Friday nights are the worst
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 62
Friday nights are the worst
Hi everyone. I'm on day 7 of sobriety, and finding Friday night so hard. All my colleagues went to the pub and I knew I couldn't go and resisted. I went to an AA meeting which helped, but it still feels like a lonely road. I miss going out, and letting go of everything. I know that if I had I'd feel awful tomorrow if I had, and I'll be grateful I stayed on the path. Any Friday night coping tips would be much appreciated!!
Guest
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,097
Cook something tasty or get a take out. Movie or a good book,relax in the bath. join a gym and go to it.
At all times think of how brilliant you will feel waking up tomorrow sober. Every day feels good waking up sober but Saturday mornings are extra special imo
Congrats on 1 week sober 
At all times think of how brilliant you will feel waking up tomorrow sober. Every day feels good waking up sober but Saturday mornings are extra special imo
Congrats on 1 week sober 
Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 513
Totally agree about Sober Saturday morning being the best! Probably because I've spent an obscene amount of Saturdays hungover and drinking on top of that, so now they are a wonderful treat. Now they consist of early gym, then a trip to get iced coffee and donuts
Guest
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,174
Really empathise with this one.
I dealt with it by choosing something that I'd really wanted to do, could do, on my own. Maybe something I loved doing when younger, something I hadn't done for years. Put the Friday aside to do this, schedule it. Prepare...get whatever is needed ahead of time.
Then carry through with it. Don't think of it as how every Friday night will be, just this one.
You find that there is another way of doing the Friday night. Good luck!
I dealt with it by choosing something that I'd really wanted to do, could do, on my own. Maybe something I loved doing when younger, something I hadn't done for years. Put the Friday aside to do this, schedule it. Prepare...get whatever is needed ahead of time.
Then carry through with it. Don't think of it as how every Friday night will be, just this one.
You find that there is another way of doing the Friday night. Good luck!
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,492
Congratulations on 7 days of sobriety, and good for you for recognizing that Fridays are difficult. My suggestion is to plan, plan, plan. Make sure you have something to do, hopefully something you will look forward to. I think this is where making lifestyle changes come into play. Hopefully you can come up with some things to do and/or some sober friends to spend time with. These changes may take some time, but they will help to support your recovery.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 5,169
Originally Posted by Meddles 
Hi everyone. I'm on day 7 of sobriety, and finding Friday night so hard.!
AA meetings were joyful events on Friday night while the rest of the town was getting soused. In my town, it was the most well attended meeting of the week, and the last Friday of each month was "Birthday Friday". At the end of that meeting, everyone with a birthday that month got their chip given to them by a close friend in AA, who would also give a short speech about the recipient. It was like our little version of the Nobel Prize Awards. There were hugs and pats on the back, and lots of gratitude going around. Someone would be in charge of bringing the cake.
New Year's Eve was a huge feast, with games and fireworks at midnight. Who said sobriety can't be tons of enjoyment? "TGIF" (Thank God it's Friday) became "Thank God for Friday Night Meetings." At least for me. Friday night was a good night not to get drunk and a great way to celebrate being happy, joyous, and free.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: The Midwest
Posts: 649
Good post.
Fridays were a lot harder before I got married 😂 — now in my 30s an exciting Friday night is just a good meal and a movie at home... a bar is the last place I’d want to be.
But it was a lot harder when I first started trying to quit in my 20s and I lived in the big city — all my friends and colleagues drank on Fridays and Saturdays (and let’s be real, during the week as well). When I stopped drinking, I had major FOMO.
At first.
Then I joined a gym that was open late on Fridays.
I loved it.
I’d hit up the rock climbing wall, go for a good run, hit the free weights, then do a quick swim and steam room and get home around midnight sore and tired — but knowing I had done something productive and healthy.
One of my best friends joined me in the endeavor and then we’d watch a show (Game of Thrones or Vikings) and eat a good meal (usually grilled salmon and roasted veggies).
Honestly, using a Friday night to invest in my health and well-being felt so much better than drinking.
But it’s hard at first. Really hard — and replacing it with something healthy takes some real effort.
Fridays were a lot harder before I got married 😂 — now in my 30s an exciting Friday night is just a good meal and a movie at home... a bar is the last place I’d want to be.
But it was a lot harder when I first started trying to quit in my 20s and I lived in the big city — all my friends and colleagues drank on Fridays and Saturdays (and let’s be real, during the week as well). When I stopped drinking, I had major FOMO.
At first.
Then I joined a gym that was open late on Fridays.
I loved it.
I’d hit up the rock climbing wall, go for a good run, hit the free weights, then do a quick swim and steam room and get home around midnight sore and tired — but knowing I had done something productive and healthy.
One of my best friends joined me in the endeavor and then we’d watch a show (Game of Thrones or Vikings) and eat a good meal (usually grilled salmon and roasted veggies).
Honestly, using a Friday night to invest in my health and well-being felt so much better than drinking.
But it’s hard at first. Really hard — and replacing it with something healthy takes some real effort.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 18
My Friday routine (on nights I haven't messed it up drinking) is going to the gym, treating myself to some takeout food, messing around with a video game or YouTube while I eat, and going to bed early. Being up and ready to enjoy the day at 6 or 7AM Saturday is heaven. I kinda found changing up Friday night's routine was one of the quickest ways to see benefits of not drinking, because you add at least 1/2 a day to your weekend.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: W Washington
Posts: 11,589
a lot of the recovery process/work is breaking the connections our addict brains have made that "give us permission" to use. since we can't take Friday off the calendar, we have to retrain ourselves that Friday is just one of the seven days of the week. it is no more an excuse to drink than rain, sour milk, traffic tickets, work promotions or running out of toothpaste. and the only way to break those connections/habits is to plow our way through it. gut it out. survive that hour or night. get thru the seemingly impossible and discover that it was NOT impossible.
good for you! good on a sober morning and clean house! good on rebuking the call to repeat the pattern.
good for you! good on a sober morning and clean house! good on rebuking the call to repeat the pattern.
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Originally Posted by Meddles
Amazing posts, ideas, inspiration, and reminders. I feel good today and grateful not be hungover. Cleaned my whole flat before 9am! Unheard of. Thanks all! So good to know I’m not the only one!
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
