0800 470 0382
Celebrating your first sober Christmas is a major achievement and is something to be proud of. It may be daunting to approach Christmas sober for the first time, especially as the holiday season often revolves around drinking and overindulging. However, with the right attitude and support system in place, you can smash Christmas sober and enjoy yourself more than ever before.
Staying sober at Christmas for the first time can be challenging, which is why we have outlined tips to help you navigate your first sober Christmas and learn how to enjoy it. From embracing mindfulness to finding other alternatives to alcohol, our tips will help you create a holiday season that is both fun and relaxing without the need to drink alcohol.
Read more to find out 10 ways to enjoy your first sober Christmas with your friends and family.
How to Manage Christmas Sober
Christmas and the New Year revolve around drinking alcohol for many people. This is why it can be difficult for people to stay sober over Christmas, but once you find ways to enjoy your first sober Christmas, you will succeed at staying sober and have a good time in the process.
Some key things to help you enjoy a sober Christmas are setting goals, letting your family and friends keep you accountable, and organising activities and events that don’t involve drinking throughout the holiday period.
If it is your first sober Christmas in recovery, you may be worried about staying sober and how to manage. By following the below tips to help you enjoy a Christmas without alcohol, you can relax and experience Christmas with your loved ones.
10 Ways to Enjoy a Sober Christmas
Experiencing a sober Christmas may be daunting, but following these steps will help you to enjoy your first sober Christmas:
Plan Fun Sober Activities
It is not a requirement to drink at Christmas, so why not organise other activities with friends, family and colleagues instead? Whether it is a meal, an activity such as mini golf, bowling, a walk or the cinema, spending time with loved ones doing fun activities is a great way to enjoy Christmas without alcohol.
Spend Time with Loved Ones
Being surrounded by family and friends is another way to boost your mood and enjoy Christmas without drinking alcohol. Even if you are not taking part in an activity, simply spending time with loved ones and relaxing during your time off can be hugely beneficial for your wellbeing and mental health.
Relaxing with loved ones is an often overlooked enjoyable experience over Christmas.
Find a Favourite Non-alcoholic Drink
Although you are no longer drinking alcohol, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a nice drink. There are hundreds of soft drinks available to enjoy to get you in the festive spirit as well as non-alcoholic drinks such as mocktails.
Festive drinks such as coffee, alcohol-free egg nog or Baileys can be good options to help you enjoy Christmas without alcoholic drinks.
Try Something New
With the new year fast approaching, why not try something new? This can be an especially good tactic if you are struggling to stay sober at Christmas, as finding a new hobby or activity can take your mind off any alcohol cravings and give you something enjoyable to look forward to.
Take Time Out to Relax
Another good way to enjoy yourself over the Christmas period is to take some time out for yourself to relax. Giving yourself a moment to breathe and evaluate how you are feeling will benefit you in the future and improve your mood, especially if you are feeling emotionally exhausted or struggling at any point.
Reflect on Your Achievements
Every day that you stay sober is an achievement, so make sure to appreciate yourself and how well you are doing. Staying sober over Christmas can be a real challenge, especially if you have previously struggled with alcohol addiction. Set short term goals and reflect on any milestones you have hit, as this can be a great motivator and mood booster, especially if you are struggling to stay sober.
Don’t Be Afraid to Leave Early
If a Christmas party or event is becoming very boozy and you are struggling to stay sober, don’t be afraid to leave the event early. It is better to leave earlier if you are not enjoying yourself and feel that your sobriety is at risk, rather than staying out for the sake of it.
Making yourself the designated driver is another good way to ensure that you stay sober and enjoy your Christmas drink-free. It keeps you accountable and also gives you an easy way to leave earlier if you decide to.
Create a Support Network
The support of loved ones is a huge mood booster and a way to keep you sober. If you have previously struggled with alcohol abuse, those close to you will be extremely proud and happy about your sobriety, which will help everyone to enjoy Christmas.
If you are worried or concerned about anything relating to alcohol, having a support network in place can help you relax and enjoying Christmas sober.
Prepare People Before Gifts Are Bought
Some people may not realise that you are having your first sober Christmas, so may buy you alcohol. By letting people know ahead of time that you plan to complete Christmas sober, you can avoid any awkward moments down the line and remove any dilemmas you may experience if gifted alcohol.
Seek Support to Complete Your First Sober Christmas
By following the above tips, you should now have a number of ways to enjoy your first sober Christmas. However, if tackling this Christmas without alcohol is daunting to you, we recommend reaching out to local support groups or taking part in alcohol aftercare sessions to keep you motivated with others in the same position.
Support groups held by the AA can help you meet people in the local community who are going through the same thing, and this can be massively beneficial as you take on a sober Christmas.
