To break the boredom drinking loop asks us to upgrade the beliefs that alcohol is the answer to boredom and to build the skill of find engagement and joy even in the tedious tasks. That leaves us with the other 60–70% of boredom—the kind that sticks around even after we’ve quit drinking, and can lead to relapse if we don’t know how to handle it. If existential boredom is about a lack of meaning, then situational boredom is about a lack of stimulation. I’ll be exploring that in a future piece, but for now, let’s stay focused on the more everyday boredom that shows up during chores, traffic, and those painfully slow moments of life. And take a closer look at if reaching for the bottle is really the answer we want. If boredom already makes us squirm, then alcohol culture helped position drinking—especially boredom drinking—as an easy solution (one much i drink because I am bored preferable than zapping ourselves).

What is boredom?

Bored drinking might elevate your mood briefly, but it won’t ever match the satisfaction of mastering a hobby. Before you know it, your list of things to celebrate when bored gets longer, and the number of drinks you enjoy each week goes up. Over time, alcohol becomes the thing that keeps us in boring situations Sobriety we don’t actually want to be in. The hidden downside of using alcohol to cope with situational boredom is that it often keeps us stuck—tolerating situations we might otherwise exit, transform, or outgrow.

Your ability to manage stress and regulate mood changes.

• Eventually, this leads to an unhealthy pattern of emotional drinking that is much harder to quit.
• Here are 5 tips to help you make changes to your drinking habits that could help you feel better, for good.
• Boredom can cascade into serious issues like battling loneliness, uncovering deeply seeded shame and self-loathing, and even feelings of high stress can become prevalent.
• Our reward system gets recalibrated to account for the frequent dopamine hits coming from the alcohol.
• Say your main drinking occasion is when you socialize with friends.

Her expertise encompasses group and individual work, with a particular focus on trauma. Darcie finds fulfillment in working with the LGBTQ+ population, leveraging her skills to support and empower. The best piece of advice she’s ever heard is to never take advice from someone who does not have what you are seeking.

Practice Mindfulness

However, suggesting new activities or meeting for coffee instead of drinks can help create healthier habits. This guide to a sober lifestyle offers great tips for navigating social situations without alcohol. AspenRidge Recovery offers online https://www.fondationmichelserres.fr/the-vicious-cycle-of-addiction-why-its-so-hard-to/ treatment programs that make it possible to receive recovery care while still maintaining a flexible schedule.