You don’t have to go outdoors literally, but it does help to get out of the house. Go bowling, take a cooking class with a big group of friends, check out the nearest swim club and enjoy a pool party, or take a hike in a national park. You’ll enjoy the change of scenery and won’t think twice about alcohol or drugs. For example, hosting a party at a bowling alley may seem like a great idea until guests start buying pitchers of beer. Hosting the party at your home might even remind your guest of wild house parties with dangerous late-night driving. This can affect your relationships with the sober friends you invited and defeat the purpose of having a sober party.
Therefore, be mindful of your chosen location and ensure it aligns with your intentions. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again – and other people do it all the time as well. Stay home, protect your sober self, snuggle up on the sofa with your energy conserved, your self-care bubble intact, and your contentment levels high. That doesn’t make you a boring sober loser – far from it. It makes you smart for knowing yourself and brave for putting your needs first at a time that was necessary. Celebrating your first-year sober gives you a chance to take stock of the wonderful changes you have gone through, both personally and externally.
Jenn Champion shared a great story in Sober 21 about drinking from the same type of glass everyone else is using. “I was working as a bartender and this guy came in, I think he was on an internet date,” she wrote. “He came up to the bar and ordered a soda water with a lime—‘But will you put it in a rocks glass? He came in a few more times, and every time it was the same thing … And he’d go back to his internet date and nurse the drink. He didn’t seem creepy or anything; he was just protecting his story,” Champion said. Should drugs appear, or if you suddenly feel overwhelmed by temptation, leave immediately.
Why Would You Need To Throw A Sober Party?
Have guests tell two truths and one lie about themselves and have their partner or group guess which one is a lie. These are just a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing. I don’t know about you, but when I wasdrinking, I attended any and every event, get-together, party, birthday celebration, wine night, or dinner where drinks were being served. In sobriety, I decided to only attend events that are worthwhile. It means that I only want to attend events that serve a purpose, celebrate someone I care about, commemorate a certain occasion or make me feel good. It might make you feel uncomfortable being around alcohol and those situations.
Avoid inviting anyone who isn’t supportive of Sober House Rules: A Comprehensive Overview your recovery, teases you, is insensitive to your sobriety, or is known for peer pressuring others to drink or use drugs. Us sober people tend to build a party up in our minds as being all about the booze. A party is about many things outside of what sort of liquid is in our glasses. I find it incredibly helpful to concentrate hard on what those other things are. I make a mental list in my mind, literally bullet points of 3-4 things specific to this event. Parties are always about humans coming together for a reason and if you look for the reason(s) you can shift the focus away from what liquid is in your glass.
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A few years ago, some of her friends would look at her like she was “crazy” for abstaining at social events. Now, some don’t even notice — and more are joining her in cutting out alcohol completely, even in a city with a heavy drinking culture. There’s a time at many parties when there’s a palpable shift, and people are suddenly reeeeally fucked up. If you want to host non-traditional party, consider putting together a clever scavenger hunt that will have your guests bustling around your local area. In the end, you’ll (hopefully) all end up at the same venue where you can chow down on birthday desserts afterwards.
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If you have your own car, drive yourself to the event you’re attending so that when you want to leave, you can do so without having to wait on anyone else. If you start to feel uncomfortable, you have the freedom to leave right away. You don’t necessarily need your own car to do this, but be sure to plan another option — whether that be a ride share service (like Uber or Lyft), a taxi or walking home. Make a plan in advance that you won’t have to wait around for anyone else. I had many differentgroups of friendsand when I wanted to do something, I would go down the list and call each one until someone agreed to hang out with me. I had friends who I never really spoke with apart from when we were drinking.
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However, it’s essential to understand that you don’t need alcohol or drugs to have a good time. By focusing on the benefits and finding ways to manage the challenges, you can have a fun and memorable experience without alcohol or drugs. Whether you’re in recovery or looking to live an alcohol-free lifestyle, partying sober can be a rewarding part of your recovery journey.
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- Should drugs appear, or if you suddenly feel overwhelmed by temptation, leave immediately.
- When planning a sober party, aim to make it distinct from a typical alcohol-infused one by choosing fun activities that don’t just remind you or your guests of a drunken night.
- Make a plan in advance that you won’t have to wait around for anyone else.
- Whatever your reasons, make it clear to your guests that alcohol use and other substances aren’t welcome at your party.
- The more creative the food and presentation, the better.
- (Nothing like “this party is about my new outfit/shoes/haircut” to lift your pre-party mood!).
So, treat yourself to a spa-themed party when your birthday rolls around for ultimate relaxation. One thing that you want to avoid at all costs is conversations derailing into the talk about the old days. Especially not if the talk involves any sort of positive connotations. Throwing a sober party is all about making new traditions and memories and finding joy in the present. While the past definitely has its place, it is definitely not at the sober party.
What you drink at a sober party will depend somewhat on the guest list, any theme you have going on, and your own preferences. Generally, though, a sober party is where creative mocktails truly shine. Whether you earned your first one-year sobriety chip from AA or managed to avoid relapsing to narcotic abuse, you should take the time to celebrate your progress and reward yourself. Doing so will help you recognize all that you have achieved so far and keep you on the right track for the future. A sober party is a perfect opportunity to showcase some other food and drinks.
Tips to Host a Surprisingly Fun Sober Party
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge. Partying sober has many benefits — emotional, mental, physical, and even financial. Here are some of the top reasons sober partying can be super rewarding.
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