But many of us should because millions of us resort to drinking out of boredom whilst relaxing at home. Think of times or places where alcohol is normally found. Parties, seasonal events, family meals or work gatherings might spring to mind. Drinking alcohol is often seen as a very social activity, but in truth for millions of people, it’s the total opposite. But I PROMISE you, if you keep moving forward, things in your brain will start to click. And one day, it will occur to you that you’re actually happy and enjoying your life.

How to have a healthy relationship with caffeine

The dreams that you had that you’ve drinking out of boredom never gone after. Because you were so busy working and socializing and improving your home and taking care of your kids and commuting and going to sports practices. There is space for that now, I know you don’t think there is but there is and there is money for it. If you look at the amount of money you spent drinking alcohol, it’s amazing. Habitual patterns of alcohol consumption can play a significant role in boredom drinking. These habits are often activated by certain cues or conditions, like boredom, which can lead to excessive drinking and result in a variety of health issues, including alcohol abuse.

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The contrast between the heightened emotional state while drinking and the flatness of mood when sober can make everyday life without alcohol seem uninteresting – sometimes unbearably so. Eventually, this leads to an unhealthy pattern of emotional drinking that is much harder to quit. We go around on auto-pilot when it comes to certain patterns or behaviors. Stopping at the moment to look around at what’s happening, what emotions you are experiencing, sensations, and thoughts that are present, bringing awareness, and then making a choice. Start consciously thinking about your drinking routines and ask yourself what’s triggering that particular routine or pattern. Workaround managing and coping with those triggers by finding a different strategy that works best for you.

Seeking Professional Help for Boredom Drinking

For example, most people drink at concerts, sports events or parties to transform their experience and heighten the moment. Exercise is a powerful way to rebuild your body in recovery and a healthy coping skill. It’s a way to care for yourself by committing to a practice that releases positive, mood-enhancing endorphins and alleviates stress.

1. But you don’t need to do that 24/7, and it takes time and distance from that thing, like your bottle of wine, to allow yourself to look around and be open to other things.
2. It’s particularly therapeutic to find something to do with your hands.
3. Jill has worked in several inpatient and outpatient centers, treating clients in all levels of care in both individual and group settings.
4. Specializing in diverse mental health challenges, including depression, addiction, and trauma, Christy embraces a person-centered approach.
5. Being alone doesn’t automatically make a person bored.
6. And if you’re going to drive your own car, and what a Sober Retreat might look like at the end of the night.

Most people drink to fill some sort of void, like boredom, loneliness, an unhappy relationship, job-related stress or anxiety. But drinking alcohol doesn’t solve any of these problems. When the alcohol wears off, your problems will still be there, and you’ll likely reach out for more alcohol to escape them again. Or better yet – remove alcohol from your home. Anything to change up that routine of drinking out of boredom and make it harder for drinkers to find a place to get comfortable. Reflect on your drinking patterns and keep track of them to identify your boredom drinking triggers.

And we usually drink at the first hint of being bored. If you have kids, you know that your kids always say, I’m bored, there’s nothing to do. And it’s usually after they’ve been watching the iPad for way too long. And you say to them, there’s a whole world outside, go to the trampoline. But you know what, and you’re so frustrated, because you’re like, it’s not boring.

It’s particularly therapeutic to find something to do with your hands. Right now, you’re doing a very hard thing, and sometimes hard things feel lonely. Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to connect with like-minded people who are fellow travelers on this path.

KARLIE ROSHONG – Clinical Manager

Justin was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he began his clinical education at Colorado State University. He received his bachelor’s in health and exercise science with a concentration in sports medicine and eventually earned a master’s of psychology in addiction counseling. During his time as a therapist, Justin has worked in a residential addiction treatment facility, private practice, and outpatient settings. Beyond her clinical practice at AspenRidge, Courtney finds solace in outdoor activities, sports, reading, and cherishing quality time with her family and beloved dog.

So drinking because you’re bored isn’t doing much for you in the long run. Instead, you should find ways to cope with your boredom that keep you productively occupied and are more fulfilling. If you find yourself bored without alcohol or drinking simply because you’re bored, you might be developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Regular drinking is often considered socially appropriate and normal, but if your drinking extends to when you’re alone, that’s a red flag. There’s a very fine line between social drinking and problematic drinking, and one could easily lead to the other and cause serious health implications.