Issue #11: I'm so bored!


The Sober Daily

Welcome to your daily sip of sober!

After spending most of your time drinking or thinking about drinking, sobriety can be a big shock to your system! Not just your physical system, but your social and mental system as well.

It's not uncommon to hear how bored people are once sober. And also for those considering getting sober to worry about how boring life will be.

Rediscovering passions and hobbies and finding new ones can take some time, but it's so worth it to live your life to the fullest!

Quote

> "As a heavy/binge/chronic drinker you have ransacked the dopamine cupboards so severely that enjoyable pursuits no longer feel pleasurable.” – Chelsey Flood, Medium


Listen

Podcast Episode

> Dealing with Boredom in Sobriety with Angela Pugh (E268) | Veronica Valli | Soberful
Angela joins Veronica to discuss how to deal with boredom in sobriety and how we need to take responsibility for our lives and experiences. Listen →

Podcast Episode

> Boredom, boring, bored, bored, bored! | Vic and Hamish | Soberawkward
Why does choosing an alcohol-free life often come with the label of being boring? Vicky and Lucy dive into this common misconception on this episode of Sober Awkward. They open up about their own fears of seeming dull without a drink in hand and the societal pressure to be 'fun' through alcohol. Listen →


watch

YouTube Video

> Is Being Sober Boring? | Quit Alcohol Coach | Simon Chapple
One of the biggest reasons that I stayed stuck in the tight grip of alcohol addiction for so long was because I feared that my life would be boring and I would simply get bored and not be able to enjoy myself without having alcohol in my life. Watch →

YouTube Video

> Going sober without surrendering the fun | Faye Lawrence | TEDxBrisbane
Having been a heavy but high functioning drinker since her teens – almost 30 years – Faye Lawrence found herself in inpatient detox in late 2017 after "the wheels really fell off". Determined not to let her sobriety ruin her social life, she founded Untoxicated, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting booze-free fun and friendship. Watch →


read

Reddit Post

> How do you cope with the Boredom of sobriety? | r/stopdrinking
"This is my first week sober, and the hardest part for me is the feeling of boredom... Especially come nighttime. I try to fill my time with T.V. or chores. It's not taking away the sense of restlessness and general sense of boredom. Thank you for any suggestions/ words from experience." Read 127 responses here →

Blog Post

> What to Do When You’re Sober and Bored | Jesse | Harmony Ridge Recovery Center
When you think of your days in active addiction as “fun” and sobriety as a “drag,” you downplay the negative consequences of your substance abuse and disqualify the positive results of quitting, and you may begin to show the signs of early relapse. Sober and bored is nothing more than a mentality. Read more →

Blog Post

> How Boredom and Loneliness Can Put Your Recovery at Risk | Dana Hinders | Waypoint Recovery Center
If you find yourself frequently facing feelings of boredom and loneliness, this can increase your risk of relapse in several ways. Read more →

Blog Post

> The Boredom of Sobriety: Nobody ever talks about how boring sober living is | Lindsay | Medium
"I had to get used to being bored and accepting it. I had to do monotonous tasks sober. I had to paint my entire house sober. Painting is much more fun when you’re high." Lindsay gives a candid overview of navigating the boredom in sobriety. Read more →


engage

Activities

> Meetup
Have you explored the Meetup site? You can find all sorts of groups and events involving just about any kind of activity you can think of. It's free to sign up and free to join groups. Check it out here →

Explore

> How to find a new hobby: 40 hobby ideas to try | Future Learn
If you feel like you’re in a bit of a rut and you definitely don’t want to spend time watching yet another series, perhaps it’s time to find a new hobby. Read more


Think

From Me

> To Ponder...
If you're feeling bored or restless, what can you do today to get out of that mindset?


That's it for today's newsletter. I hope you enjoyed our latest content and find it helpful in your sober journey. Each day will be a fresh list from various places. I'll see you tomorrow!

If you have a resource to share (or comments/suggestions), send to: sarah@thesoberdaily.com

Stay connected,
Sarah Sandidge
The Sober Daily

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Sarah Sandidge International, 113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104
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