Best Activities to Do When Living in a Sober Living Home
When you’re newly in recovery and staying in a sober living home, it’s important to find fun things to do while staying sober. Taking up an activity or hobby can help, providing you with a positive environment to meet and engage with others, while keeping you busy.
14 Sober Activities to Try While Living In A Success Home
If you’re looking for some ideas, keep reading to learn about fourteen fun sober living activities you can do while staying in a success home (sober home).
- Meditate or do yoga
- Learn another language
- Enroll in community college courses
- Join a running club
- Learn a musical instrument
- Find a book club
- Start a garden
- Look for sober groups
- Go on a day hike
- Swim at a local pool
- Work out at a local gym
- Volunteer at an animal shelter
- Learn to cook
- Join a public speaking group
1. Meditate or Attend a Yoga Class
Meditation and yoga are two activities that encourage mindfulness and deep relaxation. If you have anxiety or racing thoughts after you first get sober, meditating or joining a group yoga class is a relaxing way to calm your mind.
2. Learn a New Language
It’s never too late to learn a new language, and there’s a vast array of resources for language learners online. If you’re an avid traveler, you can use your new language if you wish to travel internationally to a country you’ve always wanted to visit.
3. Enroll in Community College Courses
Community college courses are inexpensive, and enrolling in a few courses at your local college is a good way to advance your career and meet other students. Choose a course that suits your interests and enroll!
4. Join a Running Club or Amateur Sports League
Amateur sports are one of the best sober activities. It gives you an alcohol-free environment to meet new people and be more physically active. Exercise is highly effective for addiction recovery, and physical activities like running can fight addiction by boosting endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers.
5. Learn to Play a Musical Instrument
If you’re a music fan, consider learning to play a new musical instrument! While it takes dedication and practice, there are many great free resources to get you started. Learning a musical instrument is a great way to keep busy when you’re in recovery.
6. Find a Book Club
Reading novels and discussing them with others in a book club is a fun social activity. Find one in your area, or better yet, start your own!
7. Start a Garden
Gardening is a relaxing way to pass the time, and you can also end up with some delicious food if you grow herbs and vegetables. Fresh produce provides you a healthy diet and plenty of nutrients, which can boost your recovery from addiction.
8. Look for Sober Groups
Search online for groups in your area that meet up and look for fun things to do sober. Sober groups are fairly common in big cities. You’ll meet friends who can understand what you’re going through and help support you in your recovery.
9. Go on a Hike
Going on a short hike is a good way to get away from stress and burn some calories at the same time. Walk outside, get some fresh air, and reconnect with nature!
10. Swim at a Local Pool
Swimming at a community pool is another great way to be active while you’re in recovery. When you swim, your body releases endorphins, natural mood boosters that can help reduce stress levels. Because of this, it is an ideal sober activity to try.
11. Work Out at the Gym
Working out is one of the most useful sober activities and can help with your recovery. It can help with the insomnia that often occurs when you get sober. Exercising reduces cravings while improving your physical and mental health. Purchase a membership at a local gym, and start working out regularly.
12. Volunteer at an Animal Shelter
Volunteering allows you to give time to your community, and volunteering at an animal shelter is perfect when you’re in recovery. You’ll spend time playing with cats and dogs waiting to be adopted, making your volunteering experience stress-free.
13. Learn to Cook
Whether exploring new cuisines or trying to replicate a dish you’ve eaten at a restaurant, learning to cook gives you a valuable life skill. You can save money by cooking delicious food at home instead of going out to eat.
14. Join a Public Speaking Group
Public speaking groups are made up of professionals who give speeches to one another to practice speaking in front of an audience. They’re good for your career, and can also help you become more confident speaking to people when you’re sober.
Closing Out: Try One of These Sober Activities
Finding a fulfilling activity or hobby of interest can play an important part in remaining sober. Try one of these fun sober activities to keep you busy, meet new people, and have fun.
The Megan House Foundation is a non-profit providing substance abuse treatment services for women in Massachusetts. Learn more about applying to one of our sober living homes in Lowell.