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6 Sober Activities to Take Up While Trying to Battle Addiction

A new hobby will help you take your mind off the recovery process and become more positive in battle against drug or alcohol addiction to achieve sobriety.
A woman seated in meditative pose doing yoga to battle addiction
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Battling addiction might not be easy, but it’s not impossible. It helps to pick up any hobby or engage yourself in positive and constructive activities to achieve sobriety. It can be as simple as exercising, reading, or even learning an instrument. Here are some easy-to-learn and do activities that will help you battle addiction. ~ Ed.

6 Sober Activities to Take Up While Trying to Battle Addiction

Making the decision to achieve sobriety is one of the first steps towards overcoming addiction. However, it’s far easier said than done. Freeing yourself from substance abuse may be one of the most challenging decisions in your life. That said, anyone can achieve sobriety with the proper guidance and mindset. 

Starting a new hobby is one of the best ways to distract yourself from a destructive environment and help you get closer to recovery. Continue reading below for a list of the best sober activities to try out when battling a substance abuse disorder. 

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Why Is It Important to Take Up New Activities When Trying to Reach Sobriety

No matter if you’re just considering getting clean or are already receiving treatment at a clinic, getting over your addiction will be a significant challenge. As a result, choosing a few new hobbies can help ease your transition and take your mind off the recovery process. 

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects is letting go of your usual activities and refraining from hanging out with people who continue to use substances. However, this withdrawal from your current lifestyle can be quite strenuous in the beginning. All the free time can be tricky to manage and can take a toll on your mental health.

A new hobby is a fantastic way to leap into a new circle of friends and use your time for something more productive. 

The Best Sober Activities to Try Out When Battling Addiction

You can engage yourself in volunteering, cooking, creative writing, and in much more ways while trying to battle addiction and free yourself from substance abuse.

Exercise

Getting up and out of your house is vital if you want to make recovery less mundane. What’s more, keeping yourself indoors and isolated will only encourage negative thoughts and urges. Exercise is an excellent way to get yourself feeling amazing while you’re on the road to recovery.

The team working with Master Center, a leading addiction clinic in Virginia, claims that yoga and other forms of exercise are a fantastic way to cope with the stress of quitting drugs or alcohol. 

You don’t need to do a triathlon on your first day, either. You can start with something simple, like a walk around your neighborhood or some bodyweight exercises. 

If possible, ask a friend to be your workout partner. Having someone to exercise with will create accountability and ensure you don’t give up as quickly. 

Creative Writing

Writing is an activity that comes with various benefits. Not only does it give you a channel to express yourself, but it also allows you to dig deep into your mind to create more internal awareness. 

You can start by keeping a journal and writing down all the feelings you’re experiencing. If you want to try creative writing, think of a good story and try to get lost in your characters. It’s an excellent way to escape your current struggle and work on something unique. 

What’s more, you might be able to turn writing into something more than just a hobby. If you’re comfortable sharing your story about addiction and recovery, other people struggling with substance abuse could use it for inspiration. 

Reading

Diving into a book is a fantastic way to relieve stress and increase your brain activity. You can think of it as a workout for your mind. What’s more, reading before bed will help you get better sleep. If you’re just starting to quit a substance, good quality sleep will be one of your most valuable allies. 

Fiction can be a great way to escape your stressful world and focus on an exciting story. Non-fiction books are also great because they can teach you new skills and give you some motivation to change your life. 

Like any other hobby, reading may take some practice before you get good at it. Start by adding 20 minutes a day for reading into your schedule. By the end of the first week, you should start to notice the benefits of reading a good book. 

Volunteer Work

Sometimes, helping others is an excellent way to help yourself. Volunteering is a great place to start. By contributing to society and helping those in need, you give yourself a sense of purpose. Having a sense of purpose is vital to deter yourself from the negative thoughts that come with quitting an addictive substance. 

Some good places to look for volunteer work are:

  • Animal shelters
  • Food banks and homeless shelters
  • National parks
  • Your local library
  • Disaster relief organizations

Cooking

Cooking is a fun and delicious hobby to take up. What’s more, it requires a great deal of concentration. 

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If you aren’t the best cook, that’s okay! There are plenty of online resources to help you improve your game in the kitchen. You can start by thinking of some dishes that you’ve always wanted to try and lookup an easy recipe to follow. 

Once you master the basics, you can start trying more advanced recipes. Then, try to work up the courage to let someone try your food and give you feedback. 

Learn an Instrument 

According to scientists, music can help you feel calmer and more relaxed in stressful situations. Like writing, it’s also an excellent way to express your creativity. While learning a new instrument isn’t easy, anyone can do it with enough patience and practice. 

Some easy instruments to learn for beginners are:

  • Ukulele
  • Guitar
  • Drums
  • Piano

Start by looking up YouTube tutorials on how to play your favorite songs. Once you get a good feel for the instruments, you can consider writing some songs of your own. 

Final Thoughts

No doubt, battling drug or alcohol addiction can be extremely daunting. Not only is it a physical challenge, but it can also significantly damage your mental health. However, reaching sobriety will allow you to live a healthier and happier lifestyle. Keep your end goal in mind and reach out for help if you think you’re feeling overwhelmed. 

Over to you

Share the experiences and tips about activities that you or your loved one engaged with when battling addiction in the comments section.

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Disclaimer: Though the views expressed are of the author’s own, this article has been checked for its authenticity of information and resource links provided for a better and deeper understanding of the subject matter. However, you're suggested to make your diligent research and consult subject experts to decide what is best for you. If you spot any factual errors, spelling, or grammatical mistakes in the article, please report at [email protected]. Thanks.

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  1. Your blog post has not only educated me, but I’m grateful for the time and effort you put into creating such valuable content. Keep up the excellent work, and I look forward to reading more of your articles on health and wellness!”

  2. Reading and cooking helped me find peace with myself.
    Whenever I was haunted by thoughts, I simply went for a walk and read.
    Now I’m planning to do volunteer work on weekends.

  3. very nicely articulated, and having a hobby is a great approach to stay away from drug addiction.

  4. No matter what good activities lead to healthy life. one should build good habits everyday.

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