If you are newly sober curious, you may be concerned about how to ring in the New Year without alcohol. You might even be questioning how you could possibly abstain from alcohol on one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. Don’t worry, you are not alone. The sober curious community is with you and here to help.
When you are trying to cut back on your alcohol intake, holidays can be challenging to navigate. Festive Christmas cocktails and champagne toasts to ring in the New Year can be tempting for us all.
If you are trying to live an alcohol-free lifestyle it is best to plan ahead for these types of events. With a solid plan, you will feel prepared to make decisions that are aligned with your goals.
I remember the first holiday weekend after I decided to give drinking a break. It was the Fourth of July and I honestly didn’t expect to stick with my goal. For me, long weekends in the summer meant drinking on the beach. I couldn’t even picture what a holiday weekend would look or feel like without alcohol.
Until I did it. And let me tell you, it felt good. Empowering.
I was able to spend the weekend experiencing things I never would have made the time for if I was drinking. I went for morning runs by the beach, I hiked up to a beautiful mountain view, and I was present with my family in ways that drinking alcohol just doesn’t allow. If that isn’t enough convincing to give alcohol a break, read more about the life-changing reasons to join the sober curious movement in this post here.
As the winter holidays approach, I wanted to create a list of worthwhile alcohol-free activities for my fellow sober curious friends. I am here to remind you that you do not have to give up your social life just because you’re giving up alcohol.
This post is all about sober curious friendly ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year.
Fun Ways to Celebrate NYE When You’re Sober Curious
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Host Your Own Party – Mocktails Encouraged!
If you love hosting and staying in for the holidays, then throwing a New Year’s Eve party at your place may just be the way to go!
This is perfect because you get to set the scene. You can decide how to stock your fridge and pantry to fit your goals. While you’re shopping, don’t forget to stock up on the necessary ingredients to make the mocktails you love!
If being around drinkers is going to trigger you, then inform your guests that this will be an alcohol-free, mocktail-only party. If you are comfortable remaining sober around drinkers, you can play with different drink recipes creating both alcoholic and virgin options for your guests to try.
I bet some of your friends and family would like to experiment with some of your alcohol-free options too. After all, mocktails are delicious!
Go to a Mocktail Friendly Bar
Put on your favorite sparkly outfit, grab some friends, and head to a mocktail-friendly bar. Mocktails are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people are choosing to live an alcohol-free lifestyle. Remember just because you are sober doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun of going out to celebrate NYE!
Finding a bar that serves fun, mocktail options, especially in major cities, should not be too hard. Even if the bar you want to go to does not have a specific mocktail menu, they will most likely have all of the ingredients necessary to make you one.
Here are three easy mocktails that every bar should have the ingredients for:
Shirley Temple – a childhood favorite!
- grenadine, lime juice, ginger ale
Virgin Margarita
- lime and lemon juice, soda water, simple syrup, salt or sugar rim, pickle juice (optional)
Non-Alcoholic Lime Rickey
- lime juice, soda water, simple syrup or raspberry syrup, pickle juice (optional)
Most bars will have non-alcoholic beer options as well! Be sure to ask. You also can never go wrong with just a simple fountain or club soda. Add a lime and it will look and feel like you’re drinking a regular cocktail!
Attend a Festive Fitness Class
Focus on your health this NYE by attending a fitness class! Most gyms and studios run promotional deals around the holidays and many offer special classes to celebrate the festive season. Ask if your preferred gym or studio offers any late-night or midnight classes to ring in the New Year.
This is a great place to be surrounded by like-minded people who are putting their health and wellness first. Attending a fitness class on NYE will spark motivation and set the tone for a positive and healthy year.
Related Post: 35 Healthy Habits To Start In Your 20s
Buy Tickets to a Show or Concert
Whether you want to enjoy a broadway show at the theater, laugh the night away with local comedians, or sing along with your favorite band there is no shortage of shows on NYE.
Treat yourself with tickets to a show of your choice. It can be a Christmas gift to yourself! Since you have scheduled plans to see a show, you’ll be less tempted to spend your night drinking at a bar or overindulging at a house party.
This is the perfect excuse to get dressed up and have a festive, fun, and alcohol-free night out on the town!
Weekend Getaway
If the pressure of staying sober during a big drinking weekend is getting to you, it is okay to remove yourself from the temptations completely. Book yourself a relaxing weekend getaway.
Head up to the mountains for a snowy, winter wonderland experience, or fly down south to escape the cold and bask in the sunshine.
Wherever you decide to go, don’t forget to enjoy this time with the new you. You are making healthy choices for your mind and body, and that is something to be proud of.
Self-Care Night
Draw a hot bath, plug in the essential oil diffuser, and put on your favorite relaxing music. Ring in the New Year by celebrating you with a spa-like treatment from the comfort of your own home!
Take the night to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future. You most likely have been running around non-stop during this holiday season. Use NYE as a time to reset.
Movie Series Night
Ring in your sober curious NYE by binge-watching your favorite movie series.
Grab the popcorn, candy, and hot chocolate. Set up your movie spot with the coziest blankets and your most fluffy pillows. Throw on your favorite pajamas and your comfiest, fuzzy socks. Turn on the movie of your choice and you’re ready to go!
Whether you’re a Harry Potter fanatic or you’re looking to relive your childhood by bingeing Disney classics, there are endless movie options for you to choose from. A movie night is a relaxing and entertaining way to spend a sober NYE!
Host a Game Night
Game nights are such a fun way to gather your friends and family together. Even just one board game can bring hours of fun. Spice it up by offering multiple different options for guests to play.
Or, bring out each other’s competitive sides and turn it into a tournament for a more intense experience!
Below are some party games that are guaranteed to get people involved!
(Click on the images to order directly from Amazon)
Fancy Dinner Reservations
Make a late-night reservation at that fancy restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.
I don’t know about you, but for me, one of my favorite parts of going out is just getting ready. Picking out a cute outfit, listening to good music, and getting dolled up is half the fun of a night out.
Make your reservation for the eight or nine o’clock hour. Dinner is the event so take your time browsing the menu, trying the appetizers, and don’t forget to order a delicious dessert to end the evening! After dinner, you can come home with a full belly, change into your pj’s, and watch the remainder of the NYE celebrations on tv. Truly nothing better!
First sober holiday? Don’t stress!
Remember planning ahead is key when you are trying to remain alcohol-free for the holidays. Fill up your schedule with activities you actually enjoy and surround yourself with the people you love!
Being sober doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, you’ll begin to notice that you have more time than ever before to spend enjoying your hobbies, making memories with friends and family, and taking care of yourself.
You should be so proud of yourself for taking the necessary steps to stick with your goal. Don’t forget to give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for putting your needs and well-being first. You’ve got this!
If you have any other alcohol-free NYE activities please feel free to share them in the comment section of this post!
This post was all about fun ways to spend New Year’s Eve without alcohol.
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