Game Day doesn’t need to be a reason to consume alcohol. If you are new to recovery after an alcohol rehab program, the Super Bowl might be a strange time. What was once a reason to drink and party now has become something to fear - but fret not my friend. I can assure you it is just a sports game - nothing more. You can and will have fun watching this game without the need to drink. So, if you’re looking ahead to enjoying a little football this weekend break and NOT drinking, below’s exactly how to do that.
1. Make Sure You’re Psychologically Prepared.
This is the big deal: If you used to be one of those people who drank a LOT during the Super Bowl, well, this might be a difficult day for you. It’s important to recognize this and also make your peace with it. It’s additionally vital to acknowledge that you might not be prepared to do Super Bowl again. If this is your fist sober one, it will be a challenge. You could intend to avoid your old group but what if you don’t have enough sober friends to have a sober party? That is perfectly ok.
There are a couple of things you can do to get ready for the Super Bowl, emotionally: Make sure that you are genuinely ready for this beer-infested day regardless of what you are doing throughout the actual Super Bowl. Make certain that you have a good friend on speed dial you can go to when you feel your sobriety is at risk. See to it that at the end of the day, you deal with yourself, no matter what it takes. Do not go out if you don’t wish to. Do not let yourself be pressed, as well as certainly do not place yourself in triggering situations. Simply … enjoy the day! If it’s your thing, that is.
2. Host Your Very Own Sober Party.
If you simply aren’t comfortable going to hanging with your pre-sobriety buddies for the Super Bowl, do not feel that you need to. Whatever you used to do previously does not have to be the same thing you do now. One of the pleasures of sobriety is that you can alter the narrative and have your very own sober celebration instead.
Welcome your pals that don’t consume (or close friends that do not mind not drinking) and also like to have a grand ole time. Ensure to load up your house with tons of alcohol-free beverages as well as lots of food. Perk: Make it a potluck and have your good friends bring more food. Because, let’s face it, the Super Bowl is really just about the food … am I right?
3. Stock Up on Seltzers.
Nonetheless, if you ARE participating in an event where you know people will certainly be consuming alcohol, make sure you bring your very own alcohol-free drinks. If you choose this route, be sure that you are truly comfortable and sufficiently safe in your sobriety for it. If this is your first Superbowl in sobriety it might not be the best idea.
Sadly, a great deal of hosts still do not remember to give excellent non-alcoholic drinks for their event guests. That can be a drag however you do not need to delegate to drinking water all evening. That’s the genius of bringing your very own seltzer or something fancier, like ginger beer. Bear in mind: You’re in control of your sobriety AND of your beverages.
5. Put in the Time to Run Errands.
Last year, 100 million people viewed the Super Bowl. That’s a whopping amount of people… and also a great deal of people that are remaining at house or hanging around in a bar, not out and about. Do you have some big task that needs to be done? Now may just be an excellent time to do it! Sorry, the DMV is closed on Sundays… 🙁
One good friend of mine is a big fan of going to IKEA during the Super Bowl, because generally nobody is there. What a great idea, and who doesn’t love IKEA? One more choice is to visit the grocery store on that particular Sunday evening since that’s most likely the only Sunday night when the grocery store isn’t crawling with people either.
6. Watch as well as Review the Alcohol Commercials.
There IS something enjoyable that you can do throughout the Super Bowl – provided you’re comfortable enough in your sobriety to see these commercials … as well as critique them. You already know about the insane advertising and marketing of the alcohol business and there’s certainly going to be a great deal of that on screen throughout the Super Bowl.
Obviously, you need to be rather courageous and strong in your sobriety to take this route however - if you’re not then just dilly-don’t. But, if you approach it properly, it can actually be quite enjoyable. You can find the strength in your very own sobriety by acknowledging that not only do you no longer have to drink, but you also recognize how messed up Big Alcohol is. So, go all out. Enjoy the game and enjoy rolling your eyes each time those commercials come on. (The Clydesdales are overrated in my opinion anyways.)
7. Simply Watch It With Your Loved Ones.
Despite the fact that the Super Bowl is generally a time to view the big game with a bunch of your pals, that doesn’t have to be what you do. If you’re intimidated by a huge event and also do not truly feel like organizing your own, yet still wish to see the game, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with simply doing something solo or with your somebody special.
So, go ahead. Make some popcorn, buy your favored non-alcoholic beer, and cozy on in for a silent evening. Well, it won’t be all quiet, certainly, considering that you’ll be having a good time watching the game with your darling or your bestie. It’ll be a fun time and, hello, it does not need to stress you out if the huge group thing isn’t for you.
8. Eat ALL the Goods.
One of the best parts of the Super Bowl for me has been the food. I always remember making the most scrumptious guacamole of my whole life simply a couple of years ago, thanks to a secret ingredient. It’s a secret ingredient so I can’t tell you…sorry. Ok, it’s goat cheese! One way to see to it that you have the time of your life is to make sure that there is an excellent spread that night.
Some tips include consuming ALL of the Buffalo wings, of course. There’s always nachos as well as, personally, I’m a big fan of making a big plate of sheet pan nachos to give the group. They are always a big hit and also having a lot of sides enables people to personalize it to whatever they want. And, naturally, there are always Super Bowl Sundaes. What, you’ve never ever made an ice cream bar for the Super Bowl? Oh Baby, you’re missing out!
9. Do Something Else Instead.
Of course, the option to not partake the Super Bowl is always there. Maybe it’s due to the fact that you don’t even like football or maybe it’s becaue you know you might be triggered; regardless, that’s okay. Lots of individuals not do anything for the Super Bowl and also it’s not a big deal.
The important thing is to do something. Sitting at home by yourself can raise feelings of missing out - and that is not a good recipe. A couple of concepts of things you can do: Go trekking with your dog, go skiing because it’s the middle of winter, or just go cozy up with your friends at the motion pictures. This day doesn’t have to be a big deal if you do not let it be.
It’s absolutely alright if you don’t like the Super Bowl and want to avoid it like the CoronaVirus. It’s also okay if you miss the old interacting socially that you used to do throughout the Super Bowl, but you’re still trying to figure out the very best means to celebrate the Super Bowl sober. Follow our pointers or discover your own means to make the Super Bowl fun and interesting sober time. It’s absolutely possible to enjoy it without beer! As if you didn’t understand that already …
