If you are in recovery from an alcohol addiction, St. Patrick’s Day may be a trigger for you. It may seem like a day when drinking is a necessity, especially if you go to a party. It can be a problem for individuals recovering from alcohol addiction or who have a drinking problem.

It doesn’t have to be. There are some amazing ways to stay sober on St. Patrick’s Day. If you want to keep your sobriety, consider following these tips and incorporating them into your life.

Check Your Motivation

Where is your motivation level? If you were to rate your motivation on a scale from 1 to 10, where would you be? Are you motivated to stay sober and in recovery?

Sometimes recovering alcoholics need to remind themselves to stay focused on their recovery and the big picture. You can use St. Patrick’s Day to reflect why you became sober in the first place. Remind yourself why your life is so much better when sober. Think about how drinking affected your family, your work, your friends, and your entire life. By reminding yourself of these things, you can increase your motivation and focus on your recovery instead of drinking again.

Build Your Support Network

If you are looking for ways to stay sober for St. Patrick’s Day, start by building your support network. Your support network is going to be important, especially on days when you feel cravings and are having a tough time staying sober.

Who is there for you in your life? Who in your life wants to see you stay sober? If there are new people in your life, be sure to add them to your support network. They can be a guiding force for keeping you sober during St. Patrick’s Day and beyond. Do you have other recovering alcoholics in your support network? If so, be sure to contact them around this time and see if you can spend time with them.

Have a Plan in Place

To stay sober for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s important to have a plan. Think about your recovery and sobriety goals. You know that certain holidays and days may be high risk for you, and St. Patrick’s Day may be one of them.

If this is the case, create a plan for yourself. It might include staying home to watch movies and enjoying a home-cooked dinner. Or, it might include visiting another recovering alcoholic’s home. You might want to go to the movie theater, play laser tag, or do something else fun that doesn’t include drinking. Make your plan and stick to it. Having a plan in place makes it easier to say no if someone wants you to go out and party.

Remember That It’s Only One Day

St. Patrick’s Day is just one day. It doesn’t matter how you think about it, the day only lasts 24 hours, just like any other day. You might feel isolated and feel that you are missing out, but you may want to reframe your thoughts.

You can have other sober friends over and host an alcohol-free St. Patrick’s Day party. You can participate in an enjoyable hobby, spend the day working on your recovery, or take time to relax at home. There are so many sober activities to fill up your day. No matter what you decide to do, remember that St. Patrick’s Day is only one day. You can get through it sober. 

Host a Sober Party

As mentioned above, you can host a sober party for St. Patrick’s Day. There are many ways you could do this. You can invite other recovering alcoholics or family members and friends who support your sobriety.

You could also hold a neighborhood or community sober party. Maybe you can rent a local hall, church, park, or other venue for your gathering. People could bring nonalcoholic drinks and food or you could provide them. You could host games, show movies, offer music and other forms of entertainment, and much more. You and others in your community can have fun without alcohol. 

Do you want to say sober for St. Patrick’s Day? If so, hopefully these 5 tips will help you have fun without drinking.

If you have relapsed and need help during this time, contact a rehab center. Sobriety is achievable on St. Patrick’s Day and throughout the year.