When a person has an alcohol addiction, much of their social life and activities revolve around drinking. Once they enter recovery, finding sober things to do can prove challenging. This makes it important to double down on finding ways to have fun without risking the temptation to relapse.
Phoenix Rising Recovery recognizes the importance of continually working on a person’s sobriety trajectory. We have some recommendations to get people started on fun things to do in Palm Desert that don’t involve consuming alcohol. The truth is that life offers multiple ways to hang out with friends and family, take trips, or just spend time in your neighborhood having fun without drinking.
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Why is it Important to Have a List of Sober Things to Do?
Someone who used to include alcohol as part of their every social activity can find it daunting to cultivate an exciting list of sober things to do. However, doing so really bolsters a person’s ability to embrace living without alcohol because they develop a fun social life to replace endless days and nights of getting drunk. Finding entertaining things to do in Palm Desert that do not revolve around drinking offers multiple beneficial elements to people.
Making a habit of joining in sober social activities helps people form new friendships and develop connections that support their sobriety. These bonds can become a terrific resource for support. Sober activities also help people rebuild their identity in a positive light. They move from picturing themselves and being seen as the drunk life of the party or the person who goes too far to becoming someone in control. This helps improve their self-esteem and allows them to learn to express themselves while remaining in control.
Additionally, sober activities are more likely to center around physical activities than those done when people are drinking. For example, sober things to do can include exercising, playing sports with friends, or going on hikes. This helps improve a person’s physical and mental health. Finally, participating in sober activities can help a person overcome triggers to drink. Someone might start to feel lonely or tempted to contact an old drinking buddy. If instead, they engage in a newly discovered sober way to pass the time, they can prevent a relapse from occurring.
List of Sober Things to Do in Palm Desert, California
If you are looking for things to do in Palm Desert that don’t put the spotlight on drinking, you have myriad options. Sober things to do include:
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens: This beautiful zoo features animals from around the world, dining, shopping, nature and hiking trails, and ways to get up close with the animals.
Art Galleries: The Palm Desert area is home to several art galleries that provide curated collections from local, national, and international artists.
Joshua Tree National Park: A 38-mile drive puts you at the gates of one of the country’s most beautiful parks. It offers hiking, camping, sightseeing, birdwatching, rock climbing, and more.
El Paseo Shopping District: Sometimes there’s nothing like a little retail therapy to pass the time and boost your spirits. This area offers tons of stores and items to wear, fill your home, and more.
Live Performance Venues: The McCallum Theater and the Coachella Valley Repertory offer live performances featuring plays, musicals, comedians, ballet, and more.
What to Do if You Feel Bored in Your Sobriety
Boredom often becomes a trigger for someone to risk their sobriety. They may think that just having one drink or going on one bender will cure their boredom, but instead, it just projects them into a downward spiral. If you feel bored, start amassing a list of sober things to do. Use this as a resource for ideas when you have downtime and want an activity that supports your sobriety.
Start by finding a new hobby or reviving one that fell by the wayside. Things like learning to play an instrument, joining a community theatre, volunteering with a worthy organization, or taking short drives out of town to discover local areas can cure boredom. Another option is contacting a sober friend or someone from a support group and planning an event together. Two or more people whose lives are focused on staying sober can provide tremendous resources of support and keep boredom at bay.
Contact Us If You Have Relapsed and Need Treatment
Did you go to treatment and stay sober for some time but then succumb to the temptation to drink again? If so, Phoenix Rising Recovery in Palm Desert, California stands ready to help you get back your ability to live without alcohol. Our staff of extensively trained experts in the field of behavioral healthcare work with people who have relapsed and need help. We offer several levels of care that include transdiagnostic forms of therapy that empower you to restart your healing process. We include teaching people to formulate a game plan for planning sober things to do to ensure you have a fun social life. When you combine the healing arts we provide with things to do in Palm Desert that support your sobriety, you develop a true and lasting ability to stay sober.
For more information about our residential and outpatient programs, contact us today. The ability to change your whole life is just around the corner.
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