By Michelle Peterson
Contents
Sober Vacation Planning Advice for People in Addiction Recovery
Vacation can be a great way to promote recovery, but it can also add undue stress and temptation to your fight against addiction. This is why it’s important to plan your vacation carefully. In order to benefit from your holiday, you must take steps to reduce stress and avoid places where you’ll be tempted by substances. Here’s how to plan the perfect sober vacation so you can come home feeling rejuvenated and ready to face your new and improved life.
Consider Joining a Specialized Retreat
According to Positive Health, retreats offer a physical, psychological, and emotional withdrawal from the regular stresses of daily life. You’ll be able to find numerous retreats focused on addiction recovery and the promotion of sobriety, a great option if you’re travelling solo and looking for some company during your vacation. Also, retreats take the stress out of travel, as they focus on relaxation and stillness. You don’t have to move from place to place, deal with public transportation, or navigate a busy city. Many retreats focus on wellness, including practices in yoga, acupuncture, organic living, or weight loss. Although many retreats are situated in tranquil, remote locations, you can also find them on paradise-like beaches.
Get Together with Others in Recovery
Going on vacation alone can be tricky because you’ll encounter moments when you don’t have a lot to do. As Talkspace points out, idle time is a common enemy of the newly recovered addict. Try to get your family to join you on your vacation so you can keep busy. Importantly, talk to your travel companions and make sure they understand the importance of your sobriety by letting them know how they can support you.
If you can’t find people to come along, get together with others in your area who are also facing recovery and plan a getaway together. Think of others who could use a break as well, such as friends from your recovery program or addiction meetings.
Seek Out Budget-Friendly Options
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Eliminate Extra Stress Before Leaving
Another reason why vacations put stress on our finances is that we’re left paying for things back at home even though we aren’t using them. So, prepare your home before leaving to cut your costs a bit. Walk around your house and unplug all appliances, including your microwaves, computers, gaming consoles, and floor lamps. Don’t forget about your internet modem and wireless router. Even disconnecting the receiver on your garage door opener can help you save on power. Adjust your thermostats to an appropriate temperature so they use less power but still maintain an adequate environment for your plants, electronics, and plumbing systems.
Know How to Avoid Temptation
Importantly, be prepared for triggers and temptations while you’re on holiday. When you’re booking your sober vacation, avoid all-inclusive resorts where alcohol is free. If you’re heading for a city vacation, try not to book your accommodation near a bar. Set up activities for your evenings to keep you occupied, such as musicals or shows. Finally, be prepared for triggers, such as the stress of a delayed flight or family drama, with healthy coping mechanisms.
Despite what many people think, your travel life doesn’t have to end when you give up substances. In fact, travelling can be even more enjoyable when sober. Besides having more time on your hands, sober vacations force you to find alternative forms of entertainment, which pushes you to try new things and experience your vacation to its fullest!
Hope these points relating to Sober Vacation Planning Advice are helpful!
Michelle Peterson is based in Anaheim, California and has been in recovery for several years.
She started RecoveryPride.org to help eliminate the stigma placed on those who struggle with addiction.
The site emphasizes that the journey to sobriety should not be one of shame but of pride and offers stories, victories, and other information to give hope and help to those in recovery.
This is such an important topic and it’s something which I have always wanted to share with one particular friend. Glad you put everything in this post which is worth a share. I am definitely going to share this with my friend and their family.
This is such a powerful post Nicole, as you bring up a subject that’s sensitive for many. I don’t thankfully have issues with recovery, nor do I know anyone. However, I believe such wellness retreats are beneficial for all types of travellers, and I would definitely do one one day. Great tip on turning everything off before leaving. I left the tv on one time, luckily my mama came to my place to turn it off!
Thanks for sharing great tips for planning a sober vacation. Booking for retreats or Yoga destinations in hidden locations is perfect for relaxation. Unplugging all electrical gadgets before leaving house is also another great tip.
These are great tips, ones not many people share. I think going with a buddy that’s also in recovery is the best idea. It’s hard to avoid temptation when others around you are drinking! Thanks for sharing this post.
I am glad I stumbled upon this post and feel so happy that you have brought out these wonderful tips for people in addiction recovery. Having worked in the space of mental health, I am aware that recovery journey can be quite challenging and can lead to feelings of isolation! And the stress of relapse can be overwhelming too. Ideas on sober vacation planning are good to keep in mind for anyone on the addiction recovery path. I did hear about some Specialized Retreats in Thailand. You have highlighted an important point of knowing one’s trigger points. It’s important that the family and friends are also sensitive to the aspects of recovery to enable supportive inclusion , at home and on vacations.
A very interesting post and something I do practice partially. I am always on the lookout to book my next holiday as this helps us unwind and look forward to it overcoming work stress. Some great tips and making home cost friendly when you away by unplugging those electronic gadgets. Overindulgence yes we may all suffer from this so needs to be kept in control.
Travel is by itself such a stimulating and fulfilling experience that it would go a long way in aiding addiction recovery. Of course, it needs to be planned well so that undue accompanying stresses are eliminated. You have provided some really good pointers in this direction to enable those who are looking for these kinds of holidays to have a good and effective one.
My friends who have had such issues do try and find a vacation that suits the recovery process. And as you say, the process should not hinder their wanderlust. Great tips BTW. Will forward this to a friend. Thanks
I think a vacation is a great way to take a break and get away from everything, especially for people in recovery! I loved your idea of planning some recreational activities with your own recovery group.
Interesting post and some great tips for people recovering. when I travel, its like a license for me to overindulge, which certainly should be the case cause I travel so much! LOL. But yes, the best way to avoid temptation is to simply be in the right place.
I have a loved ones that would benefit from this. Sober living is difficult and these tips are excellent.
I think it’s amazing that you thought to do this post! It’s such an important post for something that is rarely talked about. This also helps for those who don’t drink at all. Love it!
Eliminating any extra stress before a vacation is really important. These can be bad triggers for people in recovery.
These are such great tips! I agree that people battling with addiction or ANYTHING deserves a vacation! Everyone does! I also love the tip of taking care of things beforehand. I feel like I always just want to drop everything and jump on the plane..but then regret it when I return!
Wow I totally agree that a person recovering can do it on a vacation and these tips will help them achieve addiction recovery
This was such an insightfully written piece. Great background knowledge and perspective. Thought-provoking and relevant for many. Thank you for sharing this post.
I never thought about the stress that may come from vacation planning if you’re recovering! So many vacations revolve around drinking!
Great advice! There is no reason a person battling addiction can not enjoy themselves on vacation. It simply requires a bit of extra planning and knowing your own limitations.