Holiday Survival: Tips to a Sober Holiday
Recovery from addiction is a difficult task, but sticking to it during the holiday season can be even more challenging. you may find yourself in situations where the urge to drink or use is overwhelming or around people who do not respect your choice to remain sober. However, it is possible to continue your path of sobriety during the holiday season and PA Health Management wants to help with some tips, tricks, and alternatives for this holiday season
Staying Sober during New Year.
Avoid Possible Relapse with these Tips
For the first 6 months of sobriety, it is important to stay away from situations that could be tempting to drink or use again. Rather than attend parties or other social situations that pose a risk try out these ideas.
Be the host
Volunteering to host can help you to have more control about what is going on during the party. So rather than going to a friends party where everyone is participating in activities that you are trying to avoid, now you can control the event. There are so many fun ideas to do that are productive in your recovery and fun for everyone!
Throw a cooking party, and make it even more fun by turning it into a competition! Whether it is just a group of friends or couples a competition gets everyone excited! You can do it in teams or individual (although we think teams is more fun) and all cook together! Each team could pull a dish or type of dish like the apps, main, or desserts out of a hat make up some fun holiday mocktails to enjoy together. If you can see the tv from the kitchen throw on a classic holiday movie, or throw on some music to sing along with!
Throw a theme party with friends to have a fun sober night. This could be anything like marvel characters, charcuterie board night, movie genres, and so many more. Put together activities and games that are similar to the theme to make it even better and you can end the night with everyone’s favorite movie!
Throwing a fun PJ party is always a fan favorite! People never hate being comfy and surrounded by friends. Everyone can come wearing their favorite PJ’s, make a fort of blankets, watch movies, enjoy snacks, and have a spa night together! This is a great way to stay away from anything that could cause temptation to stray away from staying sober!
Break Out the games
Give Back
Volunteering can be a fulfilling way to give back to your community and positively impact the rest of your life. Giving back to your community can help you grow as a person and meet new people that can positively impact your life.
Volunteer to be Designated Driver
Taking on the responsibility of getting everyone home safely is a great idea to remain sober! Knowing that there is a need to stay sober for others’ safety can be very effective in keeping the temptation at bay. People will also be less likely to try and pressure you into an uncomfortable situation. Everyone will know that you are staying sober as a favor to them rather than being a “downer” or “party pooper”. However you should avoid “friends” who would try to pressure you in the first place, we, unfortunately, cannot always get away from these types of individuals.
Perfect Mocktails for New Years
Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail
Ingredients
1 inch slice of fresh ginger, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
1 large sprig of fresh rosemary
1/2 cup of 100% cranberry juice
2 12-ounce bottles of live kombucha (original or ginger)
1. Fill 4 double old fashioned glasses with ice and set aside.
2. In a pitcher or quart sized mason jar, muddle sliced ginger and rosemary together using the end of a wooden spoon or muddler
3. Add cranberry juice and kombucha, stir gently to combine
4. Pour into ice-filled glasses (using a strainer if needed) and garnish with sprigs of rosemary, a slice of fresh ginger and a few cranberries before serving
Lemon Lavender Mocktini
Ingredients
1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes of bitters
1. Combine ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until cold (about 10 times)
2. Strain into a glass and top off with club soda
3. Garnish with fresh lavender
Note: Add a tiny drop of food coloring with the end of a toothpick to get purple hue
Lavender Simple Syrup
1. Combine 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1 tbsp of dried lavender in a saucepan
2. Bring mixture to a boil while stirring constantly, then turn off the heat once boiling starts
3. Let the mixture cool in the pan and then strain out the lavender
Mock Winter Sangria
Ingredients
1 Pear, diced
1 orange, sliced
1 cup of fresh cranberries
1/4 cup of fresh raspberries
2 cups of cranberry juice
1 2-liter bottle of ginger ale
1. Combine all ingredients except ginger ale into a large pitcher
2. If desired, let sit in the fridge for 1 to let flavors mingle.
3. Add chilled ginger ale. Serve immediately
Snap Dragon
Ingredients
1.5 oz cold apple cider
1 oz of Chai Monbrewcha Kombucha (or other apple or ginger flavored kombucha)
1/4 oz of fresh pressed ginger juice
1. Add ingredients in a whiskey or rocks glass
2. Add large ice cube to glass and stir lightly
3. Garnish with a slice of apple and a dusting of nutmeg
Blueberry Moscow Mule Cocktails
Ingredients
1/4 cup of fresh blueberries
1/2 lime
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 (9 oz.) ginger beer
Crushed ice
1. Add blueberries to a large glass with lime wedges and sugar
2. Muddle ingredients together well with a muddler or something similar
3. Transfer blueberry mixture to a copper mug and add crushed ice
4. Pour in ginger beer, stir, and serve
CRANBERRY SPICE
Ingredients
1.5 oz. sparkling water
2 oz. cranberry juice
4 dashes Peychauds bitters
2.5 oz. apple cider
10 cranberries (plus more for garnish)
Orange wedge
From the Waldorf Astoria Chicago
1. Muddle cranberries and orange wedge in cranberry juice
2. Pour in the rest of the ingredients and stir with a spoon
3. Garnish with cranberries and orange peel and serve on ice
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Ingredients
2 oz. Cranberry juice
.5 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. homemade sorrel tea dry kombucha
From Jim Wrigley
1. Shake ingredients with ice
2. Strain into a champagne flute
3. Top with kombucha and garnish with a clove-studded orange twist
APPLE CRANBERRY SPRITZER
Ingredients
Apple juice
Cranberry juice
Sprite
Cranberries
Rosemary
From Jekyll Island, Georgia
1. In a glass mix equal parts apple juice and cranberry juice
2. Add a dash of sprite
3. Garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary
HOLIDAY MULE
Ingredients
.75 oz. cinnamon syrup
.75 oz. lime juice
.5 oz. cranberry juice
ginger beer
From XV Beacon, Boston
1. Combine the cinnamon syrup, lime juice, and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker
2. Shake with ice
3. Pour into a collins glass over ice
4. Top with ginger beer and garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprig with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
BERRY BURLESQUE
Ingredients
.5 oz. lime juice
.5 oz. honey syrup
1 oz. black currant puree
4-6 mint leaves
Ginger beer
1. In a shaker filled with ice, combine, and shake all contents except ginger beer
2. Then strain over ice
3. Top with ginger beer and serve
NON-ALCOHOLIC HOT BUTTERED RUM
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup monk fruit in the raw bakers bag ( or 24 packets of monk fruit in the raw)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
Boiling water
Half and half heavy cream
By Mary of Barefoot in the kitchen
1. Combine the butter, sugar, monk fruit in the raw, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves in a mixing bowl
2. Beat with an electric mixer until combined well
3. Use immediately or store in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use
1. Scoop 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons of the buttered spice mixture in a small mug
2. Pour 1/4 cup of boiling water into the cup and stir or whisk to dissolve completely
3. Add 1-2 tablespoons of half and half or cream, and stir once more
Taste, and add more water or cream as desired
