Does anyone have some ideas for socializing? I am looking for something that is a little out of the norm. I know there are other options like going to the movies, restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, etc. However, I want to find an activity or hobby that is different but not too expensive. Any suggestions are appreciated!
I'd suggest going to church. Join the choir or any of the fancy groups they have. You'll get to meet a lot of people and from what I know they are usually very welcoming. And hey, it's all free.
For me, well, it's just exercise and playing music, and learning other new interesting stuff. Reading books is also among. There are so much in life to appreciate and be thankful for, for ours. We just have to seek the ones that fit us and those that are gonna inspire us. Trust me, when you find yours, you'll be strong enough to overcome your future struggles and even the ones you are already facing.
I have actually starting doing that in the past several months. I reconnected with a friend of mine from high school. She invited me to a relatively new church, and it has been great. Still, I was thinking of some kind of activity that is out of the norm. Something along the lines of geocaching in regards to peculiarity.
Have you tried a social group through something like Meetup? There are all types of groups based on interests in different areas. It is a good way to meet people and do an interesting activity together. That can definitely keep you busy and away from the old habits.
Yeah, but I did not find anything really :/ I want it to appeal to both my boyfriend and I. A lot of it seemed to coordinate around normal, everyday activities. I think I am not close enough to a big city to have more interesting options. Thank you for your suggestions, though!
I recommend taking some latino dance classes. You can meet a lot of people there and it's a great social circle.
Sometimes I just start programming and get into the "Zone" programmers can get into were they work completely focused for 12+ hours. This has gotten me over some weekends were I usually drink a lot. But more often than not it is harder getting into the zone when the temptation for alcohol is very easy to act up on.
What exactly is "Zone" programming? I have been curious about getting into general programming in the past, but I am not sure it is my kind of thing. My boyfriend enjoys working on computer related activities. It seems too complicated for me, and that it would take to much time for me to catch up with today's technology.
I would suggest thinking about things that you liked to do as a kid, and then see if any of those "likes" you had back then still are things that you are interested in. Do those. I like photography, it's relatively inexpensive, and there are photography groups that you can join, or a book club, I highly recommend that. I love to read and sometimes it's entertaining to join a book club and talk about a current book you're reading. Also, there are walking clubs, or Zumba meetings, where you can socialize and get fit.
I would suggest somt type of sport. It doesn't have to be competitive sport at all - it could be an individual pursuit or something fun like an exercise class. @blur92, I think SuicideMan is referring to getting himself into the correct state of mind for a 12 hour programming stint when he talks about the "Zone".
I've said it before, I'll say it again: Music. Music is where it's at, my man. At least, that's what helped me.
How about you volunteer in your community? You can join feeding programs and help send food to hungry children and families. You can also assist in organizing empowerment and recreational activities. Exposure to the plight of other people - who may be suffering more but are still able to maintain a great outlook in life - may strengthen the need to be sober.
Thank you, everyone, these are all really great ideas I appreciate this. @missbishi, oops haha, that crossed my mind for a second, but I was thrown off for some reason by the capitalization. I think the lack of sleep is starting to show through my posts. I probably will check out where I can volunteer at. I tried once before but for other reasons. However, I was not on medication, and my social anxiety was worse than ever. I backed out. There are a ton of other options, though, and I am hopeful I'll find something just as good.
xTinx made a great point! Volunteering would keep you busy, help you meet new people, and give you a good feeling. Can't see any downsides to that!
I agree with xTinx, maybe volunteering and giving back would give you a great sense of being and you get to forget about your issues for a while. It's free and you get to meet a lot of people plus make a great difference.
I suggest listening to happy music and doing some exercise. It's also good to have some bonding moments with your closest friends like throw movie marathons or sleepovers. It's really fun.
For me the best idea is to start doing sports, some sport we love. With sports comes someone to do sports with, so everything happens naturally.
It's kinda hard to do sports in the winter, I would recommend an indoor activity for this time. But with spring close by, outdoors sports are awesome.
If you are the religious type I would say that church is definitely a good way to help get your mind off of things. I think a very good activity would be meditation. It helps to go inside of your mind and calm the nagging thoughts inside of your mind. I have also heard that various forms of exercising is also a great way.