Bored drinking can sneakily become an unhealthy habit, and it’s not always easy to curb it on your own. Simply asking these questions might be enough to take the edge off the urge to drink. But if you end up drinking anyway, mindfulness also means forgiving yourself and learning from the experience. If “for no reason” pops up frequently in your drinking out of boredom list, it might help to seek a CBT professional to understand your why in those situations. The American Psychological Association recommends CBT to root out “faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking” that may be driving unhealthy behaviors. You might plan to start learning a new language during downtime, but put it off in favor of having a drink.

And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get. I’ve included this separate from hobbies because I don’t believe that journaling is a hobby. We are stressed-out, overstimulated, tech-obsessed creatures. Pile on some sobriety struggle, and it’s a recipe for madness. Choosing a new hobby to occupy your time is not always easy.

The Boredom Dilemma

In the meantime, the Soberish community is here to support you and help you get there. I certainly would have if I’d read this article five years ago. This is the part where you figure out how to enjoy life without a little something extra to help loosen you up. So now comes the arduous task of learning how to manage the tough stuff without a chemical crutch like alcohol. Feeling bored, sad, lonely, or anxious about something are all very human things to feel. When I was finished, it was like someone had hit the refresh button on my brain.

Many people claim that they drink for the totally opposite reason – they find themselves drinking out of boredom. Here are some tips to stop drinking alcohol out of boredom. While it doesn’t automatically indicate alcohol use disorder drinking out of boredom can expose users to the extensive list of short- and long-term health effects due to ongoing alcohol use. Exercise is a powerful way to rebuild your body in recovery and a healthy coping skill.

Drinking Out of Boredom: Why It’s Risky Business

Many Americans increased their alcohol intake during the pandemic, with women and parents of young children disproportionately affected. I encourage anyone in recovery to be open, honest, and willing to do the work. Besides, it is all up to you to be the person you https://ecosoberhouse.com/ would like to become. If you need support in your journey, our team at Ria Health is always here to help you, and we’re only a call away. Often, it really comes down to being willing to do something that doesn’t entertain you or make you feel good immediately.

• If you quit drinking and experience any new or worsening mental health symptoms, please consider therapy.
• But despite this constant content consumption, we’re still getting bored — maybe even more so than ever.
• In such scenarios, our brain searches for something exciting or rewarding, leading us towards behaviors that can stimulate and intrigue us.
• Everyone reacts to boredom differently, but the way we react is vital to our health and well-being.
• It’s even harder if your loved ones don’t support your sobriety.

One listener described his realization to me that he’d been using alcohol as, quote, “a numbing agent.” And he told me not drinking made him kind of show up for his life, feel more present. A lot of other people told me that, look – a one-month break helped them to kind of set a new habit and drink a little less. Acute anxiety and depression from the withdrawal process can ease within a few days to a week. But for many people, lingering feelings of anxiety, depression, and general malaise can last weeks, months, or even longer. 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.

Finding Healthier Ways to Cope with Boredom

Mental health needs as much attention as physical health, so if you are suffering, go and talk to your doctor. Boredom is a key reason people give for drinking too much and drinking out of boredom like this can become almost a subconscious activity, something that you do whilst doing something else. If you want to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it makes sense to avoid busy bars and thirsty friends. But many of us should because millions of us resort to drinking out of boredom whilst relaxing at home. Parties, seasonal events, family meals or work gatherings might spring to mind. Drinking alcohol is often seen as a very social activity, but in truth for millions of people, it’s the total opposite.