How to Stop Drinking Out of Boredom

It’s like relearning to have fun again, but actually the longer I’m sober the more supportive other people are of it. Instead I’m drinking coffee, listening to the birdsong and planning my day.

As with anxiety, COVID has seen rates of loneliness soar, as people have been forced apart for months, or have lost connections to friends or social groups. Many people admit to drinking out of boredom because they feel lonely. If you have recently stopped drinking alcohol, and you are feeling bored, then you are about to learn the exact steps on how to overcome it.

Seeking Treatment

Despite its negative impacts, more Americans than ever consume alcohol regularly, especially women and minorities. Drinking out of boredom can reinforce negative feelings and self-medicate. When referring to alcohol addiction, some may conjure up an image of a person consuming multiple daily bottles of low-end vodka and struggling to hold a steady job. Alcohol use disorder impacts millions across the nation, many of which are considered high-functioning.

• Some people found the interaction judgemental, but Youngren agrees with the parent’s response.
• Get on Google, find a class, and make it happen.
• Exercise is a powerful way to rebuild your body in recovery and a healthy coping skill.
• Her books, including “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” have been translated into more than 40 languages.

If you are thinking about writing a schedule, one of the best ways to do it is in the evening. Write down all the things you have to do the next day, and write down the time for each activity. For that reason, setting goals is a great way to start building that amazing, sober life. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that I say stopping drinking isn’t just about stopping drinking. However, I’m not saying that when you stop drinking, all boredom will instantly be relieved. That being said, if you are able to start your sober journey with a feeling of happiness, these challenges can be easily overcome.

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I’m trying to find the tapering-offf balance. 2 drinks a day minimum isn’t enough to curb back the symptoms based on my past consumption, unless I want to drive my GF and cats crazy as I climb the walls. I’m looking at 3 a day with an option of 5 depending on severity of symptoms. You’re much better drinking because of boredom off mixing with those who don’t have the problem. Spend some time with these people, model what they do, learn new skills, and you’ll soon leave alcohol behind. Now I tried not drinking for couple of days – it was horrible. At work i felt dizzy and I promised myself I will drink on fridaynight.

• Drinking out of boredom may indicate a deeper issue at hand.
• Drinking alcohol is often seen as a very social activity, but in truth for millions of people, it’s the total opposite.
• Or brunch time, or lunch time or early morning game drive time or holidays, birthdays, daily celebrations.
• I am retired and would like to find something to keep me more busy.

Miller J.A., Caldwell L.L., Weybright E.H., Smith E.A., Vergnani T., Wegner L. Was Bob Seger right? Relation between boredom in leisure and sex. ‘Binge’ drinking, British alcohol policy and the new culture of intoxication. Hingson R., Heeren T., Levenson S., Jamanka A., Voas R. Age of drinking onset, driving after drinking, and involvement in alcohol related motor-vehicle crashes. Cronin C. Reasons for drinking versus outcome expectancies in the prediction of college student drinking. Broadbent R. Young people’s perceptions of their use and abuse of alcohol. Beccaria F., Petrilli E., Rolando S. Binge drinking vs. drunkenness.

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“Aside from liver damage you’ll do, long term drinking greatly increases your probability of getting cancer.” Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She’s also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” https://ecosoberhouse.com/ have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, “The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong,” is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In fact, the action of drinking is quite boring. So my liver is a little more important than my drink of choice, especially since the alcohol doesn’t effect me in any positive way. I think quitting shouldn’t be insanely difficult, but I’m worried about the withdrawal effects. So I’m tapering off to at least 2 drinks a day and possibly up to 4 if I start having strong symptoms. After a month or so I want to bring that down to just one drink in the afternoon. I think that’s one of the big problems that people come across when they quit drinking, they feel like they should be mixing with like-minded people, people who are quitting drinking. Keep in mind that your boredom may be trying to tell you something.

Worried About Being Bored Without Alcohol?

Instead, no differences were expected with regard to boredom proneness and drinking expectancies. A second hypothesis concerned the differences between adolescents who had experienced binge drinking in the last two weeks and those who had not. In this case, we expected binge drinkers to declare a more frequent use and a higher quantity of alcohol consumption, as well as a younger age of first approach to drinking behaviors. Moreover, we expected binge drinkers to express a greater feeling of boredom and to have higher scores on expectancies to drink. Finally, in a third hypothesis we expected boredom to predict binge drinking via the mediation effect of drinking expectancies. That is, we hypothesized that the effect of boredom proneness on binge drinking can be accounted by drinking expectancies.

Through coaching others, I have found that making time for important activities is one of the big bottlenecks. However, if you are able to schedule your time, it can be a game-changer.