I’ve spent the last six years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. It is very common for people to replace alcohol with sugar in the beginning, which is detrimental not only to your waistline and physical health but your mental well-being as well. Getting outside and communing with nature is scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve mental health and cognitive function in both kids and adults. When you use alcohol (or any substance) to artificially boost serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain, you create an imbalance in the brain. The same environment can cause people to become bored and overeat. However, a simple change of the surroundings may be enough to stimulate the brain and improve mood.
You may eat simply as a way to escape the regular routines of the day (38, 39). Rather, use it as a learning experience and opportunity to treat yourself with kindness and compassion. What’s more, research has linked boredom to certain benefits. Researchers know that your emotions and mood https://accountingcoaching.online/sober-sayings-and-sober-quotes/ often influence when, what, and how much you eat (20, 21). Finding a routine that works for you and sticking with it seems to matter more than exactly how many meals and snacks you have each day. Often an external trigger, such as the sight or smell of food, makes us reach for a snack.
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Drinking to relieve stress may veer into murky territory, if you feel that you must consume alcohol every day to de-stress. One of the first ways that I’d suggest that you overcome boredom is just to accept that it’s part of the discomfort that you’re going to go through, I mean that’s all it basically is. There’s nothing wrong with boredom, we all get bored from time to time, just don’t get yourself so stressed out about it. If those thoughts are very negative, then hanging out in your own brain isn’t going to be a great experience. This is where the real work of sobriety is – facing up to your own mind. One of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re feeling bored in sobriety is to find a way to serve others.
- If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach.
- Family and friends can provide encouragement and support when you stop drinking.
- While boredom is to be expected and is nothing unusual, some individuals equate boredom with lack of productivity and negative connotations.
- Still, a little boredom is OK and normal to experience from time to time.
- Getting sober is like learning to walk again after a terrible accident.
- For members who report drinking out of boredom, I often remind them that there are probably a lot of other things to do within their busy lives, if they take a moment to reflect.
Practicing self-awareness and developing a better understanding of how your own emotions are influencing your appetite is a great starting place to combat boredom eating. If you tend to crave or reach for certain foods when you’re bored, you might be tempted to completely stop eating those foods to remove the temptation. A diet that leaves you feeling full How To Cure Boredom: 7 Ways To Stop Being Bored and satisfied over the course of the day leaves less room for wondering about whether you should have a snack when you’re bored. One way to prevent boredom eating is to maintain a healthy diet. Finally, you might eat because you’re craving something specific. You may want some chocolate even though you aren’t feeling physically hungry, stressed or bored.