How To Survive The First 30 Days of Sobriety

So, you decided to participate in the trending Dry January this 2020 to kick off your best year ever. Or maybe you’ve stumbled upon this post in the future and you’ve decided to call off your relationship with alcohol once and for all. Either way, welcome to recovery, my friend!

Some of my hardest days of being sober were in the first 30 days of getting sober. But I’m so glad I started and haven’t looked back in years. 

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit and a whole 3 months to form a lifestyle. So while the first 30 days are crucial to setting the tone for your recovery, know that there’s a lot more to go. And that’s a good thing! A sober lifestyle is the most amazing choice I’ve ever made. 

The first thing you need to realize is that it’s not going to be easy. You’re going to fight battles that you’ve been avoiding for far too long and battling yourself about “needing” to get a drink. And that’s okay. I’ve been there in the throws of relapsing and starting over. Once you reach the 30-day mark it’s like a major milestone in your first of many milestones. 

Here’s 3 ways you can make it through your first 30 days of sobriety:

Ask Yourself Why

Try this exercise: get out your journal and try to think of as many reasons why you should stop drinking today. There’s no right or wrong answer. There’s never a right or wrong answer to journal about. You can check out my top 5 reasons why you should quit today if you’re curious! Once you’re more clear on why you want to stop drinking, you’ll be able to refer back to that for motivation through your first few weeks. 

Get Accountable

Finding an accountability partner in some shape or form is one of my top tips for staying sober. There’s the option to get a sober buddy, or a sponsor, or a sobriety coach to check in with you and help talk it out on a regular basis. There’s a long journey ahead, so don’t forget to find your someone and let them know you’re not drinking and to hold you accountable for what you said. 

Every month I host a Sober Vibes meeting for women of recovery and it’s totally free to sign up!

GET A NEW ROUTINE

If drinking every day is something you plan your day around, then we need to talk. Let’s talk about how to replace those habits. Let’s say your nightly routine consists of pouring yourself a glass of wine when you start cooking dinner and finishing that bottle is on your to-do list. We could use this as an opportunity to drink more water. You could even spruce it up a bit with fresh fruit or try some sparkling water. A healthy substitute is always the goal!
Another top tip is to invest in self-care and personal development. Use this time of sobriety to dig into something you’ve always been passionate or interest in, but never “had the time” to learn before. You’ll be surprised how much free time you’ll have to be alone with yourself when you’re no longer drinking. 

I have a daily routine around gratitude and make it a priority to give thanks first thing in the morning. Every weekend I have a meditation to check-in with myself and remember why my life is better without alcohol. 

If you’re clueless what to do your first 30 days of sobriety, check out this free calendar full of activities to help stay sober not boring!