Traveling is a great way to see the world, broadening your horizons and exposing you to different cultures and ways of life. However, it can also present unique challenges to your sobriety, especially if you are new to sober living. To help ensure your next trip is a success, follow these tips.
Travel with a Sober Buddy
Like many other things, travel is much more fun with friends. In choosing your travel companion, go with someone who also embraces the sober lifestyle. This way, you won’t be tempted to drink when your friend wants to have a glass of wine with dinner.
If it’s a trip with family and only you are in recovery check in advance of local meetings for the area you’ll be in, even if you don’t go to the meeting have it ready in case you need to go. Most of the time it’s fun just to see how meetings are in different areas and a great way to meet people as well as learn about favorite local sightseeing places or tips on the best food and shopping places.
Plan Activities in Advance
Well before you arrive at your destination, take the time to do some research into the sights you want to see and activities you want to try. This way, you won’t waste time on your trip sitting around, trying to figure out what to do. When you are focusing on your sobriety, boredom can be your worst enemy. Talk to other people in recovery and ask what they did to have a plan ready. Have phone numbers of your support team or person you can call if you get up against it.
Take Time to Relax
Just because you want to avoid boredom doesn’t mean that you should pack your schedule so full that you have no time to relax. Look for a public park, beach or another area where you can just sit and take in the scenery. When you are sober, you’ll be better equipped to acknowledge the beauty in the world around you. Take a daily meditation ready or prayer book with you to use each day to help keep you grounded.
Fit in Some Exercise
Building healthy habits into your life is one of the best ways to combat addiction, so don’t let your health and fitness efforts fall by the wayside when you are traveling. This is also important if your addiction is food. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym each day but try to fit in at least a short workout each day. Do pushups in your hotel room or walk while sightseeing instead of taking the bus.
Bring Along Reminders of Your Sobriety
There’s a reason why they always give out milestone chips at 12-step meetings: they serve as reminders of how far you have come. Here at My 12 Step Store, we have everything you need to keep your sobriety at the forefront of your mind, even when you are traveling. Bring along the AA Big Book to reference during tough moments, bring a travel mug with the serenity payer on it, or keep a chip in your pocket to give you strength. Browse through our selection to find the perfect reminder to bring on your travels.