Sober and Bored? Check Out These 7 Healthy Hobbies
Often, one of the hardest things about recovery is finding new, healthy hobbies to fill your time. Check out this guide to help you find new activities.
Addiction is time-consuming. You spend time thinking about your next fix, getting money to buy your drug of choice, using it, feeling hungover, and going through withdrawal before getting that fix can (and does) take up most of an addict’s time.
So once you’re sober, it can be difficult to fill up the time that used to be spent on your drug of choice. Boredom can also be a trigger for people during recovery: it can lead people back down the path of using.
The best things to do when you’re sober and bored is to find some healthy hobbies and activities to occupy your time and your mind. Let’s look at 7 hobbies that can keep you on track and give you fun things to look forward to.
1. Exercise
Not everyone considers exercise a hobby, but that’s because they’re limiting themselves. Many people find running and going to the gym extremely cathartic, fun, and energizing.
But if the thought of going for a run or lifting weights brings on feelings of dread, there are plenty of other ways you can get exercise in a way that’s more fun. You could join a sports team like softball, ultimate frisbee, or golf.
You could go for walks with your dog. Dance crazy in your living room. Try out a Zumba class.
Go for a hike. Play basketball at the park. Go swimming.
Anything you can do to get your body moving will do you good. This will fill up your time, and it can be really fun.
Exercise can also help recovering addicts stay on course with their recovery. Getting active can improve your mood, release feel-good chemicals, and reduce your risk of relapse.
2. Cooking
Learning to cook delicious and healthy meals is both fun and useful. We all have to eat, so you might as well eat well by learning some great recipes that you and your friends and family can enjoy.
What’s great about cooking is it can be a solitary activity that you can do when you’re alone and bored, or it can be a community activity that you do with your family and friends.
Eating healthy is a key part to an overall healthy lifestyle that you’re already trying to achieve by being sober. Why not cut out the fast food and the unhealthy foods while you’re on the healthy track?
3. Writing
Whether you keep a journal, write poetry, maintain a blog, or want to write a novel, writing can be time-consuming, intellectually stimulating, and mentally cathartic.
Writing gives you a creative outlet and it can also be a great way to work through the feelings you’re having during your recovery. Channel your upset, angst, happiness, anger, or whatever you’re feeling into your writing instead of letting these emotions throw you back down the wrong path.
There’s also a huge sober online blogging community if you’re looking for support or other people who understand exactly what you’re going through.
If you need more than an online community to help you through recovery, you can look into alcohol rehab in Los Angeles to get extra support.
4. Reading
An unfortunate number of people stop reading once they’re done with school. But reading is a hobby that can transport you to anywhere you want into a whole different world.
From fantasy worlds complete with dragons and magic to recovery memoirs to romance novels perfect for the beach, there’s something out there that you’ll enjoy. Another great bonus to reading is that it’s free: simply go to your local library and check out as many books as you want.
And if you want to take this hobby a step further, you can join a book club.
5. Learn to Play an Instrument
If you want more of a hands-on activity, learning to play an instrument could be for you. It can be hard to learn a brand new instrument, and it’s definitely going to take a lot of time and dedication. But that sounds perfect for someone who needs help finding hobbies during recovery.
This can be a solitary activity or a social one. You could learn by yourself via the Internet, take lessons from an expert, or even join a band once you get comfortable.
6. Knitting
Hear us out on this one: knitting doesn’t have to only be for older women with multiple pet cats.
Knitting takes a lot of focus while you’re learning, and it’s a great goal-oriented hobby. Set a goal for yourself like you’re going to make a blanket or a sweater.
This sets a long-term goal for yourself; these types of goals are important during recovery as it keeps you motivated to stay sober and dedicate yourself to something besides your drug of choice.
7. Gardening
Enjoying nature in the great outdoors is a cleansing and cathartic experience. Getting out of your house and getting fresh air will keep you from going stir crazy from boredom inside.
Gardening will get you outdoors and it will definitely keep you busy. You can grow food for yourself, beautiful flowers, or whatever else you like.
Gardening is hard work as well. You’ll need to weed, water, keep critters away, and maintain your little farm. This hobby will keep you busy and give you a responsibility that you have to maintain.
Dedicating yourself to maintaining a garden can help keep you on track and give you something to do every day. When it’s time to harvest, you’ll get to physically see all your hard work paying off.
These Healthy Hobbies Will Keep You on Track During Recovery
Besides being a trigger, boredom is, well, boring. Dedicating yourself to one of these healthy hobbies will add some fun and excitement to your life while also helping you maintain your sobriety.
Whether you choose reading, gardening, or something completely different, choose something that you’re passionate about and that you love doing.
Need some more ideas on activities? Check out our blog for other fun articles, hobbies, activities, and more.