Finding a new hobby to help stay sober

I feel that whenever I go back to my old hobbies (like videogames) where I always used to drink while doing them, they almost act as a trigger. I feel I need something new to try to do to keep my mind off things and prevent me from thinking about how I used to always have a drink in my hand when I did them. I'm a male, what are some manly things I can do in my backyard?

Have you ever tried gardening? It's much more manly than one would assume.

Fishkeeping is a hobby I enjoy. There is nothing more relaxing than watching fish do their thing. If you do go this route, though, do some research. I'm so tired of seeing people kill all their fish because they believed all the old wive's tales about them.

Sorry about the rant lol Good luck finding a hobby!

If keeping poultry is not illegal in the city you live in then build a chicken coop and keep yourself busy taking care of the bird in your free time. And hey, it can prove to be a profitable hobby. You'll get eggs, and you won't waste any food. Any left-overs can be fed to the chicken.

http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Chickens-in-a-City

Is their a pond in your backyard, or could you build one? They're beautiful, and relaxing to watch. Plus you could stock them with koi or other type of goldfish. Our neighbors keep koi and it's amazing to watch how fast they go from goldfish size to over a foot long. He takes them to shows and goes to meets. I just think their beautiful to watch. They even eat cheerios from your hand!

If you're looking for something more active, why not volunteer somewhere? A lot of parks and recreation centers have volunteer programs to clean up the parks, weed the flowerbeds. Depending on your locoation you could get into something like the Washington Trails Association where a couple of times a year they get crews together to clean up back-country trails.

Interestingly, music was a "not so good" hobby that got me drinking. When you listen to music sometimes it makes you want to "feel" more. Wine accompanied that.

However, since getting clean, I discovered and started a new hobby -- crochet It helps with self growth and helps me move forward and think about other possibilities. It also serves as good therapy for me. Helps me think and be productive.

Any crafting is a good form of therapy!

Finding a hobby that both takes up your time and energy is a great way to help distract yourself from the every day struggle that you experience with your addiction. Finding things to do that interest you and make you feel good will inevitably help steer you away from other forms of entertainment.

I second any sort of crafting activity. The sense of accomplishment you feel after making something with your own hands, no matter how simple, is so satisfying. If your backyard allows, you could give woodworking a try. Cooking is also a good one and is manlier than it sounds! Everyone needs to eat, and there's no better way to impress people than to whipping up some simple, but delicious, recipes!

That's any easy one. Try working out. Exercising is a good way to burn off the boredom and keep busy. I also like to do little side project around the house. At least one a day. Put up new shelves, paint the old bedroom closet. Things like men like to do.

How about exercising or engaging in sports? I hear strenuous physical activities like running on the treadmill, jogging and playing basketball, tennis and other sports divert your attention from drugs, alcohol and vices in general. It pays to be manly but you might also want to exercise your brain more. This will help foster a natural resilience to drugs and vices.

I know what you mean. I've associated my addictions with certain other activities as well, kind of like how smoking cigarettes wouldn't be as appealing to me until I start drinking coffee. As for hobbies in the backyard, I'd recommend something that requires focus and also gives out a result that you can see so you can be more inspired to push further. By this I mean probably something like woodwork because it's definitely one of the hobbies where you would want yourself as focused and sober as possible, and at the end of each project you'd even have a product you can see and be proud of.

Gardening, fishing, woodwork. All of these sound great and they are really nice. You will sooner or later observer the fruits of your work and you will be happy you actually spent time doing productive things

I will also agree that gardening is a good hobby that will keep your mind occupied from thinking about drinking. Reading a good book in the backyard is another hobby that can keep you occupied for hours. Keep a few chickens if it is allowed in your area. You will enjoy sitting back in the backyard to observe all the activities. Besides, you will obtain fresh eggs for your table.

The sound of chickens always makes me sleepy and drowsy, no idea why. Agree on the gardening and bookreading, even taking care of plants is nice if you live in an apartment!

Getting out in nature is a huge help when you are trying to stay sober. I could go on hikes for hours and not think about smoking. I am sure it is different with different addictions, but breathing fresh air never hurt anyone. Whatever you find to do as a hobby, it should not be one that has the potential to stress you out because this could result in urges.

My girlfriend is a smoker and everytime we go hiking, she smokes maybe 1 cigar/day (down from 6-7/day). She knows it's bad for her health, but i'm trying to help her get past it.

Well, does the activity have to be in your backyard? What do you like to do? I know that it's hard to get away from playing video games, they're addictive. Surely there is something else that you like to do?
You have to find another passion and then go with that.

I totally agree with you. I love crafting hobbies, baking, and even cake decorating. I especially need a steady hand for cake decorating, as you can imagine.

I know where you're coming from with alcohol and music too; I've had to radically alter my music listening, limiting it to just some relaxing classical music to send me off to sleep. It took a long time for me to disassociate music with alcohol.

Crafts are an excellent way to take your mind off the alcohol, or anything else really. I get lost in my craft projects and can focus on them for hours on end. You get to make something beautiful with your hands and see the accomplishment you made afterward.

I always think that it's great to have hobbies in general. Something to take your mind off of everything that is going on around you, and that you love to do is really healthy. I know a lot of people that use things like running, sewing, and bike riding as ways to keep their minds off of drugs and alcohol.