Collectively, Americans lose over 3.59 million years of potential life because of excessive drinking. That’s a lot of time.
Excessive drinking affects more than just the people who die from alcohol-related causes. It also affects those around them, including their families, friends, coworkers, and more.
The good news is there are ways to live a sober lifestyle.
And you don’t have to go to meetings or work the steps if you don’t want to. If you are wondering how to stay sober without AA, here are some of the most common ways to do it.
1. Make a Commitment
In AA, people take sobriety “one day at a time” and commit to staying sober. This is a great way to start. Make a commitment to yourself and your loved ones that you will stay sober.
Make a list of all the reasons you want to stay sober and keep it in your wallet or purse. When you feel like drinking, take out this list and read it over again.
Try writing your commitment down and signing it. This will make it more official and help you feel you are taking control of your life again.
2. Set Goals
Set goals for yourself and work towards them. This will give you something to look forward to and help keep your mind off of drinking. Try to set small goals at first, like going a week without drinking or getting through one day without craving alcohol.
Once you have achieved these goals, set new ones that are slightly more challenging. This will help you build up your confidence about staying sober. It will also distract your mind from alcohol and give you a sense of accomplishment when you achieve it.
3. Build a Support Network
Recovering from alcohol addiction is a long and difficult process. However, you don’t have to do it alone.
Contact the people who are on board with your decision to stop drinking. They can help you stay on track by offering encouragement when you need it most.
If you don’t have anyone in your life who understands what you’re going through, join a support group. Support groups are a great way to meet other people who are going through the same thing as you.
They can offer advice and support when you need it most. Find support groups in your area by searching online or asking your doctor for recommendations.
4. Identify Your Triggers
Triggers are the things that make you want to drink. They can be anything from a bad day at work to seeing someone else drinking alcohol. Or they could be seasonally specific, like showing signs of addiction around holidays.
Once you identify your triggers, try to avoid them as much as possible. If you can’t avoid them completely, cope with them in healthier ways that don’t involve drinking. This is one of the hardest things to do, but it’s also one of the most important.
5. Find Healthy Replacement Habits
When you quit drinking, you’ll have a lot of extra time on your hands. This can be dangerous because it gives you more opportunities to think about alcohol.
To avoid this, find healthy replacement habits that will keep your mind off of drinking. Some examples include:
- Exercising regularly
- Reading books or magazines
- Listening to music or podcasts
- Playing video games
- Doing puzzles
- Going for walks in nature
The key is to find something that you enjoy doing. This will help you avoid relapse and make it easier for you to stay sober.
6. Avoid Other Substances
Alcoholism goes hand-in-hand with other substance abuse problems. If you’re a recovering alcoholic, it’s important to avoid other substances that can be addictive.
This includes things like cigarettes, marijuana, and prescription drugs. If you’re not sure if something is addictive, talk to your doctor about it. They can help you determine whether it’s safe for you to use.
7. Practice Self-Care
Self-care is important for everyone. However, it’s especially important for people who are recovering from alcoholism. Self-care means taking care of yourself physically and emotionally.
Do this by eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and more. Spending time with friends and family members who support your recovery.
You can also practice self-care by doing things that make you happy. This might include reading, painting or drawing, playing an instrument, or gardening.
8. Find Therapy or Counseling
One of the best ways to stay sober is to figure out why you turned to alcohol to begin with. Do this through therapy or counseling.
A therapist can help you understand what caused your addiction. Therapy can also teach you how to cope with them in healthier ways.
A counselor can help you work through the emotions that come with quitting alcohol. Both therapy and counseling can help you develop a plan for staying sober after treatment ends.
You can do therapy or counseling individually or in a group setting. You can find them through your doctor or insurance company, or by searching online.
9. Celebrate Milestones
It’s important to recognize the progress you’ve made and reward yourself for it. So when you reach milestones, give yourself a treat, something that makes you happy and feels good. Celebrate by going out to dinner with friends or family or taking a day off work to do something fun.
Or buying yourself something special.
You can also celebrate by doing something that makes you feel good. This includes volunteering at a local charity or taking up a new hobby. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that makes you feel positive about yourself and the progress you’ve made.
This Is How to Stay Sober Without AA
Are you wondering how to stay sober without AA? If you’re like most people, you probably think AA is the only way to stay sober. But it’s not.
There are many other ways to get sober and stay that way. By following our tips above, you can stay sober and have an amazing life!
For more sobriety tips and tricks, check out the latest articles on our blog.