am really digging exercising for the past few months. I dislike winter.

Mera, I also enjoy cooking and gardening.

360startstoday

Gardening. Also a true crime buff. Love my chickens! Horses. My little farm life! Much more enjoyable now.

Reading is awesome, laying on the couch right now reading SR something I NEVER would have done after getting home from work. Just taking a quick break before chores and dinner commence. Before I would have already opened beer number two!

bandicoot2

I'm celebrating 60 days today and In the beginning it was all about Sleep. My body (and liver) was horribly abused and sleep was a wonderful way to begin recovery and ignore any cravings.

Then it was cooking research for tasty, healthy vegetarian recipes. Finding and shopping at out of the way health & ethnic stores was a great time killer plus I found some unusual new food items.

Now it's gym exercise, long outdoor walks & biking.

Reading new and old books, catching new movies at the theatre (with buttered popcorn!) and researching new flower varieties for my garden.

Guilty of watching too many crime dramas (NCIS is a fav)

Clean, clean and clean - Everything!

Hanging out with family and close friends. Catching up with old friends.

Reading and posting on SR (another fav thing!)

The old me would have laughed at this list of simple pleasures.
The new me loves my life.

Great thread Bunny, thanks for posting