Tips for a Sober Thanksgiving
Go into it knowing you are not going to drink.
Drinking doesn't begin with drinking; it begins with a thought. A seed is planted in our mind, and our bodies carry out the action. If you're on the fence as you go in to the holiday about whether or not you are going to drink, you are planting the seed that you might, and therefore, setting yourself up for some major battle of will, unnecessary guilt, and - most likely - a not so sober holiday. The strength to do comes from your undivided decision. So, make up your mind now by eliminating the option altogether and tell yourself you are not going to drink. No matter what.
Get excited about it!
Once you've made up your mind, get pumped about it. Better yet, start visualizing yourself sober, feeling great, and literally FEEL the sense of pride in your restraint. Imagine remembering the whole night, what it will feel like to not be hung-over or bloated with the weekend ahead of you, and returning to work on Monday refreshed.
Remember what this day is about. Make a gratitude list.
A gratitude list is great every day, but especially when trying to have a sober Thanksgiving. What are you grateful for as you spend Thanksgiving without alcohol?
Give yourself something to look forward to.
Plan a reward for yourself to celebrate making it through Thanksgiving sober. Book an outdoor workout class, a day of absolutely nothing, or whatever it is that makes you feel good. Whatever treat you pick, make it something you know you wouldn’t have been able to enjoy as much if you drank through the holiday. This will reaffirm what you’ve gained by staying sober.
Have a script ready.
How will you explain that you are not drinking? Simply stating, “I feel better when I don’t drink” or “I’m not drinking for health reasons” or “I decided to try not drinking this Thanksgiving” are great options.
Bring your own favorite non-alcoholic beverage.
Even the most considerate host may not think to have good non-alcoholic beverage options available, so it’s better to come prepared with your own.
Have a drink in your hand.
This will be especially helpful if you’re not comfortable telling others you’re not drinking because they won’t offer you a drink if you already have one. It will also make you feel more comfortable to be sipping on something while others are drinking.
Stay busy.
Keeping yourself busy throughout the event will help calm your nerves and reduce the intensity of any cravings you might have. Volunteer to help the host or entertain any impatient young children. Your helpfulness will be appreciated and you’ll make new memories in the process.
Play the tape forward.
If having a drink becomes tempting, reflect on past seasons when you imbibed too much and remember how those nights ended, or how you felt the next morning.
Go for a walk.
Notice how your feet make contact with the ground. Notice how your feet feel in your shoes. These grounding techniques will help you feel connected to the earth and to the present moment, putting you back in the “driver's seat”.
Give yourself a breather.
Get safely away from others, take the mask off and breathe in some crisp Fall air. Try some "box breathing" (square breathing) -- different variations of: breathe in for four seconds, hold for four, breathe out for four, hold for four and repeat.
Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.
Of course, no matter how hard you try, there is always the chance that someone or something ruins the fun. Don’t dwell on a worst-case scenario, but be ready if it happens. What is your plan to not drink even if things go bad?
Have an escape plan, including your own transportation.
One of the many perks of not drinking is that you have the ability to ensure you get home safely and can leave whenever you’re ready to go, especially if it becomes triggering.
Sources:
https://vertavahealth.com/blog/6-tips-to-help-you-stay-clean-and-sober-over-thanksgiving/
https://www.hipsobriety.com/home/2014/11/26/6-tips-to-survive-thanksgiving-sober
https://mountainside.com/blog/recovery/5-tips-for-a-sober-thanksgiving
https://stjosephinstitute.com/8-tips-for-your-first-sober-thanksgiving/
Go into it knowing you are not going to drink.
Drinking doesn't begin with drinking; it begins with a thought. A seed is planted in our mind, and our bodies carry out the action. If you're on the fence as you go in to the holiday about whether or not you are going to drink, you are planting the seed that you might, and therefore, setting yourself up for some major battle of will, unnecessary guilt, and - most likely - a not so sober holiday. The strength to do comes from your undivided decision. So, make up your mind now by eliminating the option altogether and tell yourself you are not going to drink. No matter what.
Get excited about it!
Once you've made up your mind, get pumped about it. Better yet, start visualizing yourself sober, feeling great, and literally FEEL the sense of pride in your restraint. Imagine remembering the whole night, what it will feel like to not be hung-over or bloated with the weekend ahead of you, and returning to work on Monday refreshed.
Remember what this day is about. Make a gratitude list.
A gratitude list is great every day, but especially when trying to have a sober Thanksgiving. What are you grateful for as you spend Thanksgiving without alcohol?
Give yourself something to look forward to.
Plan a reward for yourself to celebrate making it through Thanksgiving sober. Book an outdoor workout class, a day of absolutely nothing, or whatever it is that makes you feel good. Whatever treat you pick, make it something you know you wouldn’t have been able to enjoy as much if you drank through the holiday. This will reaffirm what you’ve gained by staying sober.
Have a script ready.
How will you explain that you are not drinking? Simply stating, “I feel better when I don’t drink” or “I’m not drinking for health reasons” or “I decided to try not drinking this Thanksgiving” are great options.
Bring your own favorite non-alcoholic beverage.
Even the most considerate host may not think to have good non-alcoholic beverage options available, so it’s better to come prepared with your own.
Have a drink in your hand.
This will be especially helpful if you’re not comfortable telling others you’re not drinking because they won’t offer you a drink if you already have one. It will also make you feel more comfortable to be sipping on something while others are drinking.
Stay busy.
Keeping yourself busy throughout the event will help calm your nerves and reduce the intensity of any cravings you might have. Volunteer to help the host or entertain any impatient young children. Your helpfulness will be appreciated and you’ll make new memories in the process.
Play the tape forward.
If having a drink becomes tempting, reflect on past seasons when you imbibed too much and remember how those nights ended, or how you felt the next morning.
Go for a walk.
Notice how your feet make contact with the ground. Notice how your feet feel in your shoes. These grounding techniques will help you feel connected to the earth and to the present moment, putting you back in the “driver's seat”.
Give yourself a breather.
Get safely away from others, take the mask off and breathe in some crisp Fall air. Try some "box breathing" (square breathing) -- different variations of: breathe in for four seconds, hold for four, breathe out for four, hold for four and repeat.
Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.
Of course, no matter how hard you try, there is always the chance that someone or something ruins the fun. Don’t dwell on a worst-case scenario, but be ready if it happens. What is your plan to not drink even if things go bad?
Have an escape plan, including your own transportation.
One of the many perks of not drinking is that you have the ability to ensure you get home safely and can leave whenever you’re ready to go, especially if it becomes triggering.
Sources:
https://vertavahealth.com/blog/6-tips-to-help-you-stay-clean-and-sober-over-thanksgiving/
https://www.hipsobriety.com/home/2014/11/26/6-tips-to-survive-thanksgiving-sober
https://mountainside.com/blog/recovery/5-tips-for-a-sober-thanksgiving
https://stjosephinstitute.com/8-tips-for-your-first-sober-thanksgiving/