Ideas for Your Sober Spring Break

Heavy drinking and drug use are the stereotypical ways to spend spring break for far too many young adults. When you are in recovery, however, you’ll need to find alternative options to enjoy a break from a stressful semester and discover fun things to do that don’t jeopardize your mental and physical health. Here are some of our top suggestions.

1. Volunteer

Volunteering is an ideal activity for people in recovery because it allows people to feel like they’re part of something larger than themselves. You can also explore your interests in a brand-new way. For example, if your passion is literacy, volunteering with a program that helps teach adults to read can allow you to change lives for the better. Or, perhaps being around animals is a great stress-reliever for you. In that case, see if your local homeless pet shelter needs a spare pair of hands.

2. Take a Class

Though spring break gives you time off school, that doesn’t mean you should stop learning new things. Pursue a passion such as painting, cooking or modern dance. Learn an instrument or a craft. Giving yourself a creative outlet and practicing your self-expression is excellent for your mental well-being and your sense of personal freedom.

3. Practice Mindfulness

Any activity that creates mindfulness can be an integral part of your addiction recovery. If you’ve already established a meditation habit, what can you do to bring more mindfulness into your daily activities? Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to accomplish this goal, from meditating while you are waiting somewhere to paying attention to how you feel in the moment as you’re doing routine chores around the house. If you have downtime during spring break, use it to your advantage to hone your mindfulness skills.

4. Get Away From It All

Just because you’re sober doesn’t mean you have to deny yourself the fun of a good old-fashioned spring break getaway. You’ll just have to get a little bit more creative about how you do it. Instead of the typical overindulgent beach trip, go hiking in the mountains with a group of sober friends. Or, find a yoga retreat. Any vacation that supports your recovery can help you return home feeling refreshed and inspired.

Preserving Your Sobriety on Spring Break

Spring break is an opportunity to try new things and enjoy the warmer weather and longer days. However, it doesn’t mean taking time off from your recovery routine. You’ll need to continue to follow your aftercare plan, even if you go out of town. That includes attending group meetings, writing in your recovery journal and making time to exercise.

If you are looking for a new, sober solution, explore the options we provide at Hope Academy. Our California young adult treatment center not only helps people ages 18 to 26 achieve lifelong sobriety, but we also teach our clients valuable life skills that will help support their recovery process. Reach out to learn more today.

Staying Sober on Spring Break

Spring break is an opportunity for university and college students to go home, see family or just take a one-week break from school. It’s also a time when students flock to a variety of leisure vacation spots, typically by the warm, sunny beach, and party away the stress of midterms.

In studies of spring breakers, more than half of men and 40 percent of women reported drinking until they became sick or passed out. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), “nearly half of all college students binge drink – and during spring break it seems to go to the extreme.”

Naturally, being around peers who are partying all week is not the best idea if you’re working a program of addiction recovery. The temptation to drink or use drugs would be too high and so would your risk of relapse.

Even if you’re not in recovery, binge drinking during spring break comes with many risks. In fact, several studies have linked spring break binge drinking to lasting brain damage, including compromised memory, inhibition and decision making. This is partly why young adults are more likely to be risk-takers – driving intoxicated, engaging in unsafe sex, partaking in criminal activity – after drinking heavily. These brain changes can also increase your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder later in life.

For men, binge drinking means drinking five or more alcoholic drinks in one day; for women, four or more alcoholic drinks in one day. Standard measurements for one drink are defined as:

• 12 ounce beer
• 12 ounce wine cooler
• 5 ounce glass of wine
• 1.5 ounce shot of 80-proof whiskey, vodka, or gin

Having Fun, Staying Sober
We’ve talked in the past about how staying sober depends on building a fulfilling life without drugs or alcohol – and this is the perfect example. You can partake in spring break and have a great, relaxing time without putting yourself at risk of relapse.

Here are a few ideas to consider if you’re a college student in recovery or simply want to avoid the party scene:

• Go the alternative route. An alternative spring break program enables you to spend the week of spring break volunteering and serving a community in a meaningful way. Many universities have student-run organizations that facilitate service trips, or you can partner with nonprofits in your area.
• Get outdoors. Spend your spring break soaking up the beauty of nature! Even a day trip can help you hit that reset button and do wonders for your mental health. Grab a sober friend and take a long hike and breathe in the breath-taking views.
• Discover a new hobby. What have you always wanted to try, or what did you used to love and rarely have time for anymore? Pick one or two things and check them off your list this spring break. The possibilities are endless – and you’ll likely be pretty proud of what you were able to accomplish now that you’re sober.
• Have a self-care marathon. Spring break is the perfect time for self-care. Along the same lines of finding a new hobby, you can use the week-long vacation to tick off some activities that will help nourish and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit. Some ideas to consider: Meditate, do yoga, soak in a tub, read an inspirational book.
• Go on a family vacation. Work together to pick a fun getaway. Spring break is the perfect time to build new memories with those who have supported you most as you’ve worked hard in school and at sobriety.

Sobriety College at Hope Academy
If you are or someone you love is a college student caught in the throes of substance abuse, Hope Academy may be the ideal rehab program for you. Our peer-based program provides the safety and support you need to succeed in school and at sobriety. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.