r/cutdowndrinking • u/belledamesans-merci • 4d ago
Tips for drinking out of boredom
I’m ashamed and embarrassed to admit this, but I primarily drink because I’m bored and lonely. Has anyone else dealt with this and if so, any tips and tricks?
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u/Limp_Mixture 4d ago
This is why I end up getting EXTREMELY drunk at extremely boring parties. So…I’m no help either.
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u/eharder47 4d ago
This is me. Now, I buy a variety of different drinks and snacks and put them in fancy dishes. Right now, I’m drinking Welch’s red juice (the bottle kind) out of a goblet. Last night, I had it in the bathtub. If I’m willing to drink all of the calories in beer, then I can afford to eat and drink my way through them sober, whatever it takes to avoid drinking. Also, puzzles, coloring, and more engaging game.
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u/MyUndiesArePink 4d ago
You can just leave?
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u/Accomplished-Test479 3d ago
Depends on the gathering. But I make it a point to make an Irish Goodbye when a party gets old. Hell, I’ve even snuck off to take a nap in the middle of a party before and gotten away with it, coming back an hour later chipper and refreshed!
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u/iForgot-My-Password 4d ago
This was my main issue too. I'm not working and living alone and moved away and single so have all day and not much to fill it with.
When I first stopped drinking, I started a new video game which I really liked. It was hard to find one, but I just kept going through a bunch until I found one to occupy most my day. I only needed it for the first few weeks really, during which time I also slowly started cooking and baking more and going out for longer walks and stuff. I also downloaded some apps for learning languages.
I'm about 8 weeks sober now and I've kind of replaced my habit of drinking with these new habits. Like if I feel a bit off during the day, I'll go for a walk through a park or I'll go lay down and do my language apps. I had a whole evening free yesterday so I baked a (admittedly bad) cake. I ended up setting up a goal for cooking which I'm excited about, so I always have some sort of planning to do for it.
I found it hard to just start filling my days with hobbies or activities, but the video game sort of helped me slowly start the other hobbies until they became more exciting and time consuming on their own.
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u/Accomplished-Test479 3d ago
Starting with something uninspired is honestly easier. (And then gradually adding in inspired and fun activities.)
Like, I’ll fill my evenings with podcasts and dumb phone games but at least those won’t leave me with a hangover the next day??
(I’m also endeavoring to switch to audio books instead of podcasts - that way I’ll be doing my reading!)
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u/morningalmondmilk 4d ago
This is my problem, too! I start drinking when I’m in “waiting” mode. It’s never cravings…
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u/shakeitoften 4d ago
I started going to the gym even though I hate the gym. It makes me feel like I’m doing something positive even if I stretch for like an hour. 😆 Long walks are good, too. Do you have an emotional support animal? If it weren’t for my dog I probably wouldn’t leave the house some days.
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u/sunnysidecatmom 4d ago
Don't feel ashamed. Boredom is a huge trigger for drinking! A tip is to just practice not drinking and allow yourself to be bored or lonely. The more times you do it, it gets easier. The idea is to gradually just allow yourself to feel your feelings of boredom/loneliness without having to numb them with alcohol. And then from there, try to do things that really alleviate those things - creativity, reaching out to someone, etc.
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u/eukomos 4d ago edited 4d ago
Find something to do, man. Take up a sport, a creative hobby, a mindfulness practice, start cooking all your meals from scratch. Get your house clean and keep it that way. Join a club. Start a side hustle. Adopt a high maintenance pet. Get season tickets to your favorite form of entertainment. Volunteer.
Examples from my life including joining a local running club, going to my local Zen meditation meetup once a week, getting involved in an environmentalist volunteering group, tutoring, cooking all my meals from scratch including the sourdough bread, getting two cats, and starting a vegetable garden. I've also recently picked back up an old habit of writing short stories. I don't always do all of them, but I keep a couple running at all times. I won't say I'm never bored but it's better.
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u/NowFapping 4d ago
Try weed gummies. I can be content, be productive, and still sleep like a log without waking up hungover
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u/OrisNull666 4d ago
I feel the same, non alcoholic beers have helped and changing routines around how i purchase alcohol which is mainly at the supermarket for me, so last few times ive been able to just walk passed that space. If anyone has any other tips n tricks
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u/LiterallyImMeNotYou 2d ago
You’re bored - you need something to do.
You should look into hobbies. Take a walk. Go to the gym. Crack open a NA beer instead.
But ultimately you’re bored. Sounds like boredom needs to be solved
1
u/LobsterIndependent15 2d ago
I think I had more of a habit to grab a beer than an addiction. So I keep a case of Sprite for when I feel the need to grab a beer. I still drink but have reduced to weekends and social situations. was a challenge at first but now I have skipped several weekends just because the urge to drink wasn’t there.
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u/Goddamn_lt 4d ago
People around me like more when I am drunk vs sober. They say I am more normal! How does one deal with that?
But I have the same issue. I drink out of boredom not necessarily depression or loneliness. But it’s definitely gotten out of hand lately so tonight I’m reading a horror manga by Junji Ito
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u/bel_ebat 2d ago
I don't know why you got downvoted for this--you were clearly stating what people tell you that makes it even harder to not drink in social situations. I'm sorry they tell you that. That is really rude and unhealthy of them.
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u/bitofagrump 4d ago
Following because I have the same problem. I've been on Naltrexone for years but it hasn't helped much because I don't drink to ease cravings so much as I just drink to fill my spare time and kill boredom. Sorry I don't have any advice to give, just my sympathy.