Hey friends! So, we’re all on this sober journey together, and I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes life more enjoyable on this path. There are many habits, rituals, and products that have become total game-changers for me. These are genuine lifesavers that help keep me grounded and focused. I’m excited to share some of these essentials I can’t live without in sobriety. Hopefully, these will resonate with you and maybe even give you new ideas for your journey. This is obviously nowhere near all-inclusive, so watch this space for more posts like this.
every. single. journal. i. see.
I am not going to lie to you; I am a hoarder of beautiful journals and notebooks, and I am also a pen snob. This was me before sobriety as well, so it is only natural that now that I am in the throes of healing, I fill the pages of my journals like mad. I have a lot of thoughts, and I am in the practice of journaling every morning. If you, like me, struggle a bit with opening up to people, you may also have found that it is much easier to put these feelings onto paper first (or only). I have found that even when I think I don’t have much to “say”, eventually thoughts will pour out if I opt for a brain dump format, meaning I don’t think too much about what I am going to write. I just empty my head. Start writing. Anything. You’ll be surprised at what may be swirling around in your mind.
As far as products, the classic Moleskine is one of my favorites, but honestly, I also seem to pick up a notebook anytime I go to Target. Here is one I got recently at a very reasonable price point. When it comes to pens, I love a very fine tip and clean finish, so I always go to the Sharpie S-gel .38 tip.
things that make me smile
A practice I adopted early on in sobriety, thanks to another sober person I met early on, is one of gratitude. It is so easy to get bogged down with what makes this new way of life hard and with reasons to be sad or frustrated. I’ve found that countering this with small things that make me smile is a way to get me through a day that may be tougher than expected. Each morning, I share a gratitude list on my Instagram story I supplement reminding myself of the good things in my life with some other small items around my house to make me smile. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Rainbow suncatcher stickers - there is no way to describe my joy when I walk into a room and see rainbow reflections dancing on my walls and floors. It gives me the most amazing dopamine hit and always makes me smile.
A window bird feeder- yes, I am in my 40s and I have a newfound love and adoration for birds, ok? But there is just something about walking into my living room to see a little bird face in my window, nibbling on seeds. How could you not want this in your life?
This adorable planter - sobriety blessed me with the time and patience for many tropical plants and a friend sent me this planter as a gift. It has to be one of the most adorable things I have ever seen. Has sobriety turned you into a plant person? If so, maybe you need one of these, too!
podcasts, books, & audiobooks, oh my!
Podcasts and books (in hand and audio versions) have become my best friends on the sober road. They offer fresh perspectives and a comforting sense of connection. Getting lost in a great book can be a real escape, and hearing different voices and stories through podcasts makes me feel like I’m part of a bigger community. They provide a mix of motivation, support, and entertainment, making the whole process a lot less lonely and a lot more interesting. These resources keep me engaged and remind me I’m not alone. As my sober time grows, I have leaned more towards fiction than the quit lit that helped me in the earlier days, but it ALL helps. For this post, I will share below some books and podcasts that helped me feel connected and stronger in my sobriety:
Podcasts:
Recovery Elevator: this podcast was my go-to in very early sobriety. I remember taking walks on my lunch break, steadily listening to this podcast. Here, they interview a sober person, giving them a platform to share their story. I learned here that everyone’s story is a little different, but there are many common themes. I realized that I was not alone, I was not horrible, and many people had been where I had been. This was a turning point for me. Check out RE’s Instagram page here.
F*cking Sober Podcast: when I say this is the best first 90 days of sobriety story out there, I mean it. This podcast kept me wanting more and I could relate so much to Anita’s story. Check out the website here (I see there is a season 2 now as well) and their Instagram. There is a reason that this podcast won a 2021 Webby Award.
This Naked Mind Podcast: if you have read the book, there should be no doubt why I found this podcast incredibly helpful (if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend you do). The podcast is hosted by author Annie Grace and shares honest accounts of the role of alcohol in the lives of people like us. Again, hearing stories from others was the glue that held my sobriety together. When we know we are not alone, we feel more comfortable sharing our story as well (at least, that’s how it was for me).
Quit Lit (books about sobriety)
Quit Like A Woman by Holly Whitaker: this book is a lifesaver. Holly talks about how alcohol impacted her life and her journey to getting sober, but more than that, she goes on to speak about how alcohol targets women and marginalized communities. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp: the first time I read this book before I got real about my sobriety, it hit so close to home that I could not finish it. It is a powerful memoir and once I decided to get sober for real, I sought it out once again, finishing it in one sitting.
The Sober Lush by Amanda Eyre Ward & Jardine Libaire: if you, like many, feel that a sober life must be boring and there is no excitement without the allure of boozy nights, this is the book for you. It offers up so much inspiration for finding joy in experiences while keeping booze at bay.
in closing
As I stated previously, these are just a few things that helped me early on when I got sober, and they keep me grounded and in check. These aren’t just random things that came to mind, these have vastly helped me on this path. They motivate and inspire me to keep going. I would love to hear if any of these resonate with you. Additionally, please comment to tell me your go-to products, tools, and practices for a fulfilling, sober life! I’ll share more of my own in future posts. Be well, friends.
Smash that like button! - If you like what you just read, let me know by hitting the like button. It makes my day to get a notification from you!