10 Ways to Stay Sober on New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve: A Time to Celebrate

Like many other holidays, New Year’s Eve is almost synonymous with excess alcohol use. Our culture has created an occasion for excess and our culture not only allows it, it encourages it. Advertisements for sparkling wine, champagnes and other libations depict a joyous event with people ringing in the New Year. However, there are ways to celebrate the end of 2022 without alcohol or drugs which can prove to be a healthier and safer choice for all. This can be an especially challenging time for those in recovery, but with a change in mindset and some idea for an alcohol-free celebration, you might find it easier to stay sober on New Year’s Eve.

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Why New Year’s Eve Can Be Tricky for Maintaining Sobriety

A sober New Year’s Eve can be difficult for anybody in recovery, no matter how long they have been sober. The holidays in general come with a culture of drinking and can make those with substance use disorders feel anxious. They may have feelings of jealousy watching their friends and family make plans and drink to excess because they do not have an addiction problem and can have one night of substance abuse without long-term effects.

It can cause feelings of missing out on a big, important event and participating in activities like drinking that most people are doing. Others have a difficult time with sobriety during the holidays in general because they struggle with feelings of loneliness and it is a time when many struggles with their mental health in general, including because of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). New Year’s Eve is also filled with many triggers. Many people have always drunk and partied on New Year’s Eve and it can be difficult to break old habits. Sober individuals can also find peer pressure challenging and worry they are “boring” now without alcohol or drugs.

10 Ways to Stay Sober on New Year’s Eve and Still Have Fun

1. Change your mindset about what New Year’s Eve means. For many, New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate and let loose with plenty of alcohol and drugs. However, you can change your mindset about celebrating the New Year, which doesn’t have to be surrounded by substance abuse. You can also focus on the fact of how good you will feel the next day, not hungover and sleep deprived, which is the best way to start off the New Year.
2. Avoid high-risk situations. Make a list of your triggers including places, people, and things and make sure to avoid those at all costs. You should also avoid parties or situations with excess alcohol use or drug use.
3. Have a plan for the night. This can reduce the chances of feeling bored or missing out and deciding to go out drinking or using drugs, which can include a movie or craft night with close friends or on your own.
4. Host a sober party at your house. There are other ways besides alcohol to have fun at a party including doing karaoke, playing board games, murder mystery night, dancing, and creating tasty meals. This may be the best way to stay sober on New Year’s Eve and prevent feelings of missing out on a fun party.
5. Go to a 12-step meeting. You can find the support and motivation needed to remind you why you got sober and keep you going through the night if you feel you might struggle.
6. Attend a sober event in your community. Many sober groups host events during holidays like Halloween and New Year’s Eve in major cities which can be found with an online search.  
7. Take a Vacation. You won’t be tempted to attend a New Year’s party if you are not home. It may allow you to relax and take a break before starting off the New Year. There are several sober vacation groups or you can choose to go to a health spa for a couple of nights.
8. Bring a sober friend if you decide to go to a party. You can hold each other accountable plus it will reduce feelings of being the only one not drinking. They can also be a great support system if you begin to struggle with temptations and can make it easier to get out of there fast.
9. Bring a non-alcoholic drink with you. Do not assume the host of the party will have non-alcoholic options and always have a non-alcoholic drink in your hand if you decide to attend a party. You can even bring non-alcoholic champagne or sparkling cider to toast with everyone else at midnight to stay sober on New Year’s Eve.
10. Sign up and pre-pay for an early workout class on January 1st if possible. If you already have plans and have made a monetary investment that needs you to be bright eyed and bushy tailed the next morning, it can be a great deterrent for giving in to substance use on New Year’s Eve.

What Should I Do if I Relapse on New Year’s Eve?

First thing you should do if you relapse on New Year’s Eve is to forgive yourself. Relapses happen and are a part of the recovery process. You have not failed and if you were able to get sober once, you can do it again.  If you do relapse on New Year’s Eve, here are some tips to get you back on track:

• Focus on moving forward and the feeling of accomplishing sobriety again.
• Let those in your support network know what happened and express to them your feelings surrounding the relapse. They can encourage you and help you get back on track.
• Immediately start working on your recovery again through plenty of meetings, reestablishing your routine, and practicing daily self-care.
• List new goals for yourself, your recovery, and preventing future relapses which can also help you feel hopeful for your future.
• Go back over your past recovery program including all the coping skills and tools you learned and put them back into use.
• If it was one relapse event, you should be able to get back to your recovery on your own. However, if you find you are continually struggling or have had multiple relapse events, it may be time to re-enter a rehab program. You need to decide where you begin, whether an outpatient program is sufficient or if you need drug or alcohol detox and inpatient treatment.

Stay Sober All Through the New Year with Help from The Detox Center of LA

If you are struggling with substance abuse or your recovery, The Detox Center of LA can provide you with the professional help and support needed to stay sober all through the New Year. Our treatment programs are tailored for each individual to meet them anywhere they are in their recovery journey, no matter how dire the situation may be. There is no reason to wait to get sober, with the help of The Detox Center, you can ring in the New Year with new found sobriety and complete control of your life again. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us and call us today to find out about our same day admissions.