When patients first leave our partial hospitalization program and start reintegrating themselves into their normal lives, they are often filled with mixed emotions.

It's normal to feel a little scared about relapsing, but you shouldn’t let it overwhelm you or keep you from still having a good time.

Tips to Stay Sober on the Weekend

For many people, the weekends are a time to party, but if you are an alcoholic in early recovery, the idea of a sober weekend may be filled with a little anxiety. Just because you are now sober doesn’t mean you should dread the weekends. Instead, these tips on how to stay sober on the weekend will help you have a good time without sacrificing your sobriety.

Avoid Triggering Environments

Especially immediately following alcoholism addiction treatment, you want to avoid environments that could trigger cravings like bars, clubs, or your friend’s house where you used to pregame. If a friend is having a boozy birthday brunch and you are not sure you can handle it, it is okay to say no. This may mean missing out on some events, but your sobriety should be your priority. Don’t forget that, unlike your friends, you are avoiding the many downfalls of drinking, including that dreaded hangover the next day.

Plan Ahead

Especially if you are an extrovert who likes to socialize, not making plans beforehand could spell disaster. Last-minute parties could get you in a bind or no plans may leave you alone at home and tempted to drink out of boredom or loneliness. Try to plan a sober weekend activity ahead of time so that you have at least one thing to look forward to. With other plans, you will also feel more comfortable turning down anything that could put you in an uncomfortable and triggering situation.

Find a Recurring Activity

One of the best ways to stay busy and sober on the weekends is to find something that you can do every weekend. Recreational sports teams, classes, activity groups, and volunteer opportunities that meet regularly can keep you busy as well as always give you something to look forward to. You will have the added bonus of being able to meet new people.

Find Good Friends

The best way to stay sober on the weekend is to spend them with the right people. You want to avoid your pre-rehab drinking buddies who probably already have alcohol penciled into their weekend. Instead, make plans with the people who are going to support your sobriety. You can also use our rehab alumni program to connect with other sober people in your area and get to know their friends as well.

Stick to Your Routine

It is easy to get complacent on the weekends and let your healthy eating habits, exercise routine, and regular sleep schedule go out the window – but don’t. When you start regularly disregarding your routine on the weekends, these bad habits may overflow into the weekdays and could become your new routine. An unhealthy lifestyle may be reminiscent of your days as an alcoholic so you may be more likely to relapse.

Step Away

Remember your sobriety should come first, so it is okay to leave a situation if you are feeling triggered. You need to take care of yourself and sometimes that means doing what is best for you and your sobriety even if other people don’t like it.

Sober Weekend Activities to Try

You do not need alcohol to have a good time. There are plenty of sober things to do on the weekend that are still fun. Try these activities below:

• Volunteering
• Bowling
• Arts & crafts projects
• Cooking or baking something elaborate
• Dinner party
• Movie night
• Game night
• Lessons or classes
• Video game tournament with friends
• Sports watch party
• Make your own pizza night with friends
• Explore your city or town
• Day trip
• Spa day
• Recreational sports team

If you do relapse, it doesn’t have to mean the end of your sobriety. Our Chicago relapse recovery program can help get you back on track so that your relapse just becomes a bump in the long road to recovery.

At Banyan Chicago, we help people get and stay sober. If you need help for yourself or a loved one who has an addiction problem, reach out to us today at 888-280-4763 to learn more about how we might be able to help.