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Staying Sober Over the Summer

Staying sober can be difficult. Sobriety during the summer can be even more complicated. People will be out and about more, and there’ll be plenty of activities that involve alcohol like the Fourth of July, family reunions, and dinner parties—just to name a few. These summer events  can be triggering for someone facing addiction. On that note, these events might even be things  you’d like to avoid.

Thankfully, seclusion doesn’t have to be the solution. Rather than becoming a summer hermit, the temptation to break your sobriety streak can be resisted by focusing on a few specific things, or even taking up a few activities. These extracurriculars don’t revolve around alcohol; usually they don’t involve it at all, making them great to consider.

If you’re looking for a way to stay sober over the summer while still having something to do, read on.

Activities to Stay Sober Over the Summer

1. Join a sports team

One of the easiest ways to stay sober, regardless what time of the year it is, is to join a sports team. Playing on a sports team gives you something to look forward to every week that doesn’t involve any alcohol. You’ll simply be there to get better at the game, not to mention that it is great exercise.

2. Start exploring waterparks

The summer is a great time to start enjoying the water. Being out on the water can even be a refreshing breather from the heat. Don’t take this to mean that you have to settle for the beach or a local swimming pool. If you have some waterparks nearby, it’s well worth it to visit a few of them.

Start off by trying one of the local waterparks. Just try it out to see if you like it or not. You may end up finding somewhere you like. What’s more, it could be much more affordable than you’d think. It’s also a great option if you want to spend more time with your family.

3. Start surfing

Speaking of water-based activities, surfing can be a great way to enjoy the water. If you don’t know how to surf, that’s perfectly okay. If you live in a coastal area, then there could be more than a few places where you can do this.

Plenty of them offer classes for beginners of all ages, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a shot. You’ll be enjoying the water in no time and giving yourself a bit of a workout. It’s definitely worth considering.

4. Do yoga at the beach

Speaking of the water, the beach can also be worth spending some time on. Joining a yoga class on the beach can be a great way to spend your time. You could even make yourself much more flexible and a little fitter, so there’s no reason not to consider it.

5. Volunteer somewhere

Volunteering is always a noble thing to do. Depending on your passions, there could be multiple causes you’re interested in. If you need to fill some time in your week during the summer, then volunteering can be one of the best things to try.

6. Start hiking

You’ll naturally want to be out and about during the summer months. However, you might not want all of your activities to be water-based. The good news is that they don’t have to be. For land lovers, hiking can be a great activity to pick up, especially if you have plenty of mountains or forests nearby.

Not only does this get you active, but it keeps you physically fit. You might even end up losing a bit of weight. Going for a hike can be a great way to enjoy the summer.

7. Go fishing

If you’d rather sit back and relax during the summer while staying sober, fishing can be a great option. Relaxing near the water will give you a short break from reality. You can even catch your dinner. All things considered, it could be a much more appealing option than you’d expect.

8. Pick up photography

Getting a hobby is often recommended when you’re on the path to recovery. Photography can be one of the more notable options to choose from. During the summer months, it’s especially recommended because of all the stunning visuals you can capture. It could even turn into your side hustle.

9. Learn to cook 

Not all summer activities have to take place outdoors. Sometimes, you might want to stay inside and enjoy the AC. Learning to cook can be a great option for you and your family. This is especially true if you’re not a great chef in the first place.

You can join plenty of cooking classes if you want to be social when you’re learning. Alternatively, you could take up some online classes or even learn recipes from YouTube or TikTok. It could end up being much easier than you would’ve thought.

10. Join a movie club

You’ve probably heard of book clubs before. It’s when a group of people decide to meet up and talk about a book they’ve been reading. Usually, they’ll all read between meetings. Then, they will gather to discuss what they thought about it during meetings. While that might seem boring to some people, there are ways to spice it up.

Joining a movie club can be a great alternative. You and a group of other people will meet up at predetermined points to talk about the blockbusters you’ve recently watched. Having a no-alcohol-allowed policy involved will ensure that you can stay sober.

Wrapping Up

Staying sober over the summer can seem intimidating, considering how many activities there’ll be that involve alcohol. For recovering alcoholics,these can be replaced with other activities. 

Joining a sports team, taking up hiking, doing yoga at the beach, picking up photography, and similar activities can all be quite enjoyable. Add in a few other activities and you shouldn’t have a problem staying sober during the summer.

For help maintaining sobriety, or to start your journey towards it, contact our specialists at Jackson House. Our team is committed to helping those that need it most to conquer mental or physical addictions.

About the author

Jackson House

Jackson House

We built Jackson House because we realized there was a critical gap in our healthcare system and many individuals with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems were struggling because of it. While there are many outpatient treatment options and locked, inpatient facilities there was nothing in the middle. Nothing to help people who needed around the clock care but wanted to receive treatment voluntarily, on their own terms. Jackson House is different. We provide clients with the level of care they need in a welcoming environment. When you walk through our doors, we will meet you wherever you’re at and help you on your journey toward feeling better.

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If you’re a provider and need to send us information on a client, please feel free to fax us at 619-303-7044. If you need help immediately, call our 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-766-4274. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Jackson House is licensed by the State of California Community Care Licensing Division and certified by the Department of Health Care Services. We are also CARF Accredited. If you have any client or quality of care concerns, please reach out to us at (888) 255-9280. If your concerns need further attention, you can contact the Department of Public Health at 619-278-3700 or the Community Care Licensing Division at 1-844-538-8766.