Sober Networking
One reason why drinking alcohol is so prominent in western culture is that lots of folks find it helps them deal with their social awkwardness. At the very least, in small dosages.
Analysis conducted with problem drinkers demonstrates that for a lot of them, consuming alcohol is key to their social intercourse, and they can not picture a lifestyle with no drinking in it.
Life has become drinking
Rather than thinking about all the things they might be doing that do not include drinking, they visualize being the lonely, shy guy in the bar, sipping on a pint of lime and soda, whilst their buddies knock back the beers.
People whose lifestyles have not depended on drinking recognize that this little universe has plenty of other opportunities. But these can all appear rather foreign to a hard drinker.
Sober networking and making friends in the without consuming alcohol, either as a confidence-boost or as a fix for social anxiety, may be a problem for many men and women. Particularly people who have fairly recently given up drinking alcohol.
Although for a few individuals, moderate drinking is a realistic objective, for other folks (problem drinkers), quitting drinking for good is the most effective option.
Here are the best ways to do this.
Inexpensive Things to Do Free From Food or Alcoholic beverages: There are 2 stages of interacting socially with no call for alcoholic drinks. The initial step, which is the purpose of this post, entails finding out what you REALLY want to do with your precious time, that does not include drinking.
Next, you have to create a system of developing the social skills that you believe you are deficient in, so you do not need to have booze as a support.
Need to work on your public speaking? Well, do it!
Folks who are used to drinking alcohol as a means of whiling away their spare time find it hard to imagine being social without a drink in their hand. For instance, visiting pubs or nightclubs, or they could see drinking as an essential enhancer to other public activities, like watching football whilst having a beer or two.
If your emphasis has formerly been circumstances concentrated purely on drinking, like clubs or bars, it might the automatic reception you get from fellow-drinkers that help make hanging out in this manner enjoyable to you.
The beer safety net
You simply turn up, buy a beer, and you get a bunch of ready-made buddies.
But these are pseudo camaraderies, based not on genuinely knowing one another, but instead, a means of easing solitude. You get back what you invest in friendships, so the possibilities of individuals having any real dedication to you past getting you a drink is highly unlikely.
So many newly sober people discover that a lot of their ‘friends’ were nothing of the sort. That might sound upsetting but ask yourself, wouldn’t you rather know?
Simply Turn up
To substitute this type of shallow camaraderie, it is better to think about other ventures where you can instantly be welcomed by the group, merely for making an appearance. There is a range of events such as this, you just have to think about what you may appreciate rather than drinking alcohol.
One suggestion to assist with this is to consider what you have taken pleasure in doing, regardless of how little you gave it a go (and even if you have never given it a try, but want to), and not to contemplate what your drinking buddies would think or say about you trying something new.
Drinkers may come up with a hundred reasons to stay away from doing just about anything that does not include drinking. The pressure from your drinking buddies to keep just devoting all your money and time to time spent with them may be humiliating and unhelpful to you moving forward with your happy sober life.
Let’s Get Physical
If you relish jumping into your sweatpants and working out, there is absolutely no lack of sportings groups and courses, walking and running teams, and open-air events that just need you to register for and pay a small service charge.
You might be put off by paying for the charge, believing that you should never have to purchase friendship, however, the charge will most likely be equal to, or lower than, the cost of drinking alcohol.
Or perhaps, you can locate a totally free hiking or running community, or perhaps launch your very own, by advertising on a neighborhood internet board on Facebook.
Academic and Social Activities
If you do not appreciate (or even like) exercising, you could take pleasure in creative, artistic or social things, like signing up with a book club or checking out your neighborhood modern art gallery. You will quickly identify options to network with other people who share these passions.
If you really enjoy being creative yourself, there are lots of prospects to cultivate these passions together with other people, no matter if it is painting, playing an instrument, singing, or even poetry you prefer.
Charity Work
Giving your time to help others is one more fantastic way to effortlessly make friends via a common pursuit. This could be helping support a cause or charitable organization that you respect, however, you are not restricted to these kinds of choices.
Numerous other prospects for volunteering are present in your life, and many societies have centers that can help you discover a suitable match.
Happy Sober Life
Look, stepping outside the bubble of alcohol addiction is not always easy. But most things worth having in life are not easily achievement. You are free to stay in your comfort zone of drinking. However, as warm and as secure as it feels in there, nothing ever grows.
Everything worth having is just one step outside your comfort zone. I strongly encourage you to accept this challenge to build a new network of happy sober friends.
If you are ready to deal with your drinking. Click here to reserve your place on my next free quit drinking webinar.
