Summer can be a difficult time to stay sober. While the holiday season gets a lot of buzz, it can be even more challenging to stick to your routine and avoid substance use in the summer.
After all, this is a season known for music festivals, pool parties, vacationing, graduations, barbecues, bonfires, and more. If you attend these events, you’re likely to come into contact with alcohol and possibly even illicit drugs.
By taking proactive steps, you can prepare yourself for potential challenges, identify your triggers, and ensure that you have healthy coping strategies ready.
Why is Summer a Difficult Time to Stay Sober?
Many people find that staying sober is a true challenge during the summer months. Even though it doesn’t have the same stress as the holidays, there are many unique situations this time of year, such as people returning home from college and an increase in social gatherings. People tend to have time off in the summer, leading to a more relaxed vibe that is conducive to substance use.
Even if you’ve worked hard to build a strong support system and find healthy activities to enjoy, you may still be tempted. Whether it’s the ads and commercials for summertime drinking or the friends and acquaintances you see on social media, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out by living a sober life. Plus, the sights and smells of summer can be powerful triggers, bringing you back to the days when you were using drugs or alcohol.
Allow yourself to feel whatever comes to you—disappointment, resentment, worry. Write in a journal, talk to your therapist, or share your feelings with friends, family, or at your support group. Giving yourself this grace allows you to identify your emotions, work through them, and develop healthy ways to cope.
Tips for a Healthy, Sober Summer
Now, let’s cover some of the best ways to maintain recovery in the summer.
Talk Openly with Friends and Family
Let your friends and family know that summer is a difficult time for you. Being open and honest sets you up for success, as the right people will check in on you and ensure you are okay. Assign a few of your most trusted friends or family to be “on call” in case you need them. If you feel your loved ones are busy doing their own thing and need more encouragement, turn to your support groups. 12-step meetings, for instance, are a great way to meet people in recovery and share your experiences.
Practice Saying “No”
There is nothing wrong with getting out of the house and attending some events. Choose your activities wisely, and have a few key phrases in the back of your head for declining drugs or alcohol. Someone may offer you a hit off their vape or a can of beer, and you’ll need ways to decline the offer.
Of course, if you pick the right people to hang out with, this will be less likely to happen. But you can’t always control who shows up, and it’s possible your extended friends might not know you’re in recovery. So, before heading out, practice saying a few of these lines in front of your mirror.
Explore Healthy Activities
Over time, you’ll learn to associate summer with more than drinking and partying. To get here, find new ways to enjoy the summer!
Here in Agoura Hills, California, there are fantastic activities to keep you busy. The beach is approximately 20 minutes away, and there are numerous parks and nature trails for biking, hiking, and camping.
Check out your local area and make a bucket list of things to do over the summer. Some ideas include:
- Hiking, biking, running or walking
- Horseback riding
- Exploring waterfalls
- Visiting museums
- Treating yourself to ice cream
- Buying fresh produce from local farmer’s markets
- Reading by the swimming pool
- Relaxing at the beach
- Camping at a local campground
Find a Long-Term Project
Another way to embrace a sober summer is by choosing a long-term project. This could be anything—tending a garden, painting your home, building a deck, or starting a workout regimen. This will give you a positive and healthy activity to look forward to over the summer.
When you’re new to recovery, it can feel like you have to give up everything and miss out on life. But if your mind is focused on goals that matter to you and tackling one large project, it will help the summer move along faster. Take note of your progress and reward yourself for meeting your milestones.
Start Your Recovery in Agoura Hills, CA
Summer is a great time to start your recovery, as it generally comes with more downtime and a wider selection of activities to fill your time. Whether you want to begin a recovery program or support your existing recovery, Awakenings Treatment Center has a program for you!
Contact our admissions team to learn how we can help you have a sober and memorable summer!
