The Luckiest Time of the Year
How to Stay Sober and Enjoy the Holidays
I want to let you in on a secret: The holidays are the best time of year to be sober!
But the parties, the stress, the drinking!
I know! I know! My first holiday season sober was tough. The holidays were all about drinking and partying; newly sober, I tried to do all the same things I always did, but without drinking, and it was hard. But once I built my life around sobriety, I started to enjoy the holiday season more than I ever had before. Over the years, holidays have become less stressful and more relaxing. I sleep in, do yoga, cook healthier, and enjoy time with family and friends. I make more time for my health, and more time to support my clients’ health. Now I know that the holidays are the best time to build sobriety.
The Lucky Ones
I’ve been sober for almost 10 years, and even after all this time, I know that sobriety is a privilege. It is a special kind of freedom that only a chosen few get to enjoy. If you are on that path, wherever you happen to be, you are one of the lucky ones! And the longer you are sober, the luckier you are.
Practical strategies for coping with the holidays can help you reduce cravings and protect you from relapses, so that whether you’re newly sober or a sober veteran, you can experience the holidays with more confidence, more joy, and more gratitude! Here are some of my favorites:
Sobriety Strategies
Recommit
Every December, I personally recommit to my sobriety as if my life depends on it, because it does.
Try new things
For me, getting out of my comfort zone was scary at first, but now I look forward to doing something new each December: listening to new music, trying new foods, making new friends, talking to a stranger at the grocery store. Sometimes instead of bingeing on Netflix, I take a walk past all the shops with their holiday displays. It doesn’t have to be big--just different!
Try old things
Do what has worked for you in the past. For me, this means consistent meditation and yoga. I focus more on self-care in December than at any other time of the year.
Just say no
Say no to anything that gets in the way of your self-care. Don’t go to so many parties; cross some of those things off your To Do list. (But not that cute Christmas sweater for your dog!) Don’t make yourself too busy for therapy or AA.
“Don't stress over gifts. I simplify holiday shopping by picking up treats at Whole Foods or farmers' market. Special olive oils are a simple, tasty staple of my gift list.”
Follow sober profiles on Instagram
Some of them are quite deep. And some of them are hilarious! There are other people like us out there. Following their journey helps!
Make sober friends And have fun!
There are a ton of meetup groups out there: hiking, museum tours, meditation circles, sober singles--there are a million things you can do every day! Last December, I moved to a new city and was single again after a breakup, and for the first time since my first sober Christmas, I felt all alone. I filled my evenings with Christmas light tours, museum tours, and meetups--and soon I had a community of sober people around me! Now that you’re not nursing that hangover, you’re going to have so much more free time. Enjoy it!
Food Strategies
Enjoy yourself!
It’s ok to give yourself a little leeway around food during the holidays, as long as you try to choose the healthiest options (high quality, low-sugar, whole-grain) and follow some essential rules:
Eat a healthy breakfast
Seriously, every day. Whole grains like steel cut oats, brown rice, and buckwheat are some of my favorites. Enjoy my Christmas morning pancakes and my porridge. Low blood sugar is a relapse trigger for food and alcohol. By making breakfast a staple, you’ll be less likely to succumb to overeating and over-snacking.
Drink water!
Sometimes, when we think we’re hungry, we’re really just dehydrated. Staying hydrated keeps up energy levels, eases digestion, and helps reduce cravings. I prefer to sip hot or warm water for its cleansing effects on the body. Add a twist of lemon for a little anti-inflammatory zing.
Take fish oil
During the holidays, when I know I’m going to eat a little more, I double up on my fish oil supplements to combat inflammation. I recommend EFA Essentials from Pure Encapsulations.
Emotional Strategies
Breathe
Remember to stop what you’re doing and take three deep breaths during your day. A deep breath calms our thoughts and re-sets the mind.
Slow down
It’s ok to press pause in the middle of all this chaos, even when the chaos is celebration. I try to schedule a day or two in December when I have nothing scheduled and nowhere to go, a day to recover. When that’s not possible, a one-hour nap can really pick me up!
Move your body
Exercise is the fastest mood and health booster. Don’t wait until January to join a gym or start a health routine. It doesn’t have to be strenuous. Just a half hour of brisk walking, yoga, cycling, dance, or almost anything that gets you moving will help you look and feel better, relieve tension, reduce stress, and boost immunity. Pick something you can stick to and enjoy.
Take a walk
Step outside. A short walk really helps me clear my head.
Relax
I have found that taking the supplement GABA, a soothing neurotransmitter associated with sleep, has a powerful calming effect on the brain when taken before bed.
Your Holidays, Your Health
This holiday season, celebrate your health and sobriety! Be proud that you’re sober. And make the holidays more about your health than meeting every social commitment and getting the shopping done. Committing to your sobriety in December will let you hit the ground running when Dry January comes around. Your healthy habits now are the foundation for a healthy, long-term sobriety. And remember: You’re one of the lucky ones!
Breakfast Recipes
Enjoy!
I’m Elena Singh, founder of the Sweet Science wellness program. I’m a certified nutrition counselor, science-based health coach, and addiction survivor. I help people in recovery heal their bodies and minds so they can learn to love sober life—not just survive it.
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