8 Ideas for a Fun Sober Summer

Summer is right around the corner and that means that there are lots of fun activities coming to fill our days. Most of the time, in our active addiction, dreams of summer came dressed up with images of booze, drugs, and debauchery.

But there are so many more doors that open up for us when we are sober. We have listed a few below for a safe, sober summer.

John Furtmeier has a working understanding of how to help many–who struggle with addiction and mental-health challenges–stay sober and implement healthy habits that will serve their greater well-being. Reach out here to find out more.

Schedule a Pool Party with Friends

Everyone loves to be out in the sun with friends, laughing and having a good time. If you have a pool at your home or at your apartment complex, invite some friends over to enjoy the day outdoors. You can take up a collection to buy non-alcoholic drinks such as seltzers, bottled water, and sodas, or ask people to bring their own. Invite others to bring games, water toys, floats, and anything else that says summer

Have a Barbeque

Everyone loves a good backyard BBQ! And with hamburgers and hot dogs so easy to prepare for large groups of people, there couldn’t be a more practical way to get a smile on everyone’s face. One great idea is to center it around a late afternoon or early evening AA meeting. You can make flyers to advertise it as a sober event and add there will be an open meeting after for all to attend.

Have a Lake or Beach Day

Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy the water, whether it be at the lake or at the beach. Pick a spot and let all your sober friends know where and when to meet. You can put a social media invite out there, add the event to your local 12-step group's main website or just communicate via text. Make sure to let everyone know they are encouraged to bring water or beach-based game for all to enjoy.

Movie Nights

We all loved having get-togethers at people’s houses, and that shouldn’t stop when we become clean and sober. Decide on a movie to show and invite people over to join. You can rent or borrow a projector from a friend, school, or local AV company. Hang a white sheet for a screen and turn a backyard into an outdoor movie theater. Or if you prefer a more intimate gathering, keep it small and in the living room. Smaller groups offer opportunities to strengthen bonds with existing friends and are also a good atmosphere to create new friendships.

Music Night

One of the best ways to find out who the musically creative people are, in your new sober group of friends, is to host a music night. Invite all who are interested to attend and ask that any musically inclined people please bring their instruments. You can also go to a dollar store or other low-cost retailer and find maracas, small drums, and other noisemakers to round out the impromptu band. One tip: let your neighbors know your plan ahead of time and try to keep the ending time reasonable.

Try Out a New Hobby

Maybe you’ve always wanted to try out your cooking skills but were too distracted by your addiction to make a start. Perhaps painting is the interest that is on your radar or writing poetry. The free time that Summer gives us is the perfect opportunity to tune into your creative and fun side. It will amaze you at how good it feels to create something you had previously thought was out of reach. Remember, with the newfound freedom of sobriety, there are no heights that you can’t reach.

Take a Hike

Getting outside in nature is one of the best free resources we have. Schedule a hike with some friends or just find a good buddy to go with. There are many trails, parks, and open-air spaces to be explored and none of them require much equipment other than a good pair of shoes and a water bottle. If you live near mountains, you can get a bit more technical and even turn it into an overnight camping trip.

Go Paintballing

This one is not for everyone, but if you have a group of somewhat rugged guys (and girls) you can usually find a paintball facility near your hometown. Create a flyer and circulate it through your groups and other friendship circles. You are bound to find some people to take you up on this opportunity.

I hope these ideas will help you see that just because the lunacy of the circus left town when we got clean and sober, the crazy fun side of us did not. Happy Summer!! And contact us for more information on how we can help you.