6 Tips to Summertime Sobriety

Summer is in full swing! The 4th of July is upon us and skies are blue and sunny. Cars are passing by with the windows open and some music blaring. People are enjoying summertime activities, like swimming, lying on the beach, going to concerts, maybe cooking out at a few backyard parties.

Summertime means getting together with friends, and often summertime socialization includes alcoholic beverages. People are drinking more often than in other seasons. If you are a recovering addict, an alcoholic who is seeking recovery, or someone on the path to becoming an alcoholic, summer can be a dangerous time.

You want to enjoy all the benefits of summer but stay clean… when the drinks are literally all around you. It can be very difficult to stay sober in the summer, for people at all levels of addiction. For everyone, temptation is everywhere. For recovering alcoholics, it’s like walking through a candy shop but knowing that just ONE piece of candy can throw you back into the realm of active alcoholism.

Summertime is Great for Sobriety

The summer is warm, it’s fresh, and it’s always rather welcoming after the coldness of winter – that is if you live somewhere that experiences such changes in season. In fact, it has long been scientifically proven that people are less stressed in the summertime.

Okay, so stress is low, and therefore worries are lessened and there is more time to focus on you. So, summer is the perfect opportunity to focus on sobriety. Plus, if you have children, it’s your opportunity to bond with them since they are out of school.

6 Tips for a Sober Summer

Now for the good stuff! The premise for these tips is that you’re heading to a backyard barbecue party with a bunch of old friends, but there will be prevalent alcohol use: two half-kegs. There is absolutely no order to this tip list. We simply did our research and wanted to share with you seven excellent ways to remain sober in the ever-tempting summertime.

Have a blast. Unwind. Go to the beach, talk to friends, play horseshoes, go to the movies, go to parties, go to barbecues and skinny dip in the pool if that’s your thing, but please, if you’re a recovering addict, stay sober not just for the rest of this summer… but for rest of your life.

1. Set Time Limits

Wherever you go, especially if you know there’s going to be alcohol involved, set a time limit for yourself. The less time you spend being tempted, the less likely you are to have that ‘one drink.’ All too often, that one drink leads to six or seven, and then to the beginning of your problem all over again. Set your phone or watch to go off every hour and gauge where the party is. If everyone is intoxicated, or you feel too tempted, just take off.

2. Bring a Sober Friend

Bring someone with you, a sober pal, who knows you want to remain sober. It is always harder to say no when you’re alone than it is when you’re with someone. This is because friends boost our confidence. Plus, nobody will be able to accuse you of having nothing else to do when you’re with company.

3. Keep Busy

Say you’re an hour or two into the party, you’re having great conversations with people you’ve known for years, but you keep sort of glancing over at the keg. The temptation is growing stronger. One solution, if you’re set on staying, is to preoccupy yourself with something active. Tell your buddies you want to play horseshoes, or have a fire, or play cards, or check in on the ballgame on TV. It doesn’t matter what you do. The tip is to stay busy so drinking is out of sight and out of mind.

4. Avoid Triggers

If you know you can’t go to that party without having a drink, then don’t go. If you miss the friends, contact them individually and plan something else. It’s the communication age, so surely they’re within reach. Sometimes as a recovering alcoholic you have to make sacrifices in order to maintain your sobriety.

In fact, a major part of addiction recovery is avoiding situations that make you want to abuse – regardless of what the addiction is. If setting a time limit, or having a friend with you, or doing something else simply isn’t support enough, then do not go to the party. It’s not worth it.

5. Just Say No

Yup, just say NO! The fact is that we do have the option of denying a drink. If you find that you are strong-willed enough to turn any offers of alcohol down, then this should come easy to you. However, being a recovering alcoholic is different. It places you in a situation where it’s harder to just say no. It’s like dangling a lottery ticket in front of a former gambling addict. Yet the power to say no is there. This is only a tip for those who are confident in their ability to maintain the answer of no.

6. Have an Exit Strategy

Sometimes our confidence seems stronger than it actually is when tested. For example, say you’re at a party where there’s drinking and you’re doing fine staying sober. Then all of a sudden, as cravings tend to do, a craving for alcohol hits you hard. You might even be in the middle of a conversation and feel an unexpected desire to drink.

Now is when you must have an exit strategy. Say you remembered an appointment you have to get to. Say you must help your parents with something. Excuse yourself to the bathroom and come back with news that you have to go. These are the rare situations in life where it’s alright to lie, so regardless of what it is, have an exit strategy.

Benefits of Staying Sober in Summer

For all walks of life, there are several benefits to staying clean under the summer sun. Not having a summertime hangover and/or withdrawal symptoms is a major benefit. Also, you can spend more quality time with your family and your friends. Not to mention, wallets come out in the summer quite often, and alcohol can be costly. Perhaps the greatest benefit is having the energy to enjoy all the perks of summer.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are essentially five factors that help recovering addicts to maintain sobriety. They are:

• Healthy personal relationships

• Healthy emotions and thoughts

• Recognition of the warning signs of relapse

• Ability to manage high-stress conditions

• Sticking to your treatment plan

Remaining sober will help you achieve and nurture these factors. That’s a guarantee. Plus, it’s important to remember that fun is possible without alcohol or drugs. Summer is a great time to remind yourself of that. A sober summer can make the greatest memories of all. Surely the ones you will remember!

Safe Haven Recovery is a boutique Florida Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center located in Miami, FL. We specialize in Suboxone Maintenance & Detox, along with, Couples Addiction Treatment. Call us today at 866-447-4650.

About the Author

Matthew Koenig is a freelance writer and principal of Last Call Marketing which devotes their efforts to Digital Marketing, SEO and Social Engagement. Concentrated in addiction recovery, Mr. Koenig is based out of South Florida. His sober date is June 10, 2013.

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