Warm weather is here and life starts feeling easier, right? Well, not always, if you’re in recovery. Recovering people face serious challenges while staying sober during the spring and summer seasons and official holidays. Relapse in the warmer season is avoidable. Spring and summer come with sports games, picnics, barbecues, weddings and celebrations all seem to involve alcohol of some sort. Some of us may run into your old marijuana or drug-loving friends at the beach, pool, or a friend’s party. How do we stay clean and sober over the season when temptation present at all corners?
The warmer season is all about being casual and having fun in the sun. Most of us have a carefree attitude with lower inhibitions. However, we have learned not to be carefree about recovery. No matter where summer fun leads, sobriety and recovery should remain our number-one priority every day — We can still have plenty of sober fun under the sun and catch some rays or waves.
AACS offers tips for staying sober during the spring and summer holidays. We have listed tips to help us navigate both daily lives as well as those special occasions like graduation parties, weddings, and 4th of July parties that all seem to coincide with summer fun.
Here are ten simple suggestion that can help you stay clean and sober during the warmer season. We will be grateful by the end of the season for maintaining our recovery.
- Put recovery first
- Attend 12-step or self-help meetings
- Plan ahead with friend in sobriety
- Use the buddy system
- Be honest with yourself and others
- Plan sober fun
- Don’t focus on what you can’t have
- Avoid resentment at all times
- Volunteer
- Call your sponsor daily
