The accessibility of alcohol makes it that much harder to refrain from drinking to cope with these difficult feelings. I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. The average adult experiences around 131 days of boredom per year, so how you react to this boredom is critical to your mental health.
You might occasionally consume several alcoholic beverages to blot out a highly stressful day. Drinking to relieve stress may veer drinking when bored into murky territory, if you feel that you must consume alcohol every day to de-stress. In drug rehab centers in South Carolina, a wide range of substance addictions are addressed.
Healthy Hobbies to Replace Drinking
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just a result of having nothing to do. In fact, boredom is a genuine emotion, akin to happiness or sadness. When this emotion surfaces, it reveals our disconnection or lack of interest in our surroundings or activities. It searches for a spark, something to stimulate and captivate us. This might explain why, in such moments, we impulsively reach for distractions, like the remote or a social media scroll. Swapping our routines and habits that are damaging you for ones that can strengthen your body and soul will give you a really clear reason why you want to stop drinking out of boredom.
These activities are not only healthier than drinking, but they’ll leave you feeling better in the long run. You can learn more about the benefits of exercise and how to integrate it into your routine here. Drinking as a way to cope with boredom indulges in and perpetuates that passivity. It’s hard to think of a more passive activity than lying on a couch with a six-pack of beer. You may think you’re going to feel better after boozing, but in actuality, you’re reinforcing the notion that you need to wait for life to entertain you.
Jill has worked in several inpatient and outpatient centers, treating clients in all levels of care in both individual and group settings. Give us a call and we can help find the right treatment program for you or your loved one – even if it’s not ours! Nate Denning is the Lead Admission Representative at AspenRidge Recovery. Before moving to AspenRidge, Nate served as operations director at a local organization that has sober living homes throughout the Denver area. When he’s not working, Nate enjoys horticulture and is very active in Denver’s recovery community.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use, we can help. Footprints to Recovery offers alcohol addiction treatment that’s evidence-based and personalized to your clinical needs, preferences, and life situation. We don’t just treat the symptoms of addiction; we address underlying issues like co-occurring mental health conditions and trauma that perpetuate substance use.
Apparently, when we aren’t in tune with our inner thoughts and emotions we have trouble articulating what it is we want in life. We can’t describe our feelings and our desires which leaves us feeling stuck. Not knowing what it will take to make you happy leads to boredom with yourself and the world around you. But these judgments that we can make about ourselves are rarely fair or accurate.
- Danny spent the first nine years of his career working in youth residential treatment.
- You slowly transform into someone who can’t have fun or feel happy without alcohol.
- Another aspect of boredom is focus, so if you’re in your own home, then you should have plenty to do.
- When you begin to view your negative thoughts and feelings as problems to be solved rather than the embodiment of who you actually are, you liberate yourself.
- This kind of patterned behavior can lead you down a path toward alcohol addiction.
How to Stop Drinking When Bored
Also, if you have that extra drink, Sunnyside lets you interact with others who struggle with bored drinking. If bored drinking becomes a habit – or if it’s occasional – it can affect your ability to sleep soundly. And if you routinely drink on other occasions too, you’ll experience worse sleep disruptions. Moderate alcohol consumption has the potential to enliven social situations. But when you add bored drinks to social drinking, alcohol has the opposite effect. But if you enjoy alcohol, and boredom suddenly strikes while isolated, reaching for a drink is an easy way to satisfy the need for stimulation.
Reasons Why You Are Bored Without Alcohol
Bars are more frequently providing alcohol-free beverages to help encourage safe drinking habits and reduce risks of accidents caused by driving while intoxicated. Always have a backup soft drink just in case you reach the bar and they are out of stock. Drinking out of boredom can reinforce negative feelings and self-medicate. When referring to alcohol addiction, some may conjure up an image of a person consuming multiple daily bottles of low-end vodka and struggling to hold a steady job. Alcohol use disorder impacts millions across the nation, many of which are considered high-functioning. Once your downtime ends, and you’ve made progress on your hobby or taken a walk, enjoy a piece of chocolate before your next activity.
Understanding Healthy Hydration
These stories remind us that boredom isn’t merely a state of inactivity or idleness — it can also be a time for reflection, creativity, and unexpected discovery. If you have someone you trust, let them know if you are feeling down or lonely – so they know you won’t mind if they check in with you more often. See if there are organisations around you where you could help out, that would love to use your skills and talents. If you want to change something, you first need to understand what it is. This might be a bit uncomfortable, as we often drink to reduce the noise of our own thoughts.
- Various addiction treatment programs are available for those struggling with alcohol use disorder and boredom drinking.
- By engaging in these activities, you can effectively quit drinking, replace boredom drinking, and promote a healthier lifestyle in 2024.
- Chanel completed internships at AspenRidge during her studies and eventually joined the team as a full-time primary clinician.
- You can read more about the mental benefits of mindfulness here.
Find a support group and make contact with them regularly. This consistent connection will help foster healthy relationships in recovery with people who can support you and what you’re going through in the present moment. Losing relationships to the substance can be challenging but anchoring to others in recovery can be the very thing you need to feel worthy of recovery.
Sobriety pulls back the veil on your social life.
Outside AspenRidge, Jordan enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and playing volleyball and soccer. She believes she was probably a rodeo queen in another life and recharges by spending time with friends and family. Beyond her clinical practice at AspenRidge, Courtney finds solace in outdoor activities, sports, reading, and cherishing quality time with her family and beloved dog. Hailing from Boulder County, Courtney embarked on her academic journey by earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
There will always be a long lost friend who arrives on your doorstep looking to catch up over a few drinks. Be ready for these moments when they arrive, and they will, give yourself a wry smile, then make the choice that fits with your goals. Sunnyside is not designed to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). For resources related to AUD, including how to get support, please visit the NIH website. We’ve also partnered with Moderation Management, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol.