10 Ways to Enjoy Spring Break Without the Booze
March brings new air, travels, and springtime, but it also brings the heightened threat of booze-filled events. Does it seem like every month brings the threat of booze in our faces? Well, they do, and this month is no different. March is also a month where kids and college students go on spring break. During my younger years, spring break was hijacked by corporations who want to sell booze and partying to young people. I was one of their victims. So, if spring break is on the horizon for you, don’t fret, there are other activities you can do to pass the time that don’t include alcohol. You can enjoy spring break without the booze, here’s how.
1. Plan a sober trip
Spring Break doesn’t need to be all our parties and it doesn’t need to be booked through a spring break travel company whose main goal is to sell party packages. Luckily, in 2018, there are several options to book vacations through companies who organize them specifically for sober people. Sober Vacation International offers trips all over the world and have 12 step meetings and get-togethers during those vacations. Another company, Clean Getaway Travel, offer group adventures, but also plan honeymoons for sober people and even a vacation for one. A third organization, Sober Celebrations, concentrates on sober cruises and also has 12 step meetings to accompany their guests.
2. Visit with family
Family visits can be something we often put off during our drinking years. I never had time for family when I was drinking because I was too concerned with where the next party would be. Consider visiting your family during your sober spring break and using this time to strengthen your relationships. Of course, if your family includes heavy drinkers, you may want to take that into consideration and put in place strong boundaries before executing your trip.
3. Volunteer
Volunteering wasn’t something I thought about much during my addiction. I didn’t have the desire or time to help others and when I did I was counting down the minutes until it was over. In sobriety we are taught that giving back is one way that we stay sober. What’s a better way to strengthen your recovery than to volunteer over spring break? Find a cause that you’re passionate about, maybe sobriety is one, and seek out volunteer opportunities in that area. It’s a fun and constructive way to spend your time without booze.
4. Complete a project at home
For those of you, who like me, were never home bodies during your addiction, spending time at home in sobriety can be therapeutic. A whole week to do what you please can seem overwhelming. Why not complete a project you’ve been thinking about doing? Have you wanted to paint one of your rooms? Have you wanted to finish up a book? Have you wanted to rearrange your office space or your book shelves? Spring break is a great time to do it.
5. Take a workshop or class
There’s nothing quite like taking a soothing yoga workshop or learning new techniques at a painting class. Sobriety is a time to tackle all the interests and hobbies you never knew you had while you were drinking. Why spend spring break on a boozy getaway when you can find a new artistic craft to learn and love? Learning new trades or collective healing at a workshop can be restorative. I highly recommend this as a way to spend your alcohol free spring break.
6. Sky diving
So many of us who have found solace in drugs and alcohol enjoy extremes. We crave excitement and adrenaline. Fortunately, there are still ways to find those in recovery. Sky diving is one way to feel the rush of adrenaline. It’s a fun and different way to spend your spring break sober and enjoying what the universe has to offer. There’s no better way to do that than jumping out of a plane!
7. Spend a day at an amusement park
Just as exciting and heart-pounding as sky diving is roller-coaster riding. Why not gather a friend or family member and head to an amusement park for a day of your spring break? Whether it’s Disney World, Universal Studios, Six Flags, or Busch Gardens, there’s a ton of fun to be had at an amusement park. You can find games, roller coasters, water rides, or other fun activities like ski ball and air hockey to keep you busy. This is a sober activity that should be in your schedule any time of the year.
8. Explore your own town
Take a staycation, or just explore your own town for a day or two! Many people are unaware of the lush history that is present in the towns’ they live in because they spend every day there. I challenge you to spend your spring break exploring your own town, visiting museums, world heritage sites, and other landmarks that you might have never seen before. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
9. Enhance your fitness
Maybe fitness is already an integral of your recovery program, but it’s always a good idea to switch up your exercise routine and try something new. Spring break is a time where you can schedule extra yoga classes, plan group runs, or try CrossFit or another type of class you’ve never done before. You might compete in a competition or your PR your 5k in a race. Use this time to up your fitness or make new exercise goals!
10. Connect with other sober people
It’s possible that you haven’t found your sober tribe yet, or you may be looking to expand it even further. Maybe you haven’t found any good friends who are also committed to their recovery. Spend time looking for sober meet-ups online, engaging in sober groups on social media, or hosting one of your own in your town. There is nothing better in recovery than connection.
About the Author
Kelly Fitzgerald is a sober writer based in Southwest Florida who is best known for her personal blog The Adventures of a Sober Señorita. Her work has been published across the web including sites like The Huffington Post, Thought Catalog, Ravishly, SheKnows, Elite Daily, The Fix, Brit + Co, Addiction Unscripted and AfterPartyMagazine. She is currently writing a memoir.
