So whether you https://ecosoberhouse.com/ are an absent-minded drinker or a lonely or anxious one, what can you do to prevent drinking out of boredom? Here are 5 tips to help you make changes to your drinking habits that could help you feel better, for good. When you don’t feel you have anyone to talk to or anywhere to go, drinks can feel like a constant, a friend. Unfortunately, drinking alcohol because of boredom makes you feel worse which in turn, makes you feel even less confident about going out and making new connections. As with anxiety, COVID has seen rates of loneliness soar, as people have been forced apart for months, or have lost connections to friends or social groups. Many people admit to drinking out of boredom because they feel lonely.
How to Break the Boredom Drinking Cycle
But remember that, scientifically, boredom is an emotion — just like appiness or sadness. It typically occurs when we find ourselves disengaged from what’s going on around us or when there’s a lack of interest or enjoyment in our activities. Before finding her calling in the sober space, Jeanette once owned a tattoo shop in Beijing. These days, you’ll find her sipping tea with a good book in hand — and drug addiction zero interest in hangovers. Over time, alcohol becomes the thing that keeps us in boring situations we don’t actually want to be in.
Alisha Hamel, LSW, LAC — Licensed Social Worker & Licensed Addiction Counselor
It teaches you to sit with your feelings, including boredom, without feeling the need to escape them through substances like alcohol. Physical activity is a great way to relieve boredom while also boosting mental and physical health. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood boosters, which can help to alleviate feelings of restlessness and frustration. Regular exercise also improves overall well-being, increases energy levels, and helps regulate sleep patterns. Reflect on your drinking patterns and keep track of drunk and bored them to identify your boredom drinking triggers.
Sobriety itself isn’t boring
From sitcoms to beer ads, we’ve absorbed the message that a drink can turn dull moments into enjoyable ones. And if you have already quit alcohol, then there comes the wave of nostalgia and the reminiscence to the old days where you could just pour a glass of wine to soften the edge. The thing is, this even seems to be the case for a lot of people who have busy lifestyles.
- Regardless, drinking alone can signify deeper psychological or emotional issues.
- Boredom can be a common relapse trigger for those in recovery, especially in the earliest stages.
- Moreover, outpatient rehab can prove to be the most efficient and practical treatment plan for individuals struggling with drinking out of boredom.
- Of course I was stealing the happiness from tomorrow, and I would wake up the next day with anxiety and stress.
- But when you add bored drinks to social drinking, alcohol has the opposite effect.
- I did math, even if we live to 90, that’s just 32,872 days on Earth.
