This past weekend was the 4th of July, our national holiday for our country’s independence. At the heart of the holiday celebration was barbecuing and booze. For recovering alcoholics, this can serve as a difficult time.
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Throughout the year, our country celebrates several holidays in this fashion. Holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the 4th of July often consist of barbecues and copious amounts of alcohol. Much of the alcohol is free to the patrons of the party, and free alcohol to an alcoholic is like Christmas morning. This temptation might ultimately prove to be too strong for a recovering alcoholic.
To avoid a relapse and keep your sobriety in tact, these are some alternative activities a recovering alcoholic can enjoy during holiday weekends like the one we just had.
Go Camping!
Take a trip out of town and go camping. Gather a group of friends together, lace up your boots, and pitch a tent.
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Camping is a great activity. You can strip yourself of electronic devices and get plenty of exercise. Enjoying the outdoors will keep you busy and entertained. The best part is, you have to bring your own supplies. You won’t have to worry about temptation in the middle of the woods if you don’t bring any alcohol.
Find a Yoga Retreat
Yoga is one of the core therapies we offer our clients. Yoga provides amazing mind and body healing opportunities.
Find a weekend yoga retreat for some serious mind/body fun. You can escape to beautiful, spacious properties with trails, pools, and daily yoga classes. Typically, a chef prepares all your meals, so you won’t have to worry about cooking. Be aware, some yoga retreats offer wine tasting, something you’ll want to steer clear of.
See a Movie
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Don’t feel like leaving town to get away from the holiday festivities? That’s fine. We don’t want you to think that you have to hide out during every holiday. There are activities you can do to have fun and stay sober without leaving home.
Take a trip to your local cineplex. A movie can be a fun treat. The experience of seeing a movie in the theaters is much different than you might experience at home, even if you have a huge TV. Treat yourself.
Find an interesting movie, grab a tub of popcorn, and fill up with your favorite soda pop. See one movie, or take in a marathon of movies. Either way, you’ll be able to escape the temptation of alcohol and enjoy one of America’s finest exports: Hollywood movies.
American holidays are not the easiest time for recovering alcoholics, because of the abundant partying. But there are alternative activities to enjoy. These are three suggestions to help you stay sober but still have fun during a holiday weekend. Do you have any others you’d like to add to the list? Let us know on Twitter!