Ringing in the New Year is a holiday that most of us enjoy celebrating in one way or another. The problem for those in recovery is that New Year’s Eve celebrations are full of substances and potential triggers.
What new and fun ways can we celebrate the incoming New Year without substances? Having a fun gathering with friends, coworkers and family members doesn’t have to include drugs or alcohol to be memorable and entertaining. Planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve and don’t know where to start? Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Seeing New Year’s Eve in a different light
We’re creatures of habit — making significant changes takes time and effort, since our natural instinct is to stick to what’s familiar. Before starting our life in embracing sobriety, for many of us, New Year’s Eve was always marked by substance soaked parties and terrible hangovers. For the very unlucky, it may have even resulted in a DUI arrest.
Now that you are in recovery, it is a brand new day and you have a whole new perspective on life. You now realize there are many ways to enjoy the festivities without submitting yourself to the presence of substances and the triggers that often result. Let’s explore some of those ideas.
6 sober ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve
If this is your first holiday season in sobriety, it helps to reaffirm your new beliefs. Do not focus on the past — look forward to discovering new and exciting ways to experience New Year’s Eve. Be open to expanding your world to welcome some new traditions this year.
Here are 6 ways to ring in the New Year for folks in recovery:
- Join a potluck and watch old movies: What better way to celebrate New Year’s Eve than by watching classic films? Try something uplifting, like “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the beloved 1946 holiday flick starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Ask guests to bring a dish to share, and prepare a spread of festive mocktails and desserts for the group to enjoy.
- Attend a sober celebration: In many places, sobriety fellowship groups host amazing sober New Year’s Eve events. Complete with music and dancing, these celebrations provide the perfect, supportive replacement for the New Year’s Eve parties of your troubled past.
- Go bowling: Bowling alleys have evolved in recent years to feature cool light shows and great music, while leaving those ever-so-cool bowling shoes untouched by modernity. Organize two teams to do battle at the local bowling alley, bring some festive snacks and a thermos of hot apple cider, and let the pins fall where they may.
- Attend a show: Plan ahead now and order tickets to attend a comedy show, live theater production or symphony to welcome the New Year in style. Laugh, sing along or just enjoy being surrounded by glorious music.
- Throw a retro-themed party: Why not have a little bit of retro fun with New Year’s Eve this year? Invite some sober friends to attend your ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s or ‘80s-themed party. Find some fun decorations to fit the theme, select the perfect music for the era and add some unique touches like old-school appetizers, old-fashioned candies and classic sodas.
- Plan a fun getaway: If you would rather enjoy a quiet New Year’s Eve, book a short getaway trip. Whether you go on a ski trip, stay at a rustic lake cabin or opt for a fancy hotel downtown, whichever setting you choose can provide a fresh new way to turn the page on the calendar.
While New Year’s Eve can be a minefield for someone in recovery, it doesn’t have to be. Reinvent New Years and you won’t miss the old days at all.
Ashley Addiction Treatment, formerly Father Martin’s Ashley, is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader in integrated, evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders. Our programs are accredited by The Joint Commission, and result in frequent publications of ongoing research into effective treatment methodologies. We offer holistic care that encompasses the mind, body and spirit through inpatient and outpatient treatment, provide drug detox, relapse prevention plans, family wellness programs and a variety of other services tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Our driving principle — “everything for recovery” — reinforces our mission to transform and save lives through the science of medicine, the art of therapy and the compassion of spirituality, and is complemented by our philosophy of healing with respect and dignity. For information about our comprehensive programs, please call 866-313-6307.