New Years is a joyous time of year in which family and friends come together to celebrate the love and close bonds they have with one another. While the mood of this special holiday is festive and upbeat, it like many special occasions involves the use of alcohol-and this can present a formidable obstacle for those who are in recovery. Whether you are new in recovery or have considerable time clean and sober, finding ways to fully celebrate New Years without alcohol can be difficult. The following article will lay out with some popular alternative New Years party ideas that you can incorporate into your next celebration.
Host A Dance Party
When you are looking for sober New Years’ alternatives you have to think out of the box and one idea that fits that criteria is a dance party. Instead of fighting the street traffic, overflow crowds, high cover charges and boozy atmosphere of the downtown club, you can create your very own dance party in the comforts of your own home. The rules are simple; no booze, no cover charge, a handful of friends and a killer playlist. While you could hire a DJ for this type of event, chances are most are booked for other events and they may charge an arm and a leg if they happened to be available. While having a nice sound system and light show would be cool, having a great New Years dance party at home can be as simple as having friends bring over their favorite jams (and maybe their own non-alcoholic drink or snacks).
Attend A Meeting Marathon
Are you looking for something fun to do on New Years that can also strengthen your recovery? An increasing number of AA and NA chapters across the country are holding meeting marathons. These meetings are held consecutively for the majority of the day to ensure addicts have a safe place to go and stay, and oftentimes the 12-step groups that hold meeting marathons will offer a special meal and/or sober party in addition to the meetings themselves. Currently, meeting marathons can primarily be found in large cities such as New York, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles, but if you are part of a homegroup in your area it may be an idea that you can incorporate in your city.
Have A Movie Night
While many movie theaters are open on New Years and may offer inexpensive shows to bring people in, you can organize your own movie night in the privacy of your own home. You can invite friends and family over and have your very own movie marathon. With this concept, you can get creative and feature a popcorn station where guests can mix use a variety of mix-ins such as chocolate, nuts or different flavors of powdered cheeses. You can also feature your very own “mocktail” bar which you can mix up a variety of non-alcoholic cocktails. Whatever you decide, just be sure to switch off the movie at midnight so you can watch the ball drop.
Throw A Destination Party
If the triggers and temptations of the New Years holiday prove to be too much in your home environment, maybe a change of scenery might turn things around. A great alternative New Years event is to throw a “destination party” where you hold an event in a place of your choosing. If you live in a warm environment, having a bonfire at the beach or organizing a night hike can be options. If you live in a colder environment, renting a cabin for the weekend may just be what you need.
Volunteer
There are some excellent sober New Year’s Eve ideas that don’t involve celebrations, and an excellent example of this is volunteering. A great way to celebrate the holiday season is to give of yourself and your time to those who need it the most. Whether it is at a local drop-in center, nursing home, hospital or other organization, serving others in your community will make you feel great AND you are helping to bolster your sobriety.
Take Part In A New Year’s Eve Race
There are an increasing number of running clubs that are offering a New Year’s Eve midnight race as a sober holiday alternative. If you are an active person and looking for something out of the ordinary to do on New Years, a chilly jaunt around town might be the perfect way to ring in the New Year. While it may be fun to run solo, you can convince a few friends to run or walk the race with you, and as a group you can dress up in silly costumes.
Be A Designated Driver
Another sober New Years activity you can take part in is to be a designated driver for friends and others who may be revelling in the holiday. If Uber is available in your town, you may want to sign up to be a driver. You can also tell friends that you will be their safe ride if they may have had too much to drink.
Have A Nice Dinner
A New Years mainstay is going out for a great meal at a nice restaurant. Many restaurants offer special New Years menus at special prices. This is a perfect time to grab your spouse, partner or even a group of friends and have a fun and memorable dining experience. A New Years dinner is also a perfect jumping off point for other fun activities such as going to a comedy club, symphony or even a New Years fireworks show.
Are You Looking for Fun and Sober Ways To Ring In The New Year?
The New Years holiday can be a stressful time for those who are in recovery. If you are sober and are looking for way to spice up your holiday season, Drug Treatment Center Finder features insightful blogs and article that will give you ideas to create lasting memories for yourself and those you love the most. Visit our website or call us toll-free today.