But I’m going to explore solutions for people who sit at various points along the “sobriety is so boring” spectrum. Take what applies to you and leave whatever doesn’t. It’s not as simple as “getting out there” and “trying something new.” It’s hard to do that when you suffer from extreme depression and anhedonia.

Participate in a community cleanup and meet your neighbors. Here is a resource for our Los Angeles friends, but here is a handy guide to planning a cleanup no matter where you’re at. You can make simple syrups (here are seven unique ones), use your SodaStream, and add beautiful garnishes for the full treatment. Take control of the aspects of your life that you have some influence over and watch the world change around you. If you have someone you trust, let them know if you are feeling down or lonely – so they know you won’t mind if they check in with you more often.

What Are Better Ways to Cope With Boredom?

Fear of loneliness can keep you cutting back or cutting out your drinking. Even if alcohol isn’t enjoyable to you, the socialization ritual surrounding it is. Since everyone in the social environment drinks, you’ll automatically feel pressure to drink.

Sunnyside is the leading alcohol health platform focused on moderation and mindfulness, not sobriety. On average, members see a 30% reduction in alcohol consumption in 3 months, leading to improved sleep, diet, and overall wellbeing. Bored drinking can sneakily become an unhealthy habit, and it’s not always easy to curb it on your own. Simply asking these questions might be enough to take drinking when bored the edge off the urge to drink. But if you end up drinking anyway, mindfulness also means forgiving yourself and learning from the experience.

These platforms provide spaces for sharing alcohol’s risks while celebrating alternatives. One of the defining characteristics of Gen Z is its heightened sense of self-awareness. Movements like the sober curiosity movement — a term popularized by cultural commentator Ruby Warrington in her 2018 book — reflect this. These open discussions have highlighted a growing recognition that alcohol often hinders, than than helps, in managing anxiety, getting quality sleep and staying emotionally resilient.

1. It’s very common for people, especially those with additional mental health issues like depression and anxiety, to drink out of boredom.
2. But drinking alcohol doesn’t solve any of these problems.
3. She has a goal to visit every state capitol and has been to 29 so far!
4. Exercise is a powerful way to rebuild your body in recovery and a healthy coping skill.

Effects of Bored Drinking

We go around on auto-pilot when it comes to certain patterns or behaviors. Stopping at the moment to look around at what’s happening, what emotions you are experiencing, sensations, and thoughts that are present, bringing awareness, and then making a choice. Start consciously thinking about your drinking routines and ask yourself what’s triggering that particular routine or pattern. Workaround managing and coping with those triggers by finding a different strategy that works best for you.

Additional resources to fight boredom in sobriety:

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. AspenRidge Recovery offers online treatment programs that make it possible to receive recovery care while still maintaining a flexible schedule. AspenRidge Recovery methodologies prove to support clients through recovery and long-term care.

But I didn’t know what to do with them besides feel them. And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get. I over-identified with every negative feeling in my body.

Jill is a Colorado native who received a master’s in clinical psychology with an emphasis on women’s studies from the University of Houston. Jill has worked in several inpatient and outpatient centers, treating clients in all levels of care in both individual and group settings. Our addiction specialists are here to help 24/7. Give us a call and we can help find the right treatment program for you or your loved one – even if it’s not ours! There will always be a long lost friend who arrives on your doorstep looking to catch up over a few drinks.

By incorporating mindfulness practices and stress management techniques into your daily routine, you can effectively manage boredom and negative emotions without relying on alcohol. By practicing self-awareness and reflection, you can develop healthier habits and coping mechanisms to replace boredom drinking. This will help you regain control of your life and improve both your mental and physical health. I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober.