The holidays can be stressful, especially if you are in recovery. So much about the holiday season points to alcohol, so navigating this time of year can be especially challenging for those who are trying not to drink. Family gatherings, office parties, or just decorating can put a big burden on the back of someone struggling with addictive behavior.

We want the holidays to be stress-free and fun, so we have come up with some tips to navigate the holidays for those in recovery. See the 7 tips listed below. 

1. Set boundaries

2. Create a plan and stick to it

3. Be mindful of which parties you attend

4. Practice self-care (mindfulness, meditation)

5. Communicate with your support system

6. Keep a non-alcoholic drink in hand 

7. Practice & engage in non-alcohol related conversation topics

Let us help you take a little stress out of the holidays this year by keeping these helpful tips in your back pocket and using them when you feel overwhelmed. 

Tip 1: Set boundaries

Not only is this about drinking, but about question-asking. Whether you are far along in your recovery journey or just beginning, there may be some topics you still are not comfortable discussing. Make it clear that you are uncomfortable with a topic if it is directed at you, or if the room is talking about something you can always excuse yourself from the conversation. 

Many people that struggle with addictions were never allowed to set boundaries as a child and have learned that it is “taboo”. Practice communicating your lines in the sand and it becomes easier, we promise.

Tip 2: Create a plan and stick to it

Visualize how desire your evening to go and stick to what you have in your mind. This could be setting a curfew and visualizing yourself getting in bed for rest and quality sleep, or practicing how you want to respond to difficult questions you’re ready to address. 

Pro-Tip: The emphasis is on seeing how you want your night to go, not imagining how badly it will end up. Maintain a positive mental attitude and see yourself having fun and learning how much of a cool character you are!

Tip 3: Be mindful of which parties you attend

Everyone is having holiday parties, but you should not feel obligated to attend the ones where you know there will be lots of booze. 

Make sure you are thinking of yourself first and think to yourself if you know there may be a lot of alcohol, is it best to go? If you think you need to go to those parties, be mindful, and know beforehand how you can get out of sticky situations like peer pressure. 

Tip 4: Practice self-care (mindfulness, meditation)

It is more important than ever to take a step back from the chaos of the holiday and do a self check-in. Gauge your mental wellness and optimism levels each day and keep an influx of positivity going. Outdoor walks, sunshine, workouts, uplifting music, motivating podcasts and audiobooks, and even yoga are all great ways to spend your free time during this season especially.

Tip 5: Communicate with your support system 

Whether you are part of a support group or you have your own friends or family you turn to when a trigger occurs, make sure that during this time of year you are leaning on them a little more. Communicate with them and help each other during the holidays. It is important to have a strong and trusting community around you. 

Be mindful of your support group and if you find that they are relying on you to always keep them uplifted, or perhaps always talking about issues with alcohol as well, keep searching for energetic and positive friends that don’t enjoy alcohol because it “gets in the way”.

Tip 6: Keep a non-alcoholic drink in hand 

This tip can prevent people from asking if you want anything to drink and having to explain that you don’t drink alcohol or constantly saying, “No, I’m fine” or “No, I’m not drinking”. If anyone asks if you want a drink, you can simply say that you already have one or raise it up, indicating that you are still drinking whatever you had. 

Tip 7: Practice & engage in non-alcohol related conversation topics

You will soon realize when you stop drinking that all you did before was talk about alcohol. So for this tip, practice talking points before going out, pick a few topics that genuinely interest you and that you enjoy discussing. Not only will this help you engage with everyone, but you may also find it keeps your mind busy on the connections you’re making instead of alcohol.

Final Thoughts

The holidays can be overwhelming for anyone in recovery, but we hope that when you use these tips it will help reduce the sense of anxiety and allow you to enjoy the holidays.