Weekends
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 121
Weekends
So tough to stay sober on the weekends. I feel so strong all week long, no cravings at all. As soon as I get out of work on Friday the cravings come on strong. Crazy how I tell myself all week I’m not going to drink, then Friday comes and my brain starts bargaining with me to drink.... I stayed strong and resisted... hoping for the same for tomorrow, and life gets easy again come Sunday..
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 241
Havinng something to look forward to on the weekends has helped me. An activity I normally don’t do. I’ve found that going places in the evening helps (meetings, shopping ect) it’s nice to drive at night, I never did normally as I was always wasted by dark. Browsing SR helps a lot too. Or having a good movie too look forward to, or even just s good dessert I will treat myself too. Stay strong, you got this!
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,418
some great cravings tips here
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html
why not hang out in the Weekender thread too?
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-2018-a-3.html (Weekender Thread 02-05 November 2018)
D
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html
why not hang out in the Weekender thread too?
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-2018-a-3.html (Weekender Thread 02-05 November 2018)
D
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Something you said really struck me - when life gets easy again come Sunday.
That up and down roller coaster of drinking/regret/"being good"/etc was exhausting. And truthfully, it got worse when I was pretty much drinking all the time because of how horrible I felt mentally/emotionally and usually physically during the ride.
Getting even keel is one of the best things about sobriety. Now my weekends don't have the drama, and any day can be as good as another. Hope you check out the threads and suggestions above - and IRL ideas to occupy time and help you change habits and such?
That up and down roller coaster of drinking/regret/"being good"/etc was exhausting. And truthfully, it got worse when I was pretty much drinking all the time because of how horrible I felt mentally/emotionally and usually physically during the ride.
Getting even keel is one of the best things about sobriety. Now my weekends don't have the drama, and any day can be as good as another. Hope you check out the threads and suggestions above - and IRL ideas to occupy time and help you change habits and such?
Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 431
You work all week and get freedom on Friday and want to celebrate it. You are going to have to find something else that doesn't involve alcohol. It is social aspect why not still go along but don't drunk. Might not sound like fun at first but once you get used to it, it might be. Dance rather than drink.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 6,902
It really helped me to find a really good Friday evening AA meeting. I now give others a lift there as well which means I'm less likely to skive off it, and the ride there and back is pretty sociable.
in early recovery I needed to make sure I'd planning things to do to punctuate the weekend. This took the firm of various activities and hobbies. Maybe you can think back to things you enjoyed before drinking took over (I had to think back pretty much to childhood). Those things are still there. I did tap dancing, creative writing, cake decorating, doll making, bell ringing, various exercise things, trumpet lessons - with varying degrees of success and obviously, not all at the same time lol. Most important for me though was getting to meetings and being with other recovering alcoholics. Esp those with good strong sobriety. I found a lot if hope there.
Bb
in early recovery I needed to make sure I'd planning things to do to punctuate the weekend. This took the firm of various activities and hobbies. Maybe you can think back to things you enjoyed before drinking took over (I had to think back pretty much to childhood). Those things are still there. I did tap dancing, creative writing, cake decorating, doll making, bell ringing, various exercise things, trumpet lessons - with varying degrees of success and obviously, not all at the same time lol. Most important for me though was getting to meetings and being with other recovering alcoholics. Esp those with good strong sobriety. I found a lot if hope there.
Bb
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 121
Thanks for the tips/support everyone. I made if through the weekend and I felt great today. It’s now Sunday night, and it sure is nice not to be filled with anxiety, dreading Monday morning. I’ll wake up tomorrow feeling fresh and energized, ready to face the week.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 543
Originally Posted by August252015 
Something you said really struck me - when life gets easy again come Sunday.
That up and down roller coaster of drinking/regret/"being good"/etc was exhausting. And truthfully, it got worse when I was pretty much drinking all the time because of how horrible I felt mentally/emotionally and usually physically during the ride.
Getting even keel is one of the best things about sobriety. Now my weekends don't have the drama, and any day can be as good as another. Hope you check out the threads and suggestions above - and IRL ideas to occupy time and help you change habits and such?
That up and down roller coaster of drinking/regret/"being good"/etc was exhausting. And truthfully, it got worse when I was pretty much drinking all the time because of how horrible I felt mentally/emotionally and usually physically during the ride.
Getting even keel is one of the best things about sobriety. Now my weekends don't have the drama, and any day can be as good as another. Hope you check out the threads and suggestions above - and IRL ideas to occupy time and help you change habits and such?
I was a weekend warrior at one time but weekends eventually got extended to also include Sunday and often Thursdays. The worse part is that Monday morning depression because it meant five more days before I could drink again. Sobriety is a lot less exhausting and every day can be a good day.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,772
Stop thinking of drinking as a reward and start thinking of it as the punishment you will have if you drink. I love waking up sober and I've never woken up feeling good and wishing I had drank the night before. 
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 216
The same exact thing happens to me every Friday. I have to chase a meeting like I would chase the alcohol. I would suggest getting into a meeting immediately after work. I go to one at 5:45 and then call my sponsor after the meeting - a consistent thing EVERY friday that I have to do so I won't drink.
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