He said he looked down at the Alps from a plane and was reminded of the heaps of cocaine he’d snorted. Drugs weren’t part of my thing, but I related to the bit where he talked about feeling irritable and always unhappy when he had no reason to be. Eventually, feeling bored all the time leads to increased alcohol consumption.

Practicing Mindfulness and Stress Management Techniques

Drinking to relieve stress may veer into murky territory, if you feel that you must consume alcohol every day to de-stress. Surround yourself with people that support you and help you in whatever you’re going through in the present moment. It can be your friends, colleagues, or family who know you for ideas of things you can do to fill your time differently. Meet and connect with such people regularly and let them know when you are feeling down or lonely. Will eating salads and drinking water make your boredom go away?

Emotional Triggers for Boredom Drinking

We need to be able to do such things without the “help” of alcohol. Eating well, staying hydrated, getting physical activity, and not stocking up on alcohol for the winter are other helpful strategies to stop drinking out of boredom. By removing the alcohol and making those necessary lifestyle changes, we increase the chances of becoming people who can enjoy the simple pleasure of life once again. One of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re feeling bored in sobriety is to find a way to serve others. So much of this list is not just about finding things to do, but treating the underlying causes of extreme boredom in sobriety. Exercise is critically important in early sobriety and for ongoing mental health and wellness.

#5 Stay Physically Active

Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol. This proactive approach will empower you to break the cycle of loneliness, addiction, and more loneliness, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life in the present moment. Whether your sobriety has you wallowing in boredom or self-pity, please know that it will get better.

Sometimes being sober is boring because your life revolves around alcohol.

Stress, anxiety, and loneliness can all be potential triggers for boredom drinking. People may turn to alcohol as a way to cope with these negative emotions, but in doing so, they may be putting their mental health at risk. Many scientific studies have proved a positive relationship between boredom/loneliness and excessive alcohol use. I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. For other people, drinking alcohol out of boredom is a much more active choice – they drink to cope with negative feelings like anxiety or loneliness.

• The setting, working on and achieving goals is practiced by (almost) all successful people.
• You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
• Starting to drink gradually might be considered normal or appropriate, but it can quickly create a dependence and lead to a severe drinking problem.

Set Some New Goals

For resources related to AUD, including how to get support, please visit the NIH website. We’ve also partnered with Moderation Management, a non-profit dedicated drinking because of boredom to reducing the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol. One of the best ways to deal with bored drinking is to anticipate it — why is not always easy.

• Bars are more frequently providing alcohol-free beverages to help encourage safe drinking habits and reduce risks of accidents caused by driving while intoxicated.
• When no one talked to me I saw it as evidence that everyone else was horrible and unfriendly.
• Bored drinking might elevate your mood briefly, but it won’t ever match the satisfaction of mastering a hobby.

Say you have downtime on a Saturday afternoon after a challenging week at work. “Getting through the week” might be your rationale for pouring a glass of wine. The solution is some form of stimulation, which can be healthy or potentially unhealthy. Whether it’s your partner, friends or colleagues, ask those who know you for ideas of things you can experiment with to fill your time differently.

Find a hobby and/or social activity to get involved in.