Many people in addiction recovery programs are scared of a relapse during the weekends. There are many reasons why the weekends can be triggering or cause a relapse, and the most important thing is to be aware of the dangers and proactive in avoiding them.
This article will explain why staying sober during the weekends can be a challenge, what can be done to avoid relapsing, and how Avenues Recovery helps their clients structure the weekends properly. If you are in rehab or considering joining a rehab program, this article might be helpful for you.
Why do people relapse during the weekends?
For many people who have become addicted to drugs or alcohol, the weekends are heavily associated with substance use. This is because they likely spend the time partying, relaxing, or hanging out with friends who use substances.
People who struggle with addiction feel a natural craving to either have fun or relax with some drugs or alcohol. At some point, they usually don’t even know how to have a good time or chill without the substances that have always helped them do so. There is also much unstructured time and boredom which can lead to the use of drugs and alcohol.
Why are recovery activities important?
There are so many benefits to engaging in recovery activities to avoid drinking in the weekend. These include:
- Purpose and fulfillment- Engaging in activities and hobbies you enjoy can help you feel fulfilled while allowing you to experience joy and purpose. It can also help you form an identity that is separate from substance use, which is extremely important when pursuing sobriety.
- Avoids boredom- When a person addicted to drugs or alcohol is bored, they may find themselves looking for drama and action. As a result, they may find themselves using substances or going to a place where drug and alcohol are used freely.
- Healthy environment- A person struggling with addiction who finds meaningful, enjoyable activities during the weekends will usually be in a better environment than those they would have been in pre-recovery. For example, if you join a painting group on the weekends, that may be a healthier environment than the usual weekend environment, like a party with lots of alcohol.
- Relieves stress- Doing things you enjoy can help you release tension and feel more relaxed. For example, if knitting, playing an instrument, or volunteering at a homeless shelter makes you feel good, it can relieve you of stress that you’re carrying.
- Improves physical well-being- This is especially true if the activities you decide to engage in are physically active, like cycling, hiking, or going to the gym. Exercising in the outdoors is also great for you in many ways.
- Improves social life- If you’ve been using drugs or alcohol with your friends, you may to avoid them to ensure you don’t lose your sobriety. This can feel very lonely. Finding hobbies or activities to do on the weekends exposes you to more people and potential friendships to replace your old friends.
- Boosts self-confidence- Entering recovery can be very humbling. You may need to question the decisions you’ve made and the lifestyle you’ve chosen so you can get sober. Enriching hobbies like learning a new skill or nurturing relationships with healthy people can boost your self-confidence and remind you how worthy you are as a person.
Having fun without substances:
It's common for people recovering from addiction to have a difficult time relaxing or having fun without substances. After years of unwinding in the evening with a glass of wine or shot of weed, or partying through the weekends with the substance/s of your choice, it’s really hard to unlearn those behaviors.
Many times, people in recovery may wonder how they can socialize or relax now that they’re sober. It’s crucial to keep an open mind and consider activities you may not feel inclined to try, because you never know where it can take you! Most importantly, you’ll develop the muscle of having fun without the use of substances to help you.
Recreational activities for sobriety:
Here are some ideas of things you can do during the weekends to have a sober Saturday:
- Movie night- Go with a friend from your recovery program, any healthy friend who doesn’t use substances, or even go yourself! You may be surprised how much fun you can have without using any substances.
- Creative activities- Whether you pick up a creative activity on your own or join a group, think outside of the box and try something even if you’re sure you won’t enjoy it. You can consider knitting, drawing, painting, photography, hairstyling, creative writing, pottery, jewelry making, or woodworking.
- Mindfulness- You can practice yoga, meditation, journaling, and any other activity that allows you to be mindful and aware of how you’re feeling. You could also join a group with a moderator that helps you acquire these valuable life skills.
- Cookouts- Find some friends that share a love for food and cooking, and arrange a cookout! You can make a barbeque or any style meal you like, which will give you the opportunity to socialize and have fun while cooking nutritious food.
- Sports and exercise- Whether you love sports or don’t know which way to hold a racket, give sports a try! You can choose to hike, swim, jog, cycle, play tennis or football, or simply go for a run or to the gym. Exercising releases dopamine and endorphins, and sports allows you to set goals and reach them, boosting your self-confidence.
- Hobbies- Think of anything you enjoyed or were fascinated by as a child and see if you can pick up on it. If you enjoyed watching ships sail, learn how to do it. If you loved watching people ski, learn to ski. If you were fascinated with juggling or magic, learn some tricks of your own.
- Touring- Even if you’ve lived in your city for a long time, there will surely be some places you haven’t toured yet. If you have the time and financial ability to tour other neighboring cities, try that, too for some extra exciting fun!
Recovery group activities:
People in recovery often are part of a group of fellow recovered addicts. For example, 12-step groups are meetings comprised of former addicts, and at a rehab center, people recovering from addiction band together in group therapy.
Being part of a group of like-minded recovering addicts is crucial to the recovery process. During the weekends, some groups of people recovering from addiction may arrange addiction group activities, which can be very helpful to maintain sobriety. No matter which activity the group chooses, everyone benefits from spending quality time with others struggling with the same issue.
Conclusion:
At Avenues Recovery, we understand the importance of fun, productive weekend activities and their role in keeping people in recovery sober. We have many rehab facilities nationwide, each with different weekend programs for all the patients to partake in, and some that have a special committee dedicated to planning and executing weekend activities.
We offer movie nights, food-related activities like hot cocoa and smores bars, barbeques, and cook-offs, as well as creative activities like arts n’ crafts, painting, jewelry-making, and planting. There are also fun activities like balloon fights, and talent shows, jazz fests, and karaoke for those who like to perform.
As the leading experts in drug and alcohol recovery, we invite you to reach out to start your journey. Our experienced, compassionate staff will support you through medical detox when you enter, right until long-term sobriety when you leave. Hundreds of people have traveled the path before you and are living happy, successful lives today.
Join us to start your path to sobriety!