There is a beauty in being sober. You remember more, you are in full control over yourself and your actions, and you can also be the safe haven for your friends and family. If you don’t drink when you go out with your friends for a party, you can be the one to make sure everyone stays safe and has a way to get home (even if you don’t take them there directly).
The reason why you’ve chosen to quit alcohol and lead a sober life will be entirely personal to you. You don’t need to justify yourself to anyone beyond the fact that it’s what you want to do. Perhaps you’ve had bad experiences; perhaps you’re recovering from alcoholism;maybe you just never liked the way it made you feel. Any reason you have is perfectly valid.
That doesn’t mean it is easy to stay sober, especially when there may be social pressure to drink. To help you stay on track and avoid those pressures, use the following top tips.
Find Your Go-To Alternative Drink
More often than not, just having a drink will dissuade people from even asking you anything about whether or not you are drinking alcohol. It’s part of the social script at many social gatherings to have a drink, but whether your drink contains alcohol or not is entirely up to you.
For example, you could order a mocktail when you go outinstead of a traditional cocktail. These taste amazing and are a wonderful treat in and of themselves that can help get you mentally in the mood for a social outing (even if you’re not actually getting drunk).
Another great alternative to alcohol is a kava drink. This is a natural drink that contains caffeine, and many find it’s also great for helping them relax. More often than not, you’ll find yourself becoming more social and outgoing when you have the energy to do so rather than the alcohol. Kava drinksare very common and are popular social drinks as well in many cultures, so you wouldn’t be the only one out there drinking it instead of a mixer.
Stay Away from Bad Influences
If the topic even comes up, you can easily tell who is a healthy friend to have around (and who isn’t) by whether or not they try to pressure you into drinking alcohol. If you are being pressured, then know that it’s time to make changes to your friendship dynamic. You don’t have to put up with people trampling all over your boundaries, so if there is someone or a group who do just that, either cut ties or restructure where you see them.
Plan Sober-Friendly Events
Finally, plan events that naturally don’t include alcohol. This could be a trip to the museum or a day out to the beach. These events aren’t typically at times when people drink, so you can naturally start to position yourself as the friend to do day trips and activities with. This way, you can see your friends, stay sober, and not feel like you’re missing out if places like bars and clubs aren’t for you.
Read More: 24/7 Solutions for Large Deliveries: Enhancing Convenience with Smart Locker Systems