Explore creative and engaging ways to celebrate National Sober Day with activities like outdoor adventures, sober picnics, mocktail parties, and more, proving that fun doesn't require alcohol.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
National Sober Day is an excellent opportunity to celebrate sobriety and show that fun doesn't need to involve alcohol. Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply choosing to enjoy an alcohol-free lifestyle, there are plenty of ways to make this day enjoyable and memorable. Here are some creative and engaging event ideas to help you celebrate National Sober Day in style.
One fantastic way to celebrate National Sober Day is by organizing an outdoor adventure. Whether it's hiking in a nearby nature reserve, going for a scenic bike ride, or planning a beach day, being in nature can be incredibly rejuvenating. Outdoor activities offer a great way to bond with friends and family while enjoying the beauty of the natural world.
A sober picnic is a delightful way to spend National Sober Day. Pack a basket with delicious snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and a cozy blanket. Choose a beautiful park or a serene lakeside spot to set up your picnic. You can include fun activities like frisbee, badminton, or board games to keep everyone entertained.
Host a mocktail party where guests can create and sample a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Set up a mocktail bar with an assortment of juices, sparkling water, fresh fruits, and herbs. Encourage guests to get creative and come up with their own signature mocktail recipes. This can be a fun and interactive way to enjoy delicious drinks without any alcohol.
Organize a game night with friends and family. Gather a collection of board games, card games, and party games that everyone can enjoy. Game nights are a fantastic way to have fun and engage in friendly competition without the need for alcohol. You can even include some fun prizes for the winners to make it more exciting.
Host a movie marathon featuring a selection of your favorite films or a series you've been wanting to watch. Create a cozy movie-watching environment with comfortable seating, popcorn, and other snacks. Choose a theme for your movie marathon, such as classic comedies, action-packed adventures, or heartwarming dramas, to keep everyone entertained.
Plan a creative workshop where participants can engage in artistic activities like painting, pottery, or crafting. Provide all the necessary materials and let everyone unleash their creativity. Artistic activities can be therapeutic and provide a sense of accomplishment. Plus, everyone gets to take home their unique creations as a memento of the day.
Organize a fitness challenge or a group workout session. Whether it's a yoga class, a dance workout, or a group run, physical activities are a great way to boost endorphins and promote a healthy lifestyle. You can also set up fitness stations with different exercises and encourage participants to complete them all for a fun and energetic experience.
Host a cooking class where participants can learn to prepare delicious and healthy dishes. Choose a cuisine or a theme for the class, such as Italian pasta making, sushi rolling, or vegan cooking. Cooking classes are a fantastic way to learn new skills, enjoy great food, and bond with others in a relaxed and alcohol-free environment.
Organize a scavenger hunt in your local area. Create a list of items or landmarks that participants need to find or photograph. You can make it more challenging by including riddles or clues that lead to each item. Scavenger hunts are exciting, interactive, and a great way to explore your surroundings while having fun.
Spend the day giving back to the community by organizing a group volunteer activity. Whether it's helping out at a local food bank, participating in a community clean-up, or volunteering at an animal shelter, giving back can be incredibly rewarding. It's a meaningful way to spend time with others and make a positive impact.
Host a dance party with great music, fun lighting, and a lively atmosphere. Create a playlist of upbeat songs that will get everyone moving. Dancing is a fantastic way to have fun, relieve stress, and enjoy the moment without the need for alcohol. Encourage everyone to let loose and have a blast on the dance floor.
If you and your friends enjoy reading, organize a book club meeting for National Sober Day. Choose a book that everyone will read ahead of time and then gather to discuss it. You can also include some fun activities related to the book, such as themed snacks or a trivia quiz. Book club meetings provide an excellent opportunity for meaningful conversations and connections.
National Sober Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate sobriety and show that you can have a great time without alcohol. Whether you choose to go on an outdoor adventure, host a mocktail party, or engage in creative activities, there are plenty of ways to make this day special and enjoyable. Embrace the joy of sobriety and have a fantastic National Sober Day!
National Sober Day is an excellent opportunity to celebrate sobriety and show that fun doesn't need to involve alcohol. Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply choosing to enjoy an alcohol-free lifestyle, there are plenty of ways to make this day enjoyable and memorable. Here are some creative and engaging event ideas to help you celebrate National Sober Day in style.
One fantastic way to celebrate National Sober Day is by organizing an outdoor adventure. Whether it's hiking in a nearby nature reserve, going for a scenic bike ride, or planning a beach day, being in nature can be incredibly rejuvenating. Outdoor activities offer a great way to bond with friends and family while enjoying the beauty of the natural world.
A sober picnic is a delightful way to spend National Sober Day. Pack a basket with delicious snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and a cozy blanket. Choose a beautiful park or a serene lakeside spot to set up your picnic. You can include fun activities like frisbee, badminton, or board games to keep everyone entertained.
Host a mocktail party where guests can create and sample a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Set up a mocktail bar with an assortment of juices, sparkling water, fresh fruits, and herbs. Encourage guests to get creative and come up with their own signature mocktail recipes. This can be a fun and interactive way to enjoy delicious drinks without any alcohol.
Organize a game night with friends and family. Gather a collection of board games, card games, and party games that everyone can enjoy. Game nights are a fantastic way to have fun and engage in friendly competition without the need for alcohol. You can even include some fun prizes for the winners to make it more exciting.
Host a movie marathon featuring a selection of your favorite films or a series you've been wanting to watch. Create a cozy movie-watching environment with comfortable seating, popcorn, and other snacks. Choose a theme for your movie marathon, such as classic comedies, action-packed adventures, or heartwarming dramas, to keep everyone entertained.
Plan a creative workshop where participants can engage in artistic activities like painting, pottery, or crafting. Provide all the necessary materials and let everyone unleash their creativity. Artistic activities can be therapeutic and provide a sense of accomplishment. Plus, everyone gets to take home their unique creations as a memento of the day.
Organize a fitness challenge or a group workout session. Whether it's a yoga class, a dance workout, or a group run, physical activities are a great way to boost endorphins and promote a healthy lifestyle. You can also set up fitness stations with different exercises and encourage participants to complete them all for a fun and energetic experience.
Host a cooking class where participants can learn to prepare delicious and healthy dishes. Choose a cuisine or a theme for the class, such as Italian pasta making, sushi rolling, or vegan cooking. Cooking classes are a fantastic way to learn new skills, enjoy great food, and bond with others in a relaxed and alcohol-free environment.
Organize a scavenger hunt in your local area. Create a list of items or landmarks that participants need to find or photograph. You can make it more challenging by including riddles or clues that lead to each item. Scavenger hunts are exciting, interactive, and a great way to explore your surroundings while having fun.
Spend the day giving back to the community by organizing a group volunteer activity. Whether it's helping out at a local food bank, participating in a community clean-up, or volunteering at an animal shelter, giving back can be incredibly rewarding. It's a meaningful way to spend time with others and make a positive impact.
Host a dance party with great music, fun lighting, and a lively atmosphere. Create a playlist of upbeat songs that will get everyone moving. Dancing is a fantastic way to have fun, relieve stress, and enjoy the moment without the need for alcohol. Encourage everyone to let loose and have a blast on the dance floor.
If you and your friends enjoy reading, organize a book club meeting for National Sober Day. Choose a book that everyone will read ahead of time and then gather to discuss it. You can also include some fun activities related to the book, such as themed snacks or a trivia quiz. Book club meetings provide an excellent opportunity for meaningful conversations and connections.
National Sober Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate sobriety and show that you can have a great time without alcohol. Whether you choose to go on an outdoor adventure, host a mocktail party, or engage in creative activities, there are plenty of ways to make this day special and enjoyable. Embrace the joy of sobriety and have a fantastic National Sober Day!
How long is an AA meeting? While most are kept to an hour, some might last for an hour and a half. Find out more in our latest blog and learn about alternative ways to spend that hour working toward your recovery.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
Most Alcohol Anonymous meetings last one hour, but some (especially speaker meetings) might last an hour and a half.
After a few too many nights that led to waking up on your friend’s couch, still wearing your shoes and regretting that last margarita, you decided to give alcohol the boot. You’ve heard of AA, your uncle has been going to meetings for decades and swears by them, and you decide to give it a try. You might have questions — maybe lots of them. Who will be there? Do I have to say I’m an alcoholic? And how long do AA meetings last? This last question might be nagging at you the most (How will I sit through it? What if it’s too long?) Let’s find out!
In short, AA meetings are the cornerstone of the AA program. And if you’re imagining a room with dozens of people, that’s not always the case. In fact, the very first AA meeting had a whopping two participants: the founder, Bill Wilson (a.k.a. Bill W.) and his friend “Dr. Bob.” According to AA literature, that’s all you need — at least two people sharing their “experience, strength, and hope” with others for a mutually beneficial effect (those who were able to ditch booze help others, and in doing so solidify their own sobriety). Symbiosis in action!
Meetings will vary in format. Speaker meetings (as the name suggests) feature a speaker sharing their story. Discussion meetings, on the other hand, involve members going around taking turns sharing. Finally, “Big Book,” “Twelve Step,” and “AA Reflections” meetings focus on specific AA texts as prompts for discussion.
However, the gist of all meetings is the same: it’s all about sharing and, most importantly, sharing stories of successful recovery. Most follow a similar format, which lends them a certain familiarity and comfort. Once you’ve been to a particular meeting, you know exactly what to expect. And once you’ve been to a few different ones, you pretty much know what to expect across the board.
The length of these meetings can vary, but there’s a general pattern most of them follow.
As we can see by leafing through an AA meeting pamphlet or finding it on the AA meetings website, the overwhelming majority of meetings last an hour. Why the one-hour standard? There are a few reasons behind it:
That said, there’s often an informal “meeting after the meeting” that gives members a chance to chat, exchange phone numbers, or grab a bite to eat. In fact, many are encouraged to do so, since the program itself is based on mutual support.
However, the one-hour time frame for official meetings isn’t true across the board, either. It all comes down to the type of meeting we’re talking about.
There’s another thing to keep in mind when it comes to meetings running longer than we might expect. A lot of times members of AA will take on “service positions” to help set up before the meeting, clean up afterwards, or meet to discuss practical matters of scheduling and making other arrangements. While AA is always free, it does depend on financial contributions from members to keep going, and these contributions need to be processed by somebody — usually the meeting “bookie” or secretary. And those cookies and coffee that are nearly ubiquitous in some meetings? Well, someone needs to get them from the grocery store, bring them over, and set them up.
So what goes on during that hour? For a deep dive, check out “What To Expect at an AA Meeting.” For now, here’s the gist:
Now that we have some idea of what to expect during that hour (or hour and a half), we can see for ourselves if it’s right for us or if a different (perhaps more science-based) approach might work better.
Sat through that hour-long meeting a few times but found it doesn’t jibe with you? No problem! AA is definitely not for everyone, and that’s okay! Check out “Best Alternatives to AA” for a deep dive, but for now, let’s get a general idea of what else is out there.
If AA isn’t right for you after all, no problem! These days, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from when it comes to changing your relationship with alcohol.
All in all, the crucial thing to remember is that you’ve taken the first step: you decided to change your relationship with alcohol. Congratulations! All the other pieces will fall into place, and we’re here to make the journey as easy, empowering, and enjoyable as possible!
Most Alcohol Anonymous meetings last one hour, but some (especially speaker meetings) might last an hour and a half.
After a few too many nights that led to waking up on your friend’s couch, still wearing your shoes and regretting that last margarita, you decided to give alcohol the boot. You’ve heard of AA, your uncle has been going to meetings for decades and swears by them, and you decide to give it a try. You might have questions — maybe lots of them. Who will be there? Do I have to say I’m an alcoholic? And how long do AA meetings last? This last question might be nagging at you the most (How will I sit through it? What if it’s too long?) Let’s find out!
In short, AA meetings are the cornerstone of the AA program. And if you’re imagining a room with dozens of people, that’s not always the case. In fact, the very first AA meeting had a whopping two participants: the founder, Bill Wilson (a.k.a. Bill W.) and his friend “Dr. Bob.” According to AA literature, that’s all you need — at least two people sharing their “experience, strength, and hope” with others for a mutually beneficial effect (those who were able to ditch booze help others, and in doing so solidify their own sobriety). Symbiosis in action!
Meetings will vary in format. Speaker meetings (as the name suggests) feature a speaker sharing their story. Discussion meetings, on the other hand, involve members going around taking turns sharing. Finally, “Big Book,” “Twelve Step,” and “AA Reflections” meetings focus on specific AA texts as prompts for discussion.
However, the gist of all meetings is the same: it’s all about sharing and, most importantly, sharing stories of successful recovery. Most follow a similar format, which lends them a certain familiarity and comfort. Once you’ve been to a particular meeting, you know exactly what to expect. And once you’ve been to a few different ones, you pretty much know what to expect across the board.
The length of these meetings can vary, but there’s a general pattern most of them follow.
As we can see by leafing through an AA meeting pamphlet or finding it on the AA meetings website, the overwhelming majority of meetings last an hour. Why the one-hour standard? There are a few reasons behind it:
That said, there’s often an informal “meeting after the meeting” that gives members a chance to chat, exchange phone numbers, or grab a bite to eat. In fact, many are encouraged to do so, since the program itself is based on mutual support.
However, the one-hour time frame for official meetings isn’t true across the board, either. It all comes down to the type of meeting we’re talking about.
There’s another thing to keep in mind when it comes to meetings running longer than we might expect. A lot of times members of AA will take on “service positions” to help set up before the meeting, clean up afterwards, or meet to discuss practical matters of scheduling and making other arrangements. While AA is always free, it does depend on financial contributions from members to keep going, and these contributions need to be processed by somebody — usually the meeting “bookie” or secretary. And those cookies and coffee that are nearly ubiquitous in some meetings? Well, someone needs to get them from the grocery store, bring them over, and set them up.
So what goes on during that hour? For a deep dive, check out “What To Expect at an AA Meeting.” For now, here’s the gist:
Now that we have some idea of what to expect during that hour (or hour and a half), we can see for ourselves if it’s right for us or if a different (perhaps more science-based) approach might work better.
Sat through that hour-long meeting a few times but found it doesn’t jibe with you? No problem! AA is definitely not for everyone, and that’s okay! Check out “Best Alternatives to AA” for a deep dive, but for now, let’s get a general idea of what else is out there.
If AA isn’t right for you after all, no problem! These days, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from when it comes to changing your relationship with alcohol.
All in all, the crucial thing to remember is that you’ve taken the first step: you decided to change your relationship with alcohol. Congratulations! All the other pieces will fall into place, and we’re here to make the journey as easy, empowering, and enjoyable as possible!
Wondering what the AA Daily Reflections book is all about? Learn about this practice — as well as some non-AA alternatives to passage meditation — in our latest blog.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
AA Daily Reflections is a book of annotated passages taken from The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous). The passages are organized by date, with one “reflection” for each day of the year. The reflections provide insights, inspiration, and encouragement to help those in recovery stay on track and gain a deeper understanding of their relationship with alcohol.
Imagine this: You’re sitting on a bus, and the woman next to you is holding two books. The first has that blue and yellow telltale cover that you recognize as The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous), or simply The Big Book. She must be on her way to an AA meeting — you’ve dabbled in it in the past, and while you decided it wasn’t for you after a few meetings, you recognize the cover from across the room.
But what’s that other tiny one? It says “Daily Reflections” on the cover. Are the two related? Or will she just sneak an extra something to the meeting in case things get boring? Nope! (Well, at least that’s not the primary reason.) AA Daily Reflections is part of the program. This small book contains a quote from The Big Book for each day of the year, with an “AA reflection of the day” for each one. But how exactly do they fit into the AA program? And how can we make the practice of reflecting daily on inspiring passages part of our own journey, even if it doesn’t involve AA? Let’s dig into the details!
The roots of AA go back to the 1930s, when a certain stockbroker named Bill Wilson (thereafter known as Bill W.) found himself in a nearly hopeless situation — he couldn’t stop drinking. Even his doctors had well-nigh given up trying to save him, but then — lo and behold — Bill saved himself. After having what he called a “spiritual awakening,” he experienced what’s sometimes called spontaneous sobriety — and started Alcoholics Anonymous. The self-help group he launched relies on members who struggle with alcohol use helping each other in a way nobody else ever could (at least according to them).
Since the AA reflections are based directly on The Big Book, it’s worth looking into before we explore what daily reflections, AA-style, are all about.
The Big Book serves as an AA manual, spiritual text, autobiography, and story collection all in one. The idea came after Bill W. met Dr. Bob, a fellow with a similar recovery story who played an instrumental role in starting AA. Written in 1938 and published a year later, it has served as the “AA basic” text for generations. The second edition alone ran to 1,150,000 copies, and for the past two decades it has also been available online. Apparently, U.S. President Richard Nixon was presented with the millionth copy, while the 30-millionth was given to the American Medical Association in 2010, honoring it for defining alcoholism as an illness back in 1956.
Living up to its name, the book is over 400 pages long. It begins with “Bill W.’s Story” and “Dr. Bob’s Nightmare.” This intense start is followed by the personal stories of others who recovered as well as detailed advice about “the solution.” The 12 Steps, which are at the core of AA’s recovery program, appear frequently.
The whole thing is a somewhat odd mix of helpful advice and problematic claims regarding science (there isn’t much), sexism, spirituality (which feels more like religion), and stilted language.
That said, there’s an encouraging message in there, if we’re willing to dig for it. And that’s where the AA Daily Reflections book comes in.
As poet Robert Burns writes, “I pick my favorite quotations and store them in my mind as ready armor, offensive or defensive, amid the struggle of this turbulent existence.” (That’s right, it’s a quote about quotes — we couldn’t resist.)
When it comes to alcohol misuse and recovery from it, it can be useful to muse on quotations and stories by those who came before us. That’s what the AA Daily Reflections book is all about. As we already mentioned, the “small book” of reflections contains a short quote from The Big Book, followed by a couple of paragraphs of explanation. Each one is referred to as the “AA reflection of the day.”
They’re meant to be read anywhere (it helps that the book is just slightly bigger than an iPhone), but are often read in meetings to spark a discussion as people around the room give their take on the passage. Here’s the purpose behind them:
Curious to see examples? Let’s look at some, but be forewarned — the interpretations, the way they’re phrased in the official version of the Daily Reflections, lean pretty heavily on the religious (rather than purely spiritual) side) That said, there’s nothing like looking at the real thing to get a better idea of what they’re all about.
Here are some examples of AA daily reflections, followed by a “translation” in non-AA language:
June 1: AA reflection of the day: “A Changed Outlook”
June 19: AA reflection of the day: AA Regeneration
P.S.: John Barleycorn is Scottish slang for booze. The name appears in a 1970 “John Barleycorn Must Die” album by the band Traffic, long before the Dixie Chicks would sing “Earl Has To Die.” (Incidentally, the latter is about an abusive partner, just like alcohol can be for some.)
As we can see, the AA Daily Reflections book serves as an annotation manual and practical tool. That said, you’ve probably noticed that the language of these annotations is still very AA-heavy (and, as such, is not for everyone). But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater — it’s worth looking at daily reflections from a scientific point of view and then see how others have incorporated the practice into their lives sans AA.
And while we can take AA, The Big Book (as well as Bill himself), and even the official AA Daily Reflections with a grain of salt, there’s power in daily reflection in general. Here’s why:
Now that we know the benefits, how can we add a daily reflection to our day if AA or The Big Book isn’t our cup of tea? There are plenty of ways to do so!
Many meditative practices around the world use “passage meditation” — reflecting on an inspiring bit of text, quote, or even poetry or song lyrics — as part of the process of self-discovery. One prominent figure who comes to mind is Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999) — a prolific spiritual author who published over 40 books and is credited as the “originator of passage meditation.”
You wouldn’t know it unless he told you, but Easwaran started out, well, like a hot mess. Back in the day, he struggled with emotional problems and felt that the life he was leading wasn’t quite what he signed up for. So Easwaran switched gears, moved “from education for degrees to education for living.” He went on to give many talks on meditation and, in 1961, founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation.
At the heart of his program is the so-called “Passage Meditation.” He first got a glimpse of how helpful meditating on a certain passage can be after a particularly dark time in his early life. He writes, “Almost instinctively … I went to my room and picked up my [Bhagavad] Gita, most of which I knew by heart. I closed my eyes, and as I began to repeat the verses silently to myself, the words opened up and took me deep, deep in.”
Easwaran went on to expand his meditation repertoire, adding passages from a number of different spiritual traditions — texts by Catholic mystics, Buddhist scripture, Sufi poetry, and more. He writes, “The passages were lifelines, guiding me to the source of wisdom deep within and then guiding me back into daily life.”
There are many, but the Prayer of Saint Francis is one of his favorites:
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.”
And here’s one from The Dhammapada known as the “Twin Verses”:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: we are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfish thoughts cause misery when they speak or act. Sorrows roll over them as the wheels of a cart roll over the tracks of the bullock that draws it.
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: we are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy whenever they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.”
Interestingly, both passages are very much in line with modern science, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The message is very “CBT”: it’s about dealing with cognitive distortions to get “unstuck” from unhelpful thought patterns, CBT-style. Just as cognitive behavioral therapy helps us see life from a different perspective, these passages are all about mental shifts and cognitive restructuring!
How can you tap into the power of daily reflection without AA?
Looking for quotes to add to your practice? Check out “Recovery Quotes: Words To Inspire Your Journey.” Then, dive into the inspiring quotes you’ll receive daily from our app when you sign up!
All in all, reflecting on the words of others tends to lead back to us — specifically, to that deep place within ourselves where authenticity and true intentions thrive. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.” As “quotes” ourselves, it’s no wonder that words by others resonate so deeply within us.
AA Daily Reflections is a book of annotated passages taken from The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous). The passages are organized by date, with one “reflection” for each day of the year. The reflections provide insights, inspiration, and encouragement to help those in recovery stay on track and gain a deeper understanding of their relationship with alcohol.
Imagine this: You’re sitting on a bus, and the woman next to you is holding two books. The first has that blue and yellow telltale cover that you recognize as The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous), or simply The Big Book. She must be on her way to an AA meeting — you’ve dabbled in it in the past, and while you decided it wasn’t for you after a few meetings, you recognize the cover from across the room.
But what’s that other tiny one? It says “Daily Reflections” on the cover. Are the two related? Or will she just sneak an extra something to the meeting in case things get boring? Nope! (Well, at least that’s not the primary reason.) AA Daily Reflections is part of the program. This small book contains a quote from The Big Book for each day of the year, with an “AA reflection of the day” for each one. But how exactly do they fit into the AA program? And how can we make the practice of reflecting daily on inspiring passages part of our own journey, even if it doesn’t involve AA? Let’s dig into the details!
The roots of AA go back to the 1930s, when a certain stockbroker named Bill Wilson (thereafter known as Bill W.) found himself in a nearly hopeless situation — he couldn’t stop drinking. Even his doctors had well-nigh given up trying to save him, but then — lo and behold — Bill saved himself. After having what he called a “spiritual awakening,” he experienced what’s sometimes called spontaneous sobriety — and started Alcoholics Anonymous. The self-help group he launched relies on members who struggle with alcohol use helping each other in a way nobody else ever could (at least according to them).
Since the AA reflections are based directly on The Big Book, it’s worth looking into before we explore what daily reflections, AA-style, are all about.
The Big Book serves as an AA manual, spiritual text, autobiography, and story collection all in one. The idea came after Bill W. met Dr. Bob, a fellow with a similar recovery story who played an instrumental role in starting AA. Written in 1938 and published a year later, it has served as the “AA basic” text for generations. The second edition alone ran to 1,150,000 copies, and for the past two decades it has also been available online. Apparently, U.S. President Richard Nixon was presented with the millionth copy, while the 30-millionth was given to the American Medical Association in 2010, honoring it for defining alcoholism as an illness back in 1956.
Living up to its name, the book is over 400 pages long. It begins with “Bill W.’s Story” and “Dr. Bob’s Nightmare.” This intense start is followed by the personal stories of others who recovered as well as detailed advice about “the solution.” The 12 Steps, which are at the core of AA’s recovery program, appear frequently.
The whole thing is a somewhat odd mix of helpful advice and problematic claims regarding science (there isn’t much), sexism, spirituality (which feels more like religion), and stilted language.
That said, there’s an encouraging message in there, if we’re willing to dig for it. And that’s where the AA Daily Reflections book comes in.
As poet Robert Burns writes, “I pick my favorite quotations and store them in my mind as ready armor, offensive or defensive, amid the struggle of this turbulent existence.” (That’s right, it’s a quote about quotes — we couldn’t resist.)
When it comes to alcohol misuse and recovery from it, it can be useful to muse on quotations and stories by those who came before us. That’s what the AA Daily Reflections book is all about. As we already mentioned, the “small book” of reflections contains a short quote from The Big Book, followed by a couple of paragraphs of explanation. Each one is referred to as the “AA reflection of the day.”
They’re meant to be read anywhere (it helps that the book is just slightly bigger than an iPhone), but are often read in meetings to spark a discussion as people around the room give their take on the passage. Here’s the purpose behind them:
Curious to see examples? Let’s look at some, but be forewarned — the interpretations, the way they’re phrased in the official version of the Daily Reflections, lean pretty heavily on the religious (rather than purely spiritual) side) That said, there’s nothing like looking at the real thing to get a better idea of what they’re all about.
Here are some examples of AA daily reflections, followed by a “translation” in non-AA language:
June 1: AA reflection of the day: “A Changed Outlook”
June 19: AA reflection of the day: AA Regeneration
P.S.: John Barleycorn is Scottish slang for booze. The name appears in a 1970 “John Barleycorn Must Die” album by the band Traffic, long before the Dixie Chicks would sing “Earl Has To Die.” (Incidentally, the latter is about an abusive partner, just like alcohol can be for some.)
As we can see, the AA Daily Reflections book serves as an annotation manual and practical tool. That said, you’ve probably noticed that the language of these annotations is still very AA-heavy (and, as such, is not for everyone). But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater — it’s worth looking at daily reflections from a scientific point of view and then see how others have incorporated the practice into their lives sans AA.
And while we can take AA, The Big Book (as well as Bill himself), and even the official AA Daily Reflections with a grain of salt, there’s power in daily reflection in general. Here’s why:
Now that we know the benefits, how can we add a daily reflection to our day if AA or The Big Book isn’t our cup of tea? There are plenty of ways to do so!
Many meditative practices around the world use “passage meditation” — reflecting on an inspiring bit of text, quote, or even poetry or song lyrics — as part of the process of self-discovery. One prominent figure who comes to mind is Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999) — a prolific spiritual author who published over 40 books and is credited as the “originator of passage meditation.”
You wouldn’t know it unless he told you, but Easwaran started out, well, like a hot mess. Back in the day, he struggled with emotional problems and felt that the life he was leading wasn’t quite what he signed up for. So Easwaran switched gears, moved “from education for degrees to education for living.” He went on to give many talks on meditation and, in 1961, founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation.
At the heart of his program is the so-called “Passage Meditation.” He first got a glimpse of how helpful meditating on a certain passage can be after a particularly dark time in his early life. He writes, “Almost instinctively … I went to my room and picked up my [Bhagavad] Gita, most of which I knew by heart. I closed my eyes, and as I began to repeat the verses silently to myself, the words opened up and took me deep, deep in.”
Easwaran went on to expand his meditation repertoire, adding passages from a number of different spiritual traditions — texts by Catholic mystics, Buddhist scripture, Sufi poetry, and more. He writes, “The passages were lifelines, guiding me to the source of wisdom deep within and then guiding me back into daily life.”
There are many, but the Prayer of Saint Francis is one of his favorites:
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.”
And here’s one from The Dhammapada known as the “Twin Verses”:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: we are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfish thoughts cause misery when they speak or act. Sorrows roll over them as the wheels of a cart roll over the tracks of the bullock that draws it.
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: we are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy whenever they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.”
Interestingly, both passages are very much in line with modern science, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The message is very “CBT”: it’s about dealing with cognitive distortions to get “unstuck” from unhelpful thought patterns, CBT-style. Just as cognitive behavioral therapy helps us see life from a different perspective, these passages are all about mental shifts and cognitive restructuring!
How can you tap into the power of daily reflection without AA?
Looking for quotes to add to your practice? Check out “Recovery Quotes: Words To Inspire Your Journey.” Then, dive into the inspiring quotes you’ll receive daily from our app when you sign up!
All in all, reflecting on the words of others tends to lead back to us — specifically, to that deep place within ourselves where authenticity and true intentions thrive. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.” As “quotes” ourselves, it’s no wonder that words by others resonate so deeply within us.
Unfortunately, “sober shaming” happens all too often these days. When we choose to cut back on drinking, some people in our lives may not be supportive. Learn why!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
Have you ever taken a break from drinking or completed a Dry January challenge only to discover that some people in your life are strangely unsupportive of your effort? Instead of applauding you for making positive changes in your life, you might have been criticized, alienated, or even ridiculed for not drinking. Or even worse, you might have been left out of social gatherings or talked about behind your back for your choice to stay sober.
Let us be the first to say we’re so sorry if you’ve ever experienced this! This phenomenon is called “sober shaming,” and it’s fairly common. Sadly, you may have been on the receiving end of sober shaming without realizing it was even a thing. In this blog, we’ll define “sober shaming,” explain why it happens, and offer helpful strategies for how we can stop it before it starts.
These days, “shaming” is a word we hear far too often in a variety of contexts. Shaming is defined as criticizing, judging, or making fun of someone based on their appearance, actions, or beliefs.
Sobriety or choosing not to drink alcohol is no exception. Sober shaming happens when someone makes us feel uncomfortable for our personal choice to drink less or stay sober. They may make us feel like our decision to not drink is wrong, boring, or even offensive.
Choosing to not drink alcohol — whether for an evening, a month, or permanently — is a personal decision we can make freely. When people shame us for making the choice to quit or cut back on drinking, we may start to second-guess ourselves. When we sober shame others, we contribute to a culture where drinking is the default accepted way of being, not a personal choice.
Many of us have probably brushed off a friend’s “joking” comment that was actually a way of shaming. It was probably even unintentional on their part! Nevertheless, shaming can creep into our psyche in sly ways that might not be easy to identify at first. Once we’re able to pinpoint some common shaming behaviors or phrases, it becomes easier to prevent and diffuse them.
Here are some common, all-too-familiar sober shaming phrases:
Do any of these comments sound familiar? It’s no fun to be on the receiving end of this kind of pressure or witness it happening to others. The good news is now that you’re aware of what sober shaming looks like, you can help prevent it from happening — and overcome it when it does.
Sober shaming is rarely an overt attempt to do harm — often, it’s a projection of much deeper and more complex issues. A recent public health survey determined that 41% of Americans are actively trying to drink less, including 50% of millennials and 61% of Gen Z.
Those shifting attitudes toward sobriety reflect the changing tides of social attitudes toward sobriety, but there is still plenty of pressure out there. A 2019 survey of drinkers in the UK found that 30% drank when they didn’t want to as a result of peer pressure to drink. So, why do others react so strongly about our decision to quit or cut back on drinking? Sober shaming can happen for a variety of reasons. News flash: It’s usually not about the sober person.
Here are some reasons why someone may sober shame:
Our social network is a crucial part of our recovery journey. When we cultivate an environment that affirms our choice to stop drinking, we feel empowered and encouraged to stay committed to ourselves. This can look like joining a support group, identifying sober friends, or checking in with a 24/7 community like the Forum on the Reframe app.
If we decide to keep a relationship with a sober-shaming friend or family member, it’s important to balance it by interacting constructively with sobriety-supportive people in a safe environment.
If we’re in a situation where we feel like we’re being shamed, there are some helpful strategies that can stop the negativity in its tracks.
We hope it never escalates to this point, but if you ever feel threatened or are in physical danger from someone’s negative behavior toward you, seek emergency help or try to leave the situation and find safety ASAP.
What if you see others doing some sober shaming? Is there any way to help sober friends when they’re being shamed? Each situation is different, but there are some subtle ways to step in without stepping on anyone’s toes.
Sobriety thrives in supportive environments. Just remember: you’re not there to fight anyone’s battles, but you can definitely hand them a shield! And most importantly, by getting better at identifying others’ sober-shaming behaviors, you can make sure you don’t do it to others subconsciously.
So now that we’re aware that sober shaming exists, how can we be sure we don’t contribute to it and accidentally shame someone? Here are some helpful tips for overcoming — and stopping — sober shaming.
With these practices in mind, we hope you feel equipped to stop sober shaming and, instead, provide encouragement to those around you who are making positive changes in their lives (yes, you too!).
When we support our friends, family members, and colleagues who choose not to drink, we show them they are valuable to us exactly as they are, and we champion their choice to make their lives better. If we catch ourselves having a negative or uncomfortable reaction to a friend or family member’s choice to not drink alcohol, it might be time for us to look at our own relationship with alcohol and maybe make some changes.
In closing, we’re bummed that sober shaming is a reality, but we’re glad to be raising awareness that it exists so we can be sure it doesn’t keep happening. Wherever you are on your journey, we’re here to support you at every step! Now, let’s go out there and stop sober shaming together.
Have you ever taken a break from drinking or completed a Dry January challenge only to discover that some people in your life are strangely unsupportive of your effort? Instead of applauding you for making positive changes in your life, you might have been criticized, alienated, or even ridiculed for not drinking. Or even worse, you might have been left out of social gatherings or talked about behind your back for your choice to stay sober.
Let us be the first to say we’re so sorry if you’ve ever experienced this! This phenomenon is called “sober shaming,” and it’s fairly common. Sadly, you may have been on the receiving end of sober shaming without realizing it was even a thing. In this blog, we’ll define “sober shaming,” explain why it happens, and offer helpful strategies for how we can stop it before it starts.
These days, “shaming” is a word we hear far too often in a variety of contexts. Shaming is defined as criticizing, judging, or making fun of someone based on their appearance, actions, or beliefs.
Sobriety or choosing not to drink alcohol is no exception. Sober shaming happens when someone makes us feel uncomfortable for our personal choice to drink less or stay sober. They may make us feel like our decision to not drink is wrong, boring, or even offensive.
Choosing to not drink alcohol — whether for an evening, a month, or permanently — is a personal decision we can make freely. When people shame us for making the choice to quit or cut back on drinking, we may start to second-guess ourselves. When we sober shame others, we contribute to a culture where drinking is the default accepted way of being, not a personal choice.
Many of us have probably brushed off a friend’s “joking” comment that was actually a way of shaming. It was probably even unintentional on their part! Nevertheless, shaming can creep into our psyche in sly ways that might not be easy to identify at first. Once we’re able to pinpoint some common shaming behaviors or phrases, it becomes easier to prevent and diffuse them.
Here are some common, all-too-familiar sober shaming phrases:
Do any of these comments sound familiar? It’s no fun to be on the receiving end of this kind of pressure or witness it happening to others. The good news is now that you’re aware of what sober shaming looks like, you can help prevent it from happening — and overcome it when it does.
Sober shaming is rarely an overt attempt to do harm — often, it’s a projection of much deeper and more complex issues. A recent public health survey determined that 41% of Americans are actively trying to drink less, including 50% of millennials and 61% of Gen Z.
Those shifting attitudes toward sobriety reflect the changing tides of social attitudes toward sobriety, but there is still plenty of pressure out there. A 2019 survey of drinkers in the UK found that 30% drank when they didn’t want to as a result of peer pressure to drink. So, why do others react so strongly about our decision to quit or cut back on drinking? Sober shaming can happen for a variety of reasons. News flash: It’s usually not about the sober person.
Here are some reasons why someone may sober shame:
Our social network is a crucial part of our recovery journey. When we cultivate an environment that affirms our choice to stop drinking, we feel empowered and encouraged to stay committed to ourselves. This can look like joining a support group, identifying sober friends, or checking in with a 24/7 community like the Forum on the Reframe app.
If we decide to keep a relationship with a sober-shaming friend or family member, it’s important to balance it by interacting constructively with sobriety-supportive people in a safe environment.
If we’re in a situation where we feel like we’re being shamed, there are some helpful strategies that can stop the negativity in its tracks.
We hope it never escalates to this point, but if you ever feel threatened or are in physical danger from someone’s negative behavior toward you, seek emergency help or try to leave the situation and find safety ASAP.
What if you see others doing some sober shaming? Is there any way to help sober friends when they’re being shamed? Each situation is different, but there are some subtle ways to step in without stepping on anyone’s toes.
Sobriety thrives in supportive environments. Just remember: you’re not there to fight anyone’s battles, but you can definitely hand them a shield! And most importantly, by getting better at identifying others’ sober-shaming behaviors, you can make sure you don’t do it to others subconsciously.
So now that we’re aware that sober shaming exists, how can we be sure we don’t contribute to it and accidentally shame someone? Here are some helpful tips for overcoming — and stopping — sober shaming.
With these practices in mind, we hope you feel equipped to stop sober shaming and, instead, provide encouragement to those around you who are making positive changes in their lives (yes, you too!).
When we support our friends, family members, and colleagues who choose not to drink, we show them they are valuable to us exactly as they are, and we champion their choice to make their lives better. If we catch ourselves having a negative or uncomfortable reaction to a friend or family member’s choice to not drink alcohol, it might be time for us to look at our own relationship with alcohol and maybe make some changes.
In closing, we’re bummed that sober shaming is a reality, but we’re glad to be raising awareness that it exists so we can be sure it doesn’t keep happening. Wherever you are on your journey, we’re here to support you at every step! Now, let’s go out there and stop sober shaming together.
Recovery from alcohol addiction may require a personalized approach. Check out our latest blog for more info on passive and active recovery to decide which one works best for you.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
Active recovery from alcohol addiction means taking responsibility for our actions and making continual efforts towards quitting or cutting back on alcohol. On the other hand, passive recovery means taking the steps to quit or cut back but waiting for external factors to facilitate change. Although there’s no right or wrong way to recover, an active approach has been shown to be more beneficial.
There’s a memorable episode of How I Met Your Mother when Barney Stinson faces a moment of reckoning. He tries to cut back on his wild drinking habits passively, relying on his friends and hoping the change will come naturally. But it’s not until he actively takes charge that he begins to see real improvement.
This scene illustrates a crucial aspect of recovery from alcohol addiction: the difference between passive and active recovery. Passive recovery is similar to going through the motions without full commitment, while active recovery involves taking intentional steps toward a better relationship with alcohol. Let’s further explore these two recovery paths to help guide us on our journey toward a healthier, alcohol-free life.
The official definition of recovery from addiction, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), is “the process through which an individual pursues both remission from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and cessation from heavy drinking.” In short, it means no longer meeting the criteria for AUD (excluding cravings) and not participating in excessive drinking. Excessive drinking refers to more than 15 standard drinks per week or 5 drinks in a day for men and 8 drinks per week or 4 drinks in a day for women.
While this is the official definition of recovering from AUD, sobriety is a spectrum and can encompass the entirety of our efforts to quit or cut back on alcohol. It can be anything from becoming “sober curious” and questioning our drinking habits to full abstinence.
In general, recovery is broken up into four stages: abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth (For more information on these stages, check out our blog “How To Stay Sober After Recovering From Alcoholism.”) These stages summarize common experiences that those of us quitting or cutting back on alcohol experience. However, no two journeys will look exactly the same. Along with different experiences, there are also two main approaches to recovery. Let’s explore the first path: passive recovery.
Passive recovery is just what it sounds like. It can include doing all the “recovery things” such as avoiding alcohol, attending a rehab program, sitting in counseling sessions, and attending support groups. However, we may not yet accept full responsibility for our actions and decisions; instead, we’re waiting for external factors to facilitate change rather than ourselves. It’s similar to “going through the motions” of recovery.
In passive recovery, there’s usually a disconnect between our actions and our mindset. Let’s use religion as an example. Say we’re looking to strengthen our Christian faith and develop a stronger relationship with God. A passive approach to this can mean attending church and Bible study every week and waiting for the change to happen. However, we may not be actively participating in discussions or fully believe that we can become closer to God. While change can still happen, a passive approach to recovery is like taking a backseat.
Passive recovery isn’t a “wrong” path to recovery, but research shows that taking a more active approach can forge a more direct path and lead to more desirable outcomes. Let’s learn more about taking an active approach.
If passive recovery is like taking a backseat, then active recovery is like being the driver. There’s no official active recovery definition, but it refers to taking the necessary actions such as avoiding alcohol but also taking responsibility for our choices and actions. Instead of waiting for change to happen, we take matters into our own hands by making continued efforts toward our goals to quit or cut back.
Going back to our religion example, an active approach would consist of doing daily prayers, reading the Bible, participating in discussions, and believing that we can continue to strengthen our faith. An active approach doesn’t only consist of taking the right actions, but emphasizes personal responsibility, self-reflection, and active engagement.
Let’s break it down further to understand how exactly passive and active approaches in recovery are different from one another.
The key differences between active and passive recovery are more internal. This means that we alone may be able to recognize whether we’re taking a passive or active approach and make the changes to support our decision. Active and passive recovery are different in two main ways:
While both passive and active approaches can help us reach our recovery goals, active methods promote more sustainable and speedy progress by actively engaging our mind and body in the healing process. Let’s take a look at some other benefits of active recovery.
The “fake it till you make it” mentality can only get us so far. Ultimately, if we don’t fully commit or believe that we can recover, it makes us vulnerable to relapse. Taking an active approach can have many benefits:
Active recovery can help us live a healthier, happier life, but how can we get there?
Active addiction, more aptly referred to as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is actively drinking and not being able to quit or cut back despite negative consequences. It differs from active recovery because recovery refers to taking steps to improve our relationship with alcohol even though we may not be sober or completely abstinent. The transition from active addiction to active recovery through these strategies is the first step in developing a healthier relationship with alcohol:
If we notice that we’re taking more of a passive approach, we can use these same strategies to transition from passive to active recovery.
No matter where we are in our relationship with alcohol, it’s never too late to commit to recovery. When we’re in recovery, we can take a backseat (passive) approach or take direct control (active) in the driver’s seat. While both may get us to our destination, an active approach helps to strengthen our commitment and address the root causes of our habits — leading to a more self-directed path toward quitting or cutting back on alcohol. Ultimately, we have the power to choose our path forward by deciding whether we’ll take a passive or active approach to recovery.
Active recovery from alcohol addiction means taking responsibility for our actions and making continual efforts towards quitting or cutting back on alcohol. On the other hand, passive recovery means taking the steps to quit or cut back but waiting for external factors to facilitate change. Although there’s no right or wrong way to recover, an active approach has been shown to be more beneficial.
There’s a memorable episode of How I Met Your Mother when Barney Stinson faces a moment of reckoning. He tries to cut back on his wild drinking habits passively, relying on his friends and hoping the change will come naturally. But it’s not until he actively takes charge that he begins to see real improvement.
This scene illustrates a crucial aspect of recovery from alcohol addiction: the difference between passive and active recovery. Passive recovery is similar to going through the motions without full commitment, while active recovery involves taking intentional steps toward a better relationship with alcohol. Let’s further explore these two recovery paths to help guide us on our journey toward a healthier, alcohol-free life.
The official definition of recovery from addiction, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), is “the process through which an individual pursues both remission from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and cessation from heavy drinking.” In short, it means no longer meeting the criteria for AUD (excluding cravings) and not participating in excessive drinking. Excessive drinking refers to more than 15 standard drinks per week or 5 drinks in a day for men and 8 drinks per week or 4 drinks in a day for women.
While this is the official definition of recovering from AUD, sobriety is a spectrum and can encompass the entirety of our efforts to quit or cut back on alcohol. It can be anything from becoming “sober curious” and questioning our drinking habits to full abstinence.
In general, recovery is broken up into four stages: abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth (For more information on these stages, check out our blog “How To Stay Sober After Recovering From Alcoholism.”) These stages summarize common experiences that those of us quitting or cutting back on alcohol experience. However, no two journeys will look exactly the same. Along with different experiences, there are also two main approaches to recovery. Let’s explore the first path: passive recovery.
Passive recovery is just what it sounds like. It can include doing all the “recovery things” such as avoiding alcohol, attending a rehab program, sitting in counseling sessions, and attending support groups. However, we may not yet accept full responsibility for our actions and decisions; instead, we’re waiting for external factors to facilitate change rather than ourselves. It’s similar to “going through the motions” of recovery.
In passive recovery, there’s usually a disconnect between our actions and our mindset. Let’s use religion as an example. Say we’re looking to strengthen our Christian faith and develop a stronger relationship with God. A passive approach to this can mean attending church and Bible study every week and waiting for the change to happen. However, we may not be actively participating in discussions or fully believe that we can become closer to God. While change can still happen, a passive approach to recovery is like taking a backseat.
Passive recovery isn’t a “wrong” path to recovery, but research shows that taking a more active approach can forge a more direct path and lead to more desirable outcomes. Let’s learn more about taking an active approach.
If passive recovery is like taking a backseat, then active recovery is like being the driver. There’s no official active recovery definition, but it refers to taking the necessary actions such as avoiding alcohol but also taking responsibility for our choices and actions. Instead of waiting for change to happen, we take matters into our own hands by making continued efforts toward our goals to quit or cut back.
Going back to our religion example, an active approach would consist of doing daily prayers, reading the Bible, participating in discussions, and believing that we can continue to strengthen our faith. An active approach doesn’t only consist of taking the right actions, but emphasizes personal responsibility, self-reflection, and active engagement.
Let’s break it down further to understand how exactly passive and active approaches in recovery are different from one another.
The key differences between active and passive recovery are more internal. This means that we alone may be able to recognize whether we’re taking a passive or active approach and make the changes to support our decision. Active and passive recovery are different in two main ways:
While both passive and active approaches can help us reach our recovery goals, active methods promote more sustainable and speedy progress by actively engaging our mind and body in the healing process. Let’s take a look at some other benefits of active recovery.
The “fake it till you make it” mentality can only get us so far. Ultimately, if we don’t fully commit or believe that we can recover, it makes us vulnerable to relapse. Taking an active approach can have many benefits:
Active recovery can help us live a healthier, happier life, but how can we get there?
Active addiction, more aptly referred to as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is actively drinking and not being able to quit or cut back despite negative consequences. It differs from active recovery because recovery refers to taking steps to improve our relationship with alcohol even though we may not be sober or completely abstinent. The transition from active addiction to active recovery through these strategies is the first step in developing a healthier relationship with alcohol:
If we notice that we’re taking more of a passive approach, we can use these same strategies to transition from passive to active recovery.
No matter where we are in our relationship with alcohol, it’s never too late to commit to recovery. When we’re in recovery, we can take a backseat (passive) approach or take direct control (active) in the driver’s seat. While both may get us to our destination, an active approach helps to strengthen our commitment and address the root causes of our habits — leading to a more self-directed path toward quitting or cutting back on alcohol. Ultimately, we have the power to choose our path forward by deciding whether we’ll take a passive or active approach to recovery.
Mindful drinking is a step towards an alcohol-free life. Check out our latest blog to learn how mindful drinking is effective, and explore the best “quit drinking” apps.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
These days it seems like mindfulness is touted as a solution for everything. From reducing stress to developing a healthier relationship with things we consume, promises of the benefits of mindfulness have taken a traditional Buddhist concept to a strategy promoted even by mainstream media.
Meditation, for those of us who are unfamiliar with it, may not seem like an effective strategy to quit drinking. However, there have been numerous scientific studies looking into the specific benefits of mindfulness, one of which is developing a healthier relationship with alcohol. But what if we’re looking to quit alcohol? Let’s learn more about mindful drinking strategies and how they can help us transition to sobriety.
Mindful drinking is the practice of developing a healthier, more conscious relationship with alcohol. It promotes questioning why we’re drinking and reflecting on how much we’re drinking, without judgment. Mindful drinking differs from moderation or sobriety, as they are more like end goals whereas mindfulness is a practice that involves actionable steps to help us reach these goals of quitting or cutting back.
Some mindful drinking practices include the following:
These practices create a strong framework to help us quit or cut back on alcohol by promoting greater intention with our choices. Helping us develop better habits ultimately leads to better physical and mental health. Mindful drinking promises many benefits, but how does it actually work?
If we’re looking to start developing a healthier relationship with alcohol, the first step is to get “sober curious.” This idea involves questioning our personal and societal reasons we drink rather than mindlessly sipping. Getting “sober curious” increases our awareness of our drinking habits, already dipping our toe into mindful drinking strategies.
After realizing we may want to quit or cut back on alcohol, we may be looking for how to sober up. Alcohol hijacks our brain’s reward system, making it challenging to stop drinking even if we want to. On top of that, we may get withdrawal symptoms that make the experience even more unpleasant. We can explore ways to safely detox at home or find monitored options to increase our safety.
Once we’re ready to embark on our journey of quitting or cutting back, we can find support options that work best for us. There’s no shortage of treatment options, from behavioral programs, peer support groups, and a newer option that helps meet us no matter where we are in our journey — mindful drinking apps. If you’re looking to learn more about the best “quit drinking” apps, check out “Sip with Purpose: The 10 Best Mindful Drinking Apps”. There are plenty of options to choose from, but let’s take a deep dive into the top alcohol reduction app — Reframe.
Let’s take a walkthrough of the Reframe app to see how it can help us develop mindful drinking strategies and help us work towards an alcohol-free life. Here’s how it works:
Reframe’s habit-changing program is the heart of the app. The neuroscience-based alcohol reduction program is developed by leading experts in the field of mental health and medicine to help us change our relationship with alcohol and build positive habits using scientific practices.
By participating in daily tasks to learn something new every day, we get one step closer to sobriety and a healthier, more fulfilling life. As we learn ways to change our habits, we can effectively develop skills to eventually quit alcohol for good.
Tracking our alcohol consumption helps us get a better idea of what our drinking habits look like over time. Reframe’s personalized drink tracker allows us to set targets that help us stay accountable day by day. It also allows us to track our progress over time, helping us adjust our goals and work toward quitting alcohol.
Ditch the old pen and paper and prevent forgetting to log a drink. Logging our consumption right there and then not only helps us more accurately keep track of our alcohol consumption but also increases our awareness of how much we’re drinking while it happens.
The journey to sobriety can be filled with a spectrum of challenging emotions. We can tune into different guided meditations and mindfulness activities to help us relax and find inner peace during any wave of emotion we may be feeling. Check out meditations from inspiration-focused ones such as “Initiating Freedom” to stress-reducing ones such as “You Are Water”.
Meditation and mindfulness practices might feel uncomfortable at first, especially in the fast-paced world we live in today. However, meditation is a scientifically proven tool to help reduce stress and quiet the mind. And some even better news? We can slowly develop these practices through Reframe’s mindfulness and meditation activities to hopefully be able to use them on our own one day!
Learn new life skills through Reframe’s science-backed courses. We can explore a range of topics to acquire practical strategies to help us quit or cut back and build a healthier and more meaningful life in general. Some course topics include alcohol and digestion, stress and the body, improving our sleep, understanding the risks of hard liquor, and much more. Don’t worry, the courses provide recorded and live videos to present everything in an informational yet entertaining way.
But there’s more! We can participate in challenges that give us the opportunity to apply our learned skills in a fun way. Monthly challenges such as Reflect December, Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June are just some activities you won’t want to miss. Joining Reframe’s courses and challenges is the perfect way to apply mindfulness to drinking. Educational information from the courses helps to increase our awareness, and challenges help us to use those tools to make more intentional decisions. Practice mindful drinking in a way that’s enjoyable and doesn’t seem like a chore with Reframe!
Join a thriving community of over a million Reframers that’s there to support you 24/7. The Reframe community is a private, anonymous community that allows you to celebrate milestones or give and receive support from those who may know exactly what you’re going through. In addition to staying connected to others through peer matching and group challenges, we can also get more personalized guidance through check-ins with certified coaches. Quitting or cutting back on alcohol can be a challenging journey, but we don’t have to go through it alone!
Support during recovery can be much more than just a network of acquaintances. Research shows that human connection can be a powerful tool for change and growth. During our journey to sobriety, which can be filled with overcoming uncomfortable emotions and facing the aftermath of life-altering experiences, a support system can help pick us back up and motivate us to continue to work toward a brighter future.
Reframe puts everything you need to help quit or cut back on alcohol all in one place. Ditch the need for scrambling to find a pen and paper when we need to write something down or scrolling through myriad online videos to find one that distracts us or motivates us to stay committed to the journey.
If we’re looking to quit drinking, apps like Reframe allow us to tune in to a guided meditation, play a distracting game, or watch inspirational videos to help the cravings fade away. This sets us up for success, as all our tools and resources are right there at our fingertips. If we’re looking to take that leap from mindful drinking to full sobriety, how can we make that final push?
There’s no right or wrong way to reach sobriety, nor any correct timeline for it. If we feel ready to take that next step from mindful drinking to sobriety, we can continue to implement these same strategies with a different end goal in mind:
Quitting cold turkey may work for some of us, but for others, we may be looking to transition into sobriety. Whichever we choose, tools like mindful drinking apps that promote science-based strategies can help us reach our goals.
Mindful drinking isn’t a magical solution, but it can be an incredibly beneficial tool not only for developing a better relationship with alcohol but also for quitting it altogether. The two main mechanisms of increasing our awareness and making more intentional decisions help us reach sobriety in a transitional way. Luckily, there are many helpful tools to guide us on our mindful drinking journey, including mindful drinking apps like Reframe! Take the first step towards a healthier, happier life by embracing mindful drinking!
These days it seems like mindfulness is touted as a solution for everything. From reducing stress to developing a healthier relationship with things we consume, promises of the benefits of mindfulness have taken a traditional Buddhist concept to a strategy promoted even by mainstream media.
Meditation, for those of us who are unfamiliar with it, may not seem like an effective strategy to quit drinking. However, there have been numerous scientific studies looking into the specific benefits of mindfulness, one of which is developing a healthier relationship with alcohol. But what if we’re looking to quit alcohol? Let’s learn more about mindful drinking strategies and how they can help us transition to sobriety.
Mindful drinking is the practice of developing a healthier, more conscious relationship with alcohol. It promotes questioning why we’re drinking and reflecting on how much we’re drinking, without judgment. Mindful drinking differs from moderation or sobriety, as they are more like end goals whereas mindfulness is a practice that involves actionable steps to help us reach these goals of quitting or cutting back.
Some mindful drinking practices include the following:
These practices create a strong framework to help us quit or cut back on alcohol by promoting greater intention with our choices. Helping us develop better habits ultimately leads to better physical and mental health. Mindful drinking promises many benefits, but how does it actually work?
If we’re looking to start developing a healthier relationship with alcohol, the first step is to get “sober curious.” This idea involves questioning our personal and societal reasons we drink rather than mindlessly sipping. Getting “sober curious” increases our awareness of our drinking habits, already dipping our toe into mindful drinking strategies.
After realizing we may want to quit or cut back on alcohol, we may be looking for how to sober up. Alcohol hijacks our brain’s reward system, making it challenging to stop drinking even if we want to. On top of that, we may get withdrawal symptoms that make the experience even more unpleasant. We can explore ways to safely detox at home or find monitored options to increase our safety.
Once we’re ready to embark on our journey of quitting or cutting back, we can find support options that work best for us. There’s no shortage of treatment options, from behavioral programs, peer support groups, and a newer option that helps meet us no matter where we are in our journey — mindful drinking apps. If you’re looking to learn more about the best “quit drinking” apps, check out “Sip with Purpose: The 10 Best Mindful Drinking Apps”. There are plenty of options to choose from, but let’s take a deep dive into the top alcohol reduction app — Reframe.
Let’s take a walkthrough of the Reframe app to see how it can help us develop mindful drinking strategies and help us work towards an alcohol-free life. Here’s how it works:
Reframe’s habit-changing program is the heart of the app. The neuroscience-based alcohol reduction program is developed by leading experts in the field of mental health and medicine to help us change our relationship with alcohol and build positive habits using scientific practices.
By participating in daily tasks to learn something new every day, we get one step closer to sobriety and a healthier, more fulfilling life. As we learn ways to change our habits, we can effectively develop skills to eventually quit alcohol for good.
Tracking our alcohol consumption helps us get a better idea of what our drinking habits look like over time. Reframe’s personalized drink tracker allows us to set targets that help us stay accountable day by day. It also allows us to track our progress over time, helping us adjust our goals and work toward quitting alcohol.
Ditch the old pen and paper and prevent forgetting to log a drink. Logging our consumption right there and then not only helps us more accurately keep track of our alcohol consumption but also increases our awareness of how much we’re drinking while it happens.
The journey to sobriety can be filled with a spectrum of challenging emotions. We can tune into different guided meditations and mindfulness activities to help us relax and find inner peace during any wave of emotion we may be feeling. Check out meditations from inspiration-focused ones such as “Initiating Freedom” to stress-reducing ones such as “You Are Water”.
Meditation and mindfulness practices might feel uncomfortable at first, especially in the fast-paced world we live in today. However, meditation is a scientifically proven tool to help reduce stress and quiet the mind. And some even better news? We can slowly develop these practices through Reframe’s mindfulness and meditation activities to hopefully be able to use them on our own one day!
Learn new life skills through Reframe’s science-backed courses. We can explore a range of topics to acquire practical strategies to help us quit or cut back and build a healthier and more meaningful life in general. Some course topics include alcohol and digestion, stress and the body, improving our sleep, understanding the risks of hard liquor, and much more. Don’t worry, the courses provide recorded and live videos to present everything in an informational yet entertaining way.
But there’s more! We can participate in challenges that give us the opportunity to apply our learned skills in a fun way. Monthly challenges such as Reflect December, Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June are just some activities you won’t want to miss. Joining Reframe’s courses and challenges is the perfect way to apply mindfulness to drinking. Educational information from the courses helps to increase our awareness, and challenges help us to use those tools to make more intentional decisions. Practice mindful drinking in a way that’s enjoyable and doesn’t seem like a chore with Reframe!
Join a thriving community of over a million Reframers that’s there to support you 24/7. The Reframe community is a private, anonymous community that allows you to celebrate milestones or give and receive support from those who may know exactly what you’re going through. In addition to staying connected to others through peer matching and group challenges, we can also get more personalized guidance through check-ins with certified coaches. Quitting or cutting back on alcohol can be a challenging journey, but we don’t have to go through it alone!
Support during recovery can be much more than just a network of acquaintances. Research shows that human connection can be a powerful tool for change and growth. During our journey to sobriety, which can be filled with overcoming uncomfortable emotions and facing the aftermath of life-altering experiences, a support system can help pick us back up and motivate us to continue to work toward a brighter future.
Reframe puts everything you need to help quit or cut back on alcohol all in one place. Ditch the need for scrambling to find a pen and paper when we need to write something down or scrolling through myriad online videos to find one that distracts us or motivates us to stay committed to the journey.
If we’re looking to quit drinking, apps like Reframe allow us to tune in to a guided meditation, play a distracting game, or watch inspirational videos to help the cravings fade away. This sets us up for success, as all our tools and resources are right there at our fingertips. If we’re looking to take that leap from mindful drinking to full sobriety, how can we make that final push?
There’s no right or wrong way to reach sobriety, nor any correct timeline for it. If we feel ready to take that next step from mindful drinking to sobriety, we can continue to implement these same strategies with a different end goal in mind:
Quitting cold turkey may work for some of us, but for others, we may be looking to transition into sobriety. Whichever we choose, tools like mindful drinking apps that promote science-based strategies can help us reach our goals.
Mindful drinking isn’t a magical solution, but it can be an incredibly beneficial tool not only for developing a better relationship with alcohol but also for quitting it altogether. The two main mechanisms of increasing our awareness and making more intentional decisions help us reach sobriety in a transitional way. Luckily, there are many helpful tools to guide us on our mindful drinking journey, including mindful drinking apps like Reframe! Take the first step towards a healthier, happier life by embracing mindful drinking!
Learn how to manage and overcome peer pressure in social settings while maintaining sobriety with these practical strategies and insights. Stay confident, build support, and enjoy alcohol-free gatherings.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
In today's society, social gatherings often revolve around shared experiences, many of which include alcohol. Whether it’s a casual evening with friends, a celebratory event, or even a professional networking function, the presence of alcohol can be pervasive. Opting to stay sober in such environments can be challenging, especially when faced with the pressures and expectations of peers. This article will offer valuable insights on managing and overcoming peer pressure in social situations while maintaining your commitment to sobriety.
Peer pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group or individual that encourages others to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors in order to conform to group norms. In the context of social drinking, peer pressure can manifest in many forms, from direct offers of a drink to more subtle cues like questioning your choice to stay sober.
It's important to recognize that peer pressure can arise from a variety of sources:
Surround yourself with friends and family who respect your decision to stay sober. Having a support network can provide the encouragement and reassurance needed to resist peer pressure. These individuals can also help you navigate social situations by offering companionship and advocating for your choice.
Knowing how to confidently and succinctly articulate your decision not to drink can be powerful. Prepare a few responses that you’re comfortable with, such as:
Before attending social events, plan your approach. This might include deciding what you’ll say if offered a drink, bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages, or arranging to leave early if the pressure becomes too intense. Having a strategy can alleviate anxiety and bolster your resolve.
It can be helpful to practice turning down offers of alcohol in a firm yet polite manner. Role-playing scenarios with a trusted friend or family member can help you feel more confident in saying no. Remember, it’s your right to make choices that align with your values and well-being.
Encourage social activities that don’t center around drinking. Suggest alternatives such as going for a hike, attending a cultural event, or hosting a game night. By shifting the focus from alcohol, you can enjoy meaningful interactions without feeling pressured.
If you feel comfortable, share your reasons for staying sober with your peers. Often, people will respect your honesty and may even be inspired by your commitment. Transparency can also help dispel any misconceptions about your decision.
Remaining steadfast in your choice to stay sober requires inner strength and self-confidence. Remind yourself of the reasons behind your decision and the benefits you’re experiencing. Keeping your long-term goals in mind can reinforce your determination.
Staying sober, particularly in social settings, can yield numerous benefits:
The culture surrounding alcohol is deep-rooted, but it’s evolving. More people are beginning to question traditional drinking norms and are seeking healthier lifestyles. This shift presents an opportunity to redefine social habits and norms around drinking. By choosing sobriety and encouraging others to do the same, you can be part of this positive change.
Your decision to stay sober can serve as a powerful example to others. Demonstrating that it’s possible to enjoy social gatherings without alcohol can inspire those around you to reconsider their own drinking habits.
If you host events, make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic options available. Creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable, regardless of their drinking choices, can promote healthier social habits.
Engage in conversations about the benefits of sobriety and the challenges of peer pressure. Advocacy can raise awareness and foster a more accepting atmosphere for those who choose not to drink.
Managing and overcoming peer pressure in social situations while staying sober requires preparation, confidence, and support. By understanding the dynamics of peer pressure and employing strategies to resist it, you can navigate social environments with ease and integrity. Remember, your commitment to sobriety is a powerful choice that can lead to numerous personal and social benefits. As more individuals embrace sober living, the norms surrounding alcohol consumption are slowly but surely changing, paving the way for healthier and more inclusive social interactions.
In today's society, social gatherings often revolve around shared experiences, many of which include alcohol. Whether it’s a casual evening with friends, a celebratory event, or even a professional networking function, the presence of alcohol can be pervasive. Opting to stay sober in such environments can be challenging, especially when faced with the pressures and expectations of peers. This article will offer valuable insights on managing and overcoming peer pressure in social situations while maintaining your commitment to sobriety.
Peer pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group or individual that encourages others to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors in order to conform to group norms. In the context of social drinking, peer pressure can manifest in many forms, from direct offers of a drink to more subtle cues like questioning your choice to stay sober.
It's important to recognize that peer pressure can arise from a variety of sources:
Surround yourself with friends and family who respect your decision to stay sober. Having a support network can provide the encouragement and reassurance needed to resist peer pressure. These individuals can also help you navigate social situations by offering companionship and advocating for your choice.
Knowing how to confidently and succinctly articulate your decision not to drink can be powerful. Prepare a few responses that you’re comfortable with, such as:
Before attending social events, plan your approach. This might include deciding what you’ll say if offered a drink, bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages, or arranging to leave early if the pressure becomes too intense. Having a strategy can alleviate anxiety and bolster your resolve.
It can be helpful to practice turning down offers of alcohol in a firm yet polite manner. Role-playing scenarios with a trusted friend or family member can help you feel more confident in saying no. Remember, it’s your right to make choices that align with your values and well-being.
Encourage social activities that don’t center around drinking. Suggest alternatives such as going for a hike, attending a cultural event, or hosting a game night. By shifting the focus from alcohol, you can enjoy meaningful interactions without feeling pressured.
If you feel comfortable, share your reasons for staying sober with your peers. Often, people will respect your honesty and may even be inspired by your commitment. Transparency can also help dispel any misconceptions about your decision.
Remaining steadfast in your choice to stay sober requires inner strength and self-confidence. Remind yourself of the reasons behind your decision and the benefits you’re experiencing. Keeping your long-term goals in mind can reinforce your determination.
Staying sober, particularly in social settings, can yield numerous benefits:
The culture surrounding alcohol is deep-rooted, but it’s evolving. More people are beginning to question traditional drinking norms and are seeking healthier lifestyles. This shift presents an opportunity to redefine social habits and norms around drinking. By choosing sobriety and encouraging others to do the same, you can be part of this positive change.
Your decision to stay sober can serve as a powerful example to others. Demonstrating that it’s possible to enjoy social gatherings without alcohol can inspire those around you to reconsider their own drinking habits.
If you host events, make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic options available. Creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable, regardless of their drinking choices, can promote healthier social habits.
Engage in conversations about the benefits of sobriety and the challenges of peer pressure. Advocacy can raise awareness and foster a more accepting atmosphere for those who choose not to drink.
Managing and overcoming peer pressure in social situations while staying sober requires preparation, confidence, and support. By understanding the dynamics of peer pressure and employing strategies to resist it, you can navigate social environments with ease and integrity. Remember, your commitment to sobriety is a powerful choice that can lead to numerous personal and social benefits. As more individuals embrace sober living, the norms surrounding alcohol consumption are slowly but surely changing, paving the way for healthier and more inclusive social interactions.
Alcohol and sporting events go hand-in-hand but not at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Check out our latest blog for more details on the alcohol ban and its significance.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
As the 2024 sports events of the Paris Olympics are fast approaching, the City of Light is buzzing in preparation and excitement for the culmination of all sporting events. Athletes are prepping for top-of-the-line competition, venues are making last-minute tweaks, and fans from around the world are anticipating a summer of thrilling competition. But amidst the chaos of preparations, another topic is generating buzz — there’s no alcohol for sale at the Games.
The ban on alcohol sales and advertisements at the Paris 2024 stadium makes an impactful statement on public health and safety, as alcohol and sporting events are a familiar duo. Let’s explore how these alcohol restrictions are set to reshape not only the Olympic experience but also more mindful celebrations and future events.
Alcohol and sporting events can be traced back thousands of years ago. During the ancient Grecian Olympics, red wine was plowed down by not only the spectators but also the athletes. While this is no longer the case, alcohol continues to be an integral part of sporting events — partially attributed to the big brand advertising and sponsorships from major alcohol companies.
Global sporting events have become not only the pinnacle of sports competitions for athletes but also highly-anticipated entertainment for fans (which many like to watch with a bit of booze in hand). While this keeps vendors and fans content, the data from alcohol-related harm suggests otherwise.
Aside from the 2024 Paris Olympic venues, we’ve seen alcohol restrictions at other major international sporting events only a handful of times. The 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (mainly due to COVID-19. However, with the Paris Olympics taking the lead, we’re starting to see others follow suit such as England’s Euro 2024. Let’s take a closer look at the policies of the Games’ alcohol restrictions to understand exactly why it’s so impactful.
A new sport, breakdancing, and a revival of other events such as 3x3 basketball and skateboarding aren’t the only shake-up at the Paris Olympics. Officials have confirmed that alcohol restrictions will be implemented at the Games which will take place from July 26th through August 11th. However, alcohol restrictions for sporting events in France are actually not a new concept. Evin’s Law which was implemented in 1991, bans the sale and advertisement of alcohol in sports and physical activity establishments. Although it's a law that’s been in the books for many years in France, it came as a shock to many that no exceptions were filed for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This means that alcohol won’t be sold or advertised to the general public at the Games. However, there’s a loophole to this ban. Due to different rules for catered hospitality areas, alcoholic beverages will still be sold inside the VIP suites in the stadiums and arenas. Despite this exception, the unwavering stance on keeping alcohol restrictions for the Games is changing the game for sporting events.
Notably, the alcohol company AB InBev has signed as the Olympics worldwide sponsor — naming Corona Cero, a non-alcoholic beer, as the global beer sponsor for the 2024 Games. The decision to keep the Paris Olympics a “clean” event has sparked a spirited debate among conflicting opinions. Let’s gain some insight as to why officials committed to this risky move.
Evin’s law, which the Games’ alcohol restrictions follow, was put in place to reduce alcohol-related mortalities by restricting the sale and advertising of alcohol. Despite the massive opportunity to drive revenue with alcohol sales to the spectators of the Games, officials decided against filing for an exemption for many reasons:
Although the announcement of the alcohol ban brought mixed opinions, these factors helped officials determine that the pros outweigh the cons. Let’s take a closer look at how these pros and cons will affect the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Some potential benefits of the imposed alcohol restrictions include improved health and safety of the Games’ athletes and spectators. Placing a barrier to accessing alcohol will reduce alcohol consumption and as a result, lower the risk of alcohol-related harm. Decreased alcohol-related incidents at the games may also enhance visitors’ experience and enjoyment of the event.
The opposing argument is that alcohol is a major part of sporting events and some argue can enhance the experience. However, it’s important to note that alcohol provides an inauthentic feeling of pleasure. Alcohol is a depressant, so although when we’re drinking we may temporarily feel a boost in our “happy hormones”, it eventually wears off and our mood can swing in the other direction.
Another major impact that the alcohol ban has is on the Games’ vendors and businesses. Typically, alcohol sales bring in significant revenue. Since alcohol won’t be sold or advertised, we’re seeing a positive adaptation in business strategy. The Paris Olympics announced Corona Cero as its non-alcoholic beer sponsor — giving fans an alternative to alcohol and shifting the opportunity to increase revenue using a different market. With benefits and downsides to the implantation of alcohol restrictions at the Games, many are questioning if they’ll even work.
Alcohol restrictions when implemented and enforced correctly can be beneficial in deterring alcohol consumption. Many people cite Prohibition as a failed attempt to ban alcohol consumption. While this may be true, we’ve learned what doesn’t work and have put in place other measures such as educational resources and non-alcoholic alternatives— putting us in a drastically different position today.
While the restrictions we see today aren’t as exhaustive as a complete ban on alcohol, they follow the same intention, which is to keep us healthy and safe. Some restrictions we see today include a legal drinking age, laws against driving under the influence, and bans for drinking in certain places. These restrictions don’t completely curb alcohol-related harm but they do minimize certain risks.
Examples of more drastic measures to deter alcohol consumption include Qatar’s ban on alcohol sales at World Cup stadiums, Miami Beach’s new regulations during spring break, the Balearic Islands’ new alcohol bans, and many more. While these changes continue to be tweaked for greater effectiveness, we’ve seen many benefits and several challenges. Let’s learn about what these are.
The Olympic venues encompass different arenas, stadiums, and housing. Although alcohol won’t be sold to the general public, it’s not guaranteed that people won’t get their hands on it. Around 40,000 agents will be providing security at the Games each day but enforcing the alcohol ban on top of managing large crowds and coordinating among different agencies can prove to be a challenge.
Business and spectator opposition have also proven to be challenging. In 2019, the French Health Minister attempted to ban alcohol even in VIP areas but her idea was quickly shut down by the beverage industry. As the host country for the pinnacle of sporting competition, France works to balance restrictions with hospitality to maintain a safe but welcoming atmosphere for the 2024 Olympics. Although met with some resistance, the alcohol restrictions are changing the game and setting the stage for future events.
Although the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 also featured alcohol restrictions, they were mainly due to COVID-19 concerns. As the first of the Games to stand its ground on an alcohol ban, the 2024 Paris Olympics is highly significant for many reasons:
While the Paris Olympics is setting the stage for other sporting events, it also serves as a reminder to stay aware of our alcohol consumption in general. Let’s explore some ways we can sharpen our mindful drinking skills.
Although alcohol won’t be sold to the general public at the Paris Olympics, alcohol is around us whether we like it or not. Implementing these mindful drinking practices helps us consume more intentionally when alcohol is around:
These mindful drinking practices aren’t only to ensure our health and safety when watching the Olympics or other sporting events, they’re applicable to any situation to help us consume more intentionally.
As we eagerly anticipate the 2024 Paris Olympics, the decision to implement alcohol restrictions shines as a beacon of change. This major move not only prioritizes the health and safety of the athletes and spectators but also resonates with a growing global consciousness around mindful consumption. Let’s allow the 2024 Paris Olympics to inspire not just records and medals, but a legacy of responsible drinking that can redefine celebrations for generations to come!
As the 2024 sports events of the Paris Olympics are fast approaching, the City of Light is buzzing in preparation and excitement for the culmination of all sporting events. Athletes are prepping for top-of-the-line competition, venues are making last-minute tweaks, and fans from around the world are anticipating a summer of thrilling competition. But amidst the chaos of preparations, another topic is generating buzz — there’s no alcohol for sale at the Games.
The ban on alcohol sales and advertisements at the Paris 2024 stadium makes an impactful statement on public health and safety, as alcohol and sporting events are a familiar duo. Let’s explore how these alcohol restrictions are set to reshape not only the Olympic experience but also more mindful celebrations and future events.
Alcohol and sporting events can be traced back thousands of years ago. During the ancient Grecian Olympics, red wine was plowed down by not only the spectators but also the athletes. While this is no longer the case, alcohol continues to be an integral part of sporting events — partially attributed to the big brand advertising and sponsorships from major alcohol companies.
Global sporting events have become not only the pinnacle of sports competitions for athletes but also highly-anticipated entertainment for fans (which many like to watch with a bit of booze in hand). While this keeps vendors and fans content, the data from alcohol-related harm suggests otherwise.
Aside from the 2024 Paris Olympic venues, we’ve seen alcohol restrictions at other major international sporting events only a handful of times. The 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (mainly due to COVID-19. However, with the Paris Olympics taking the lead, we’re starting to see others follow suit such as England’s Euro 2024. Let’s take a closer look at the policies of the Games’ alcohol restrictions to understand exactly why it’s so impactful.
A new sport, breakdancing, and a revival of other events such as 3x3 basketball and skateboarding aren’t the only shake-up at the Paris Olympics. Officials have confirmed that alcohol restrictions will be implemented at the Games which will take place from July 26th through August 11th. However, alcohol restrictions for sporting events in France are actually not a new concept. Evin’s Law which was implemented in 1991, bans the sale and advertisement of alcohol in sports and physical activity establishments. Although it's a law that’s been in the books for many years in France, it came as a shock to many that no exceptions were filed for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This means that alcohol won’t be sold or advertised to the general public at the Games. However, there’s a loophole to this ban. Due to different rules for catered hospitality areas, alcoholic beverages will still be sold inside the VIP suites in the stadiums and arenas. Despite this exception, the unwavering stance on keeping alcohol restrictions for the Games is changing the game for sporting events.
Notably, the alcohol company AB InBev has signed as the Olympics worldwide sponsor — naming Corona Cero, a non-alcoholic beer, as the global beer sponsor for the 2024 Games. The decision to keep the Paris Olympics a “clean” event has sparked a spirited debate among conflicting opinions. Let’s gain some insight as to why officials committed to this risky move.
Evin’s law, which the Games’ alcohol restrictions follow, was put in place to reduce alcohol-related mortalities by restricting the sale and advertising of alcohol. Despite the massive opportunity to drive revenue with alcohol sales to the spectators of the Games, officials decided against filing for an exemption for many reasons:
Although the announcement of the alcohol ban brought mixed opinions, these factors helped officials determine that the pros outweigh the cons. Let’s take a closer look at how these pros and cons will affect the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Some potential benefits of the imposed alcohol restrictions include improved health and safety of the Games’ athletes and spectators. Placing a barrier to accessing alcohol will reduce alcohol consumption and as a result, lower the risk of alcohol-related harm. Decreased alcohol-related incidents at the games may also enhance visitors’ experience and enjoyment of the event.
The opposing argument is that alcohol is a major part of sporting events and some argue can enhance the experience. However, it’s important to note that alcohol provides an inauthentic feeling of pleasure. Alcohol is a depressant, so although when we’re drinking we may temporarily feel a boost in our “happy hormones”, it eventually wears off and our mood can swing in the other direction.
Another major impact that the alcohol ban has is on the Games’ vendors and businesses. Typically, alcohol sales bring in significant revenue. Since alcohol won’t be sold or advertised, we’re seeing a positive adaptation in business strategy. The Paris Olympics announced Corona Cero as its non-alcoholic beer sponsor — giving fans an alternative to alcohol and shifting the opportunity to increase revenue using a different market. With benefits and downsides to the implantation of alcohol restrictions at the Games, many are questioning if they’ll even work.
Alcohol restrictions when implemented and enforced correctly can be beneficial in deterring alcohol consumption. Many people cite Prohibition as a failed attempt to ban alcohol consumption. While this may be true, we’ve learned what doesn’t work and have put in place other measures such as educational resources and non-alcoholic alternatives— putting us in a drastically different position today.
While the restrictions we see today aren’t as exhaustive as a complete ban on alcohol, they follow the same intention, which is to keep us healthy and safe. Some restrictions we see today include a legal drinking age, laws against driving under the influence, and bans for drinking in certain places. These restrictions don’t completely curb alcohol-related harm but they do minimize certain risks.
Examples of more drastic measures to deter alcohol consumption include Qatar’s ban on alcohol sales at World Cup stadiums, Miami Beach’s new regulations during spring break, the Balearic Islands’ new alcohol bans, and many more. While these changes continue to be tweaked for greater effectiveness, we’ve seen many benefits and several challenges. Let’s learn about what these are.
The Olympic venues encompass different arenas, stadiums, and housing. Although alcohol won’t be sold to the general public, it’s not guaranteed that people won’t get their hands on it. Around 40,000 agents will be providing security at the Games each day but enforcing the alcohol ban on top of managing large crowds and coordinating among different agencies can prove to be a challenge.
Business and spectator opposition have also proven to be challenging. In 2019, the French Health Minister attempted to ban alcohol even in VIP areas but her idea was quickly shut down by the beverage industry. As the host country for the pinnacle of sporting competition, France works to balance restrictions with hospitality to maintain a safe but welcoming atmosphere for the 2024 Olympics. Although met with some resistance, the alcohol restrictions are changing the game and setting the stage for future events.
Although the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 also featured alcohol restrictions, they were mainly due to COVID-19 concerns. As the first of the Games to stand its ground on an alcohol ban, the 2024 Paris Olympics is highly significant for many reasons:
While the Paris Olympics is setting the stage for other sporting events, it also serves as a reminder to stay aware of our alcohol consumption in general. Let’s explore some ways we can sharpen our mindful drinking skills.
Although alcohol won’t be sold to the general public at the Paris Olympics, alcohol is around us whether we like it or not. Implementing these mindful drinking practices helps us consume more intentionally when alcohol is around:
These mindful drinking practices aren’t only to ensure our health and safety when watching the Olympics or other sporting events, they’re applicable to any situation to help us consume more intentionally.
As we eagerly anticipate the 2024 Paris Olympics, the decision to implement alcohol restrictions shines as a beacon of change. This major move not only prioritizes the health and safety of the athletes and spectators but also resonates with a growing global consciousness around mindful consumption. Let’s allow the 2024 Paris Olympics to inspire not just records and medals, but a legacy of responsible drinking that can redefine celebrations for generations to come!
Explore the critical role of post-exercise nutrition in muscle recovery and the negative impacts of alcohol on these processes, including dehydration, reduced protein synthesis, and more.
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The journey to fitness and health doesn't end when you step off the treadmill or put down the weights. What you do after your workout is crucial to your recovery, muscle building, and overall health. Proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in replenishing your body, repairing muscle tissues, and boosting your energy levels post-exercise. However, the consumption of alcohol post-exercise can significantly hinder these benefits, affecting both your physical recovery and your long-term fitness goals.
After a strenuous workout, your body goes through a series of physiological changes. Your muscles are depleted of their stored glycogen, and some of the proteins in your muscles also get broken down. To repair these muscles and replenish the glycogen stores, you need the right nutrients. This is where post-exercise nutrition comes into play.
Carbohydrates are crucial as they replenish the glycogen stores in your muscles. Proteins, on the other hand, provide the amino acids necessary for muscle repair and growth. A meal or a snack rich in both carbohydrates and proteins, consumed within 45 minutes to an hour after exercising, can drastically improve your muscle recovery and energy levels.
While nutrition can aid in recovery, alcohol can impede it. Consuming alcohol after working out can have several negative effects:
For those who enjoy a regular fitness regime and also partake in drinking, finding a balance is key. It's not just about choosing to drink or not to drink; it's about understanding the best time to consume alcohol and its effects on your body. For instance, if you choose to drink, doing so well after your body has had the chance to recover from a workout could be less detrimental. Additionally, ensuring that you're hydrated and have eaten adequately before consuming alcohol can help mitigate some of its negative effects on recovery.
Here are some practical tips to enhance your post-workout recovery while maintaining a balanced approach to alcohol:
Understanding the interplay between alcohol consumption and exercise recovery can empower you to make informed choices that support your health and fitness goals. By prioritizing proper nutrition and hydration after workouts and moderating alcohol intake, you can enjoy both a socially active lifestyle and a productive fitness regime.
Incorporating these practices not only helps in achieving better physical health but also contributes to a healthier relationship with alcohol. For those interested in exploring how alcohol affects different aspects of health and fitness, consider reading about how alcohol can impact weight loss efforts.
The journey to fitness and health doesn't end when you step off the treadmill or put down the weights. What you do after your workout is crucial to your recovery, muscle building, and overall health. Proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in replenishing your body, repairing muscle tissues, and boosting your energy levels post-exercise. However, the consumption of alcohol post-exercise can significantly hinder these benefits, affecting both your physical recovery and your long-term fitness goals.
After a strenuous workout, your body goes through a series of physiological changes. Your muscles are depleted of their stored glycogen, and some of the proteins in your muscles also get broken down. To repair these muscles and replenish the glycogen stores, you need the right nutrients. This is where post-exercise nutrition comes into play.
Carbohydrates are crucial as they replenish the glycogen stores in your muscles. Proteins, on the other hand, provide the amino acids necessary for muscle repair and growth. A meal or a snack rich in both carbohydrates and proteins, consumed within 45 minutes to an hour after exercising, can drastically improve your muscle recovery and energy levels.
While nutrition can aid in recovery, alcohol can impede it. Consuming alcohol after working out can have several negative effects:
For those who enjoy a regular fitness regime and also partake in drinking, finding a balance is key. It's not just about choosing to drink or not to drink; it's about understanding the best time to consume alcohol and its effects on your body. For instance, if you choose to drink, doing so well after your body has had the chance to recover from a workout could be less detrimental. Additionally, ensuring that you're hydrated and have eaten adequately before consuming alcohol can help mitigate some of its negative effects on recovery.
Here are some practical tips to enhance your post-workout recovery while maintaining a balanced approach to alcohol:
Understanding the interplay between alcohol consumption and exercise recovery can empower you to make informed choices that support your health and fitness goals. By prioritizing proper nutrition and hydration after workouts and moderating alcohol intake, you can enjoy both a socially active lifestyle and a productive fitness regime.
Incorporating these practices not only helps in achieving better physical health but also contributes to a healthier relationship with alcohol. For those interested in exploring how alcohol affects different aspects of health and fitness, consider reading about how alcohol can impact weight loss efforts.
