Laughter, they say, is the best medicine. There is no better way to experience an overwhelming sense of joy than sharing a light-hearted moment amongst the ones closest to you. Throwing a get-together can be the perfect stage for these good feelings to bring you comfort and serve as a reminder to you that you are valuable and loved. While these gatherings can be an opportunity for connection, they can also be incredibly stressful if we are newly recovering.
You may wonder who would be safe to invite, or perhaps if you’re even able to have fun without the use of substances? The great news is that plenty of sober people live life in the figurative sun by opening themselves up to new experiences. You can share in these uplifting experiences too. In your pursuit of fun, here are a few tips that will help keep you grounded while you step out of your comfort zone.
Keep Strong Boundaries
It can be a daunting task to guard your recovery, especially when you need to set boundaries. In active addiction, you may have allowed anyone into your home or life that probably wasn’t in your best interest. In recovery, you get to honor yourself by acknowledging your needs. Old friends and estranged family members who may not support your recovery should be loved from afar. You are allowed to uphold your boundaries without apology or explanation. If something or someone makes you feel uneasy or unsafe, you owe it to yourself and the hard-won life you’re building to protect every inch of your being- mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Stay Within Your Financial Limit
The truth is, a lot of us love the glowing feeling we get from a job well done. After all, we are only human. Sometimes though, we can overcompensate to reach a certain level of social acceptability. Luckily, there are a few practices you can try to keep your light-hearted gathering from setting you back financially.
Set a Budget
Take time to work out what you can realistically afford to make happen for your party. Ask yourself if you can make your bills on time while still hosting the event. Financial planning is an act of self-care; depleting your resources can put unnecessary stress on you and lead to a lapse in manageability, putting you in a destructive headspace.
Host a Potluck
If you plan to have food and non-alcoholic beverages at your event, you may consider asking your guests to bring something to the table. There are many ways to negotiate a potluck, so feel free to get creative!
Have Fun by Asking for Help
As tempting as it may be, try to keep your hands off of the proverbial steering wheel! You don’t have to do everything, so allow others to add their suggestions and ideas, too. Take the pressure off of yourself, and share it with your community of loved ones. When feeling rushed, remind yourself of the reasons you decided to come together in the first place, falling into the warmth of knowing that everything works out when you let it.
Having fun in recovery is not only possible, it is a necessary function in order to live a well-balanced life. Many people in recovery have significant feelings of inadequacy which they feel disqualifies them from forming relationships. At Alta Loma Transformational Services, our clinicians work with you to uncover any self-doubt you may be carrying in order to lift the social limitations you may be experiencing whether perceived or otherwise. For more information reach out to us at (866) 457-3843.
