Drinking Out of Boredom

It typically occurs when we find ourselves disengaged from what’s going on around us or when there’s a lack of interest or enjoyment in our activities. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just a result of having nothing to do. In fact, boredom is a genuine emotion, akin to happiness or sadness. When this emotion surfaces, it reveals our disconnection or lack of interest in our surroundings or activities. It searches for a spark, something to stimulate and captivate us.

However, there’s a difference between having a couple of drinks with peers and solitary drinking. Take control of your sobriety and break away from boredom today. Regular exercise is Alcohol Use Disorder an excellent way to reduce boredom and boost your mental health.

The best piece of advice she’s ever heard is to never take advice from someone who does not have what you are seeking. Megan’s therapeutic approach is multifaceted, drawing from narrative, feminist, and existential therapy modalities. By employing these frameworks, Megan empowers her clients to confront their realities and comprehend the tangible impact of systemic factors on their lives. There will always be a long lost friend who arrives on your doorstep looking to catch up over a few drinks.

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Finding a healthy activity that interests you can be a great way to break away from boredom and start enjoying your life in sobriety. It’s easy to slip back into old habits when you’re feeling restless or unmotivated, which is why it’s important to find healthy ways to occupy your time and keep yourself busy. Most people drink in order to fill a void of some sort, e.g. an unhappy relationship, an unfulfilling job, loneliness or feeling bored with your daily routine. If you take alcohol away, but do nothing to change those other factors, you’re probably going to feel it. People often use alcohol to enhance experiences, but this kind of drinking is problematic because it makes you dependent on alcohol to not feel bored or to have a good time. For example, most people drink at concerts, sports events or parties to transform their experience and heighten the moment.

Your ability to manage stress and regulate mood changes.

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It’s not about following strict rules or labeling yourself; it’s about asking questions and making intentional choices about alcohol. For most of us, drinking is just what we do—to celebrate, to unwind, to feel at ease in social settings. It’s rarely questioned, and when it is, it’s often framed as a problem to fix. Mindfulness also helps you build resilience, allowing you to face challenging emotions with a clear, calm mind. If you’ve never tried mindfulness before, there are many resources available online to help you get started.

Tips to stop drinking out of boredom

The winter months often meet a halt to favorite outdoor activities. This shift in routine, coupled with earlier darkness and cold temperatures, can lead to SAD. Many bored drinkers likely don’t realize they’re bored drinkers. But if you consume alcohol, these signs might indicate that boredom is a drinking trigger. If those thoughts are very negative, then hanging out in your own brain isn’t going to be a great experience.

What is Bored Drinking?

• Jordan developed her clinical approach in various inpatient, hospital, outpatient, and private practice settings.
• Yet Svenja realized that alcohol was damaging her physical and mental health.
• Boredom and binge drinking often go hand-in-hand, as drinking alcohol to pass the time and relieve boredom is a common occurrence.
• While you may have solved one problem, you’ve only added a much more real problem to your life in a very serious way.
• Many scientific studies have proved a positive relationship between boredom/loneliness and excessive alcohol use.

And if you’re curious about your drinking habits, the following quiz may be helpful to you. There are so many online communities that can support you while you step away from drinking, even if it’s temporarily. After a while, you’ll notice that your interests start to narrow, as does your social circle. You decide to crack open a bottle of wine and scroll on your phone, maybe message some people you haven’t spoken to in a while, just passing the time. It can be used as an outlet to express your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Journaling is an excellent way to manage boredom and stay connected to your recovery.

Because the dopamine release makes you feel good, your brain starts to crave alcohol whenever you’re bored, reinforcing the behavior and making it harder to resist. These effects can be very short-lived, but in the long term, they can cause real mental health issues like depression and anxiety. 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. 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.

I could go back and re-read what I wrote and approach it from the perspective of an outside observer. I’ve included this separate from hobbies because I don’t believe that journaling is a hobby. Plus, you might meet some cool people, and that’s always a double win. That is the activity I’ve buried my energy into since quitting. It may require a bit of soul-searching, especially when your motivation is at historically low levels.

• If those thoughts are very negative, then hanging out in your own brain isn’t going to be a great experience.
• While inpatient care may be ideal for someone experiencing severe alcohol addiction, outpatient care may be enough for someone who needs professional help without constant supervision.
• Managing our expectations can relieve boredom as well as the unhealthy compulsions to relieve it.
• Those who see being bored as an impediment and frustration tend to be bored more often, says Wijnand Van Tilburg, a senior psychology lecturer at the University of Essex.
• If you’re ready to break free from this habit and reclaim control of your life, the Stop Drinking Expert is here to help.

When drinking and using drugs become the focus of your social life, it can be difficult to find other enjoyable activities. In active addiction, drug and alcohol use becomes the focus of everything you do, so when those activities suddenly cease, it can leave a feeling of emptiness and boredom. This can cause a decrease in serotonin and dopamine levels, making it more difficult for you to find motivation or pleasure in everyday activities. If you are looking for treatment for substance abuse or addiction, you’re not alone—we’re here to support you every step of the way.