How to Thrive During the Holidays While Maintaining Your Sobriety: 7 Tips for a Joyful Season

The holiday season can be tough for many, but when you’re living sober, it can feel like a whole new level of challenge. If you’ve committed to staying sober, navigating holiday parties, family gatherings, and social events can feel overwhelming. But with the right preparation and mindset, you can THRIVE. Let’s dive into my top tips for staying sober and fully present during the holidays.

TIP 1: Be prepared — take your own drinks!

There is nothing worse than arriving at a holiday event and realizing there’s nothing for you to drink. Bring your own non-alcoholic drinks, like kombucha, soda, or NA beer. This way, you can avoid the awkwardness of being left out of socializing with your drink in hand. If you're going to a work event where you can't bring your own, inform someone you trust about your need for a non-alcoholic option ahead of time.

TIP 2: Practice your ‘no thanks, I’m good’

The power of saying “no” and meaning it. This is when your planning comes into practice. Having prepared responses can make it easier when someone offers you a drink. Practice saying, “No thanks, I’m set with my drink,” or “I’m good, but thank you for offering.” You’ll feel more empowered, and it will become second nature.

Other options:

• “None for me this year.”

• “Oh no, I’m set, thanks” (while gesturing at your non-alcoholic drink).

• “Geez, thanks for the offer, but I’m going to stick to this.”

TIP 3: Ground yourself

Whether you're inside or outside, grounding techniques are incredibly helpful. Feeling into your body and connecting to your breath is paramount in getting you through any situation you deem as challenging. Connecting to your body and your breath will help you stay grounded in any situation.

• If you’re outside, try going barefoot on the grass and taking a few deep breaths. Feel yourself in the moment, notice the sensations through your body, hear the voices, laughter, and chatter around you, and draw on that.

• If you’re inside, do the same by connecting to your breath, but also feel the weight of gravity, your legs and bum on the chair, and breathe into it. Notice the noise, the smell, and the air around you.

TIP 4: Set your boundaries!

One thing is for sure: you cannot control other people, nor what they say or do. So, you have to ensure your boundaries are rock solid. Boundaries are specific to each individual, but here is an example of how you could reinforce yours:

• Situation: Uncle always wants to drink with you while playing XYZ game.

• You: "Super excited to play with you this year, but I’m going to stick to my drink here."

• Uncle: "What, no, you have to drink, it’s tradition. You’re not going all woke and sober now?"

• You: "I know it’s tradition, but I’m taking better care of my health and just don’t want to drink. We can still enjoy the game—just act as if I’m drinking! You won’t know the difference!"

OR:

• You: "Actually, I’ve gone sober. I just felt like drinking wasn’t for me anymore, but we can still have fun—I love playing this game with you."
  

If they still push your boundaries, walk away and disengage with the situation. You are the one in control here, and until they respect your decision, they don’t deserve your time.

TIP 5: Know your triggers

Don’t go into a situation blind—know and understand what your triggers are so you can avoid being in those situations. Sometimes we get surprised by our triggers, and that is okay. It’s what we do about them that counts.

What’s in your self-care toolbox that you can use in these situations?

• Is it a timeout in the bathroom to recover?

• Is it confiding in someone you trust?

• Is it going outside to breathe?

• Is it using your affirmations?

TIP 6: Use affirmations

Repeating affirmations to yourself is a powerful way to get through anything, especially being at a holiday event. You might already have your own, which is awesome. If you don’t, here are some of my favorites. When I would go to the bathroom, I’d say these to myself in the mirror with a smile, feeling so empowered by my choice.

• "I’ve got this."

• "I am strong and capable."

• "I don’t need to drink to have fun."

• "I am sober because I love myself."

• "Alcohol is not my friend, but my friends love me."

• "I trust myself to stay strong and not drink."

TIP 7: Have an escape plan

An escape plan is not something we hope to have to use while being sober, but it comes down to being prepared. If all else fails, at least you have it in your toolbox.

Have a friend who can help you leave if things get too much, or just have a planned excuse to step away from the event if necessary.

The holidays can be challenging, but with the right mindset, you can enjoy them sober and feel empowered. Set your boundaries, stay grounded, and remember that you are worthy of a joyful, sober life.

Need more support through the holidays or on your recovery journey? Book a discovery call with me today, and let’s make sure you feel empowered every step of the way.

Keep safe this holiday season!

Love,

Laura x