Blogs
Mar 5, 2025
Five Tips for Having Fun in Recovery
By Greg F.
Whether or not one can remain sober and still have a fun-filled life is an important question for newly recovered addicts or alcoholics, or people who may be on the fence.
And the short answer is, “Yes! You can have fun in recovery. Life doesn’t stop with sobriety!”
Weddings, sporting events, and holidays are as constant as the rain. If you’re used to getting high or drinking while partaking in these celebrations, that part has to change. But otherwise, I encourage more attendance.
After seven years in recovery, I still love to travel, eat, go to the games, the concerts, the festivals, and the weddings. The trick is that now the memories are everlasting because mind altering substances don’t get in the way.
Here are my five tips for having fun and staying sober:
1. Change Your People –– Unfortunately, I had to add space between me and certain people to maintain my sobriety. These choices had everything to do with whether or not that person supported me getting sober.
2. Change Your Places –– I loved hanging out at certain bars, but this had to stop for me. I believe you can enter a bar just like anyone else in recovery, but why would I go to a snowball stand if I don’t want a snowball.
3. Change Your Playthings –– This literally means drugs and alcohol, but it also means anything material that used to supplement your habit, like paraphernalia. Switch these out with non-alcoholic drinks and tasty treats.
4. Have an Escape Plan –– If you have a car, then take your car to an event where people might be drinking or using. That way, you can leave whenever you start to feel uncomfortable or have a craving.
5. Bring, Don’t Take –– Attitude is a big part of being able to enjoy yourself in recovery, and it’s something that I had to learn. Think of what you can bring into a situation rather than take from it.
On the other hand, you might decide that you don’t like to go out as much once you get sober. Maybe you prefer a movie or a book to a football game, or a walk in the park to a music festival. The great thing is that you will ultimately learn more about your individual tastes as you progress on your recovery journey.
Greg F. recently celebrated eight years free from drugs and alcohol. He has contributed to The Grove social media accounts in the past and served as a writing intern for The Grove in the fall of 2024, working toward a master’s degree in English from Southeastern Louisiana University. He is the author of two self-published books and a big fan of Gretsch Guitars.