Top 10 Ways to Have Fun in Addiction Recovery

Early in my sobriety, I struggled with the notion that being sober meant a life full of boredom and discomfort.”

-Maggie.

For as long as he could remember, getting drunk and high was the only way Avi knew how to have fun. After a near-fatal car accident pushed him to get help, Avi realized he had no idea how to have a good time or be genuinely happy without the use of drugs or alcohol. Although he would often see people enjoying activities such as bowling, or going to the movies or amusement parks, to him no experience seemed worthwhile unless he was under the influence. In his mind, if he made the decision to stay sober, the rest of his life was going to be miserably boring.

Frustrated and discouraged by a life he thought was unattainable, Avi started asking his peers how they were able to still have fun while maintaining their recovery. Through their responses and encouragement, Avi began to understand that while it would take a lot of work, he could learn to enjoy life without drugs or alcohol. After a few months of maintaining his new outlook on life, Avi caught himself laughing and having a good time throughout his days; realizing he was having genuine fun despite staying sober.

Many people begin to abuse drugs or alcohol because they feel incapable of enjoying life the way others do. As a result, learning to have fun while staying sober is one of the most common problems faced in recovery. While life in recovery can be a learning process, it’s entirely possible to enjoy life without the crutch of drugs and alcohol. Here are the top ten steps for making sober life more rewarding:

1. Don’t sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else. Dive into recovery headfirst.
2. Continue to work the 12 Steps.
3. Stay honest with yourself throughout recovery.
4. Make new friends that share some of your interests.
5. Spend time with people that make you feel good about yourself.
6. Don’t forget to laugh.
7. Develop a new hobby, or sign up for a sports team.
8. Eat nutritious meals and exercise most days of the week.
9. Meditate.
10. Serve and help others.

It may seem like the end of world to remain sober, but as Avi and many of the other 23 million people in recovery from addiction can attest, it doesn’t have to be. Try something new. Experiment until you find the things that make your life in recovery more rewarding and fun. There’s a good chance you’ll discover you can have more fun sober than you ever did using drugs or alcohol.