If you have recently stopped drinking alcohol, and you are feeling bored, then you are about to learn the exact steps on how to overcome it.
Boredom, after stopping drinking, is not uncommon. There are countless numbers of people complaining about feeling bored, not knowing what to do with themselves.
If that’s you, I have good news for you.
Being bored after quitting drinking is easily overcome.
In this post, we’re going to uncover some truths about mindset, alcohol, and how to overcome boredom after quitting drinking.
The Mindset You Used To Stop Drinking
If you are suffering from boredom after getting sober, it can often come down to mindset.
Having the correct mindset when you stop drinking makes a huge difference.
If you start your journey feeling deprived, you’re much more likely to experience boredom.
That being said, if you are able to start your sober journey with a feeling of happiness, these challenges can be easily overcome.
Keeping a positive mindset can make all the difference.
Why Do People Think Alcohol Relieves Boredom?
People often say they drink alcohol to “relieve boredom”.
And then, when they stop drinking and feel bored, it can confirm their views.
“Surely if I’m bored without alcohol, then alcohol makes my life less boring” – they think to themselves.
Let’s explore this in more detail, by taking a look at alcohol’s marketing.
The Marketing Of Alcohol
Look at any alcohol advertisement.
Words like sophistication, confidence, and charisma come to mind.
If you believe these advertisements, alcohol can make you come across as a more interesting, fun, and exciting person.
But, is it true?
When I see a motorcycle marketed to embody adrenaline, adventure, and excitement, I believe it.
Why?
Because I’ve experienced riding a motorcycle and I know it’s true. I know the product does what the marketing says it will do.
I’m deliberately choosing to ride a motorcycle because it’s fun.
Similarly, if I see an advertisement for a new DSLR camera, and the advert shows creativity, exploration, and moments, I believe it!
If I buy those products and I use them, the marketing has served its purpose. I feel good about my buying decision and the product has added value to my life.
But when alcohol is marketed as this fantastic product that can enhance your life, that’s another story.
You’ll probably see a handsome man in a suit, or a sophisticated lady holding a glass and some clever words.
Which leads people to think:
If I buy this product, then I’m associating myself with those things.
Do you become more handsome? Or do you become more sophisticated and charming?
Would you say the drunk that has had 12 large measures of the fancy marketed “premium vodka” is behaving the same way as the marketing promised?
What about when he’s slurring his words? And he can’t stand up straight? And he goes home and hits his wife?
Apologies for the crude example, but I don’t ever see advertisements that show the real side of drinking.
(You could argue that the motorcycle advertisement also doesn’t show crashes. However, a motorcycle is not a drug. I was never tricked into riding. Riding a motorcycle is a hobby that does carry some risk, and I’m fully aware of those risks.)
The way alcohol is portrayed and the reality of its effects are miles away from each other.
If the marketing can convince you to have “just one”, they’ve already won.
Alcohol is a highly addictive drug that is so ingrained into our society that 90% of the adult population never even question it.
However, does it really relieve boredom?
Does Alcohol Really Relieve Boredom?
Alcohol, or ethanol, has no power to change your external circumstances.
It can not make people, events, or places more interesting.
Boredom, by definition, is:
the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest (Source)
The activity of drinking is not a fun, exciting, or interesting activity. It has no power whatsoever to relieve boredom. In fact, the action of drinking is quite boring.
Alcohol, or ethanol, is a mild anesthetic. Alcohol has been tested as a general anesthetic in the spinal cords of rats (Source).
It was found to have less of an effect that a general anesthetic, but alcohol still deadens the senses.
Drinking alcohol does not relieve boredom.
Try having a conversation with a drunk and you’ll know exactly what I mean.
When someone can barely string a sentence together, would you describe that person as having a good time?
What about when they start making up excuses for their drinking? Would you say this person is interesting, charming and exciting?
What about when they’re lying in their own vomit?
Alcohol does absolutely nothing to relieve boredom.
Free Video Training:
How To Use First Principles Thinking To Get Control Of Your Drinking
How To Stop Being Bored After Stopping Drinking
Apologies for the slight tangent, but it’s important to understand that drinking again will do absolutely nothing to relieve your boredom.
However, I’m not saying that when you stop drinking, all boredom will instantly be relieved.
Boredom is a part of life, but it can be easily overcome.
By following these 3 key steps, you can start living a great life without alcohol that doesn’t involve boredom.
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Set Some New Goals
The setting, working on and achieving goals is practiced by (almost) all successful people.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that I say stopping drinking isn’t just about stopping drinking.
To live a great quality sober life, you need to focus on building it.
For that reason, setting goals is a great way to start building that amazing, sober life.
Earl Nightingale, the famous author, and motivational speaker said:
“Happiness is the progression of a worthy ideal.”
See, this is the thing.
Most people set goals and think they will achieve happiness when they reach their goals.
Interestingly, this is not the case.
It’s working on your goals each day that brings happiness. It’s the ‘progression’ that brings joy.
And guess what happens when you’re working on something each day? You seldom get bored.
So, if you are feeling bored when you stop drinking, start by setting some small goals.
Here are the 6 steps to setting a goal:
- Decide what you want in an area. Be as detailed as possible. And the most important thing is to write it down, make it measurable, and make it specific.
- Set a deadline for the goal. If it’s a big goal, you may wish to break it down into smaller goals.
- Make a list of absolutely everything you will need to do to achieve that goal. Keep adding to your list over time.
- Organise your activities into priorities and steps. Priorities are the 20% of tasks that will provide 80% of the results for your business. Steps are the logical order you need to do things in.
- Find any obstacles that stand in your way between you and your goal. What is holding you back from achieving this goal? Focus on removing the BIGGEST factor that is holding you back. In my case, this was alcohol.
- Start the work in faith. Get the ball rolling and do the first thing that comes to mind.
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Writing A Schedule
One of the best ways to overcome boredom is to have a written schedule.
If you don’t already do this, this can be a life-changing habit.
If you have stopped drinking, and you leave your days up to chance, it can be detrimental. Boredom can strike, which is exactly what we don’t want.
However, if you are able to schedule your time, it can be a game-changer.
Through coaching others, I have found that making time for important activities is one of the big bottlenecks.
In other words, people complain about “having no time” or “not making time” for doing the things that matter to them.
When I ask them how they would find more time to do those important things, the answer is almost always the same.
They tell me they’d write a schedule.
If you are thinking about writing a schedule, one of the best ways to do it is in the evening. Write down all the things you have to do the next day, and write down the time for each activity.
If, for example, you know you get bored between 2-5 pm, then schedule an enjoyable activity to do during those times.
Photography, hiking, seeing a friend. Whatever suits you.
Here’s a picture of me in nature, with some rice farmers in Thailand!
Or, even better, pick an activity that helps push your goals forward.
Writing schedules has changed my life completely.
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Do Something Each Day To Build Your Sober Life
Momentum is a hidden superpower that nobody speaks about.
In physics, the law of inertia states that a body at rest stays in rest unless acted on by an outside force. It explains why it’s easy to lie on the couch watching a movie and not move.
However, if a fire alarm went off, you’d move quickly. That would be the outside force.
On the other side of the equation is the law of momentum. The law of momentum states that an object in motion tends to remain in motion unless acted on by an outside force.
Once you have gone through the initial push, the trick is to do at least one thing each day that will push your goal forward.
Keeping things in momentum is easy.
It may be difficult to start working on these goals, but once the ball is rolling, it becomes easier and easier.
There is nothing wrong with being bored after stopping drinking.
Over time, it will get easier.
TL;DR
The mindset you use to stop drinking is extremely important.
Alcohol is a fancy marketed poison. It does NOT do what the advertisements say it does.
It is impossible for alcohol to relieve boredom. It does nothing to change any external circumstances.
The best way to relieve boredom is:
- A: Set new goals for your life
- B: Move towards those goals by keeping a schedule.
- C: Keep things in motion. Gain momentum.
If you want to access my free video training on how to make stopping drinking effortless and enjoyable, click here.
Leon
