Getting sober can be hard, and it can be even harder to think about how to have sober fun.
But there are plenty of fun things to do sober. Sober fun isn’t impossible — you just have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone.
Here are 15 fun things to do sober.
1. Play Sports, Like Volleyball or Bowling
This is probably the most common activity that sober people do when they first get sober. No matter what 12-step group you to, you’ll probably find a group of people who play volleyball in the summer and go bowling at any time of the year.
But that’s not the only sport available obviously — there are tons of other options out there. You can join a pickup basketball game or join an adult’s sports league.
Of course, you need to be the kind of person who’s into exercising, and it’s okay if you’re not. If that’s the case, play a sport that’s less intensive, like golf.
2. Go to a Meeting and Go Eat Afterwards
Another really common activity that you’ll see in 12-step groups is that people will go eat after the meeting, usually in a large group.
This is a great way to meet people at your group and get to know them. Just don’t go eat before the meeting.
3. Go to a Theme Park
This of course depends on your area, but I highly recommend going to a theme park for some good sober fun.
In most cases, most of us aren’t exactly going to Disney World when we’re getting loaded.
If you used to love rollercoasters (or the less intense rides) when you were a kid, then take a trip back to those days and check out a theme park.
4. Go to a Concert | It Can Surprisingly Be Good Sober Fun
Concerts are notorious for drinking and drugs, so this isn’t something you’ll want to do alone, but you’d be surprised how much sober fun you can have at a concert.
You might want to wait until you’ve got a good amount of sober time under your belt. I started going to concerts in sobriety when I had a couple of years sober.
It’s also best to go in a group so that you have some sober friends who can help you stay accountable.
5. Play Video Games
Now I know a lot of people who used to smoke weed or do opiates and then play video games, but I’ve found a lot of my friends were so far gone that video games were not happening (nor was anything else really).
It’s not a cheap thing to do if you don’t have a gaming system, but if you’re sober, you’re probably getting some more money in the bank, so buying a video game system isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Playing multiplayer games with sober friends is a great way to start new friendships in sobriety. I know more than a few people who have made lifelong sober friends by playing multiplayer games like Monster Hunter or Destiny 2 online.
6. Go Hiking and Mountain Biking
When I get bored, one of the best ways I’ve found to cure that boredom is by getting outside. In fact, it’s one of my top tips in my guide on how I stay sober.
Getting outside is so so so important in sobriety. That vitamin D is a hell of a thing that can help you feel better — more so than you might think.
Plus, hiking or mountain biking lets you explore and see new parts of the world, gets you some good endorphins from the exercise, and is something you can do with friends.
Hiking also doesn’t cost anything, though mountain biking obviously cost money to buy and maintain. Still, if you’re sober, you probably have more money lying around than you did while you were getting high, so why not use it to buy something fun and good for your body?
7. Go Skydiving or Bungee Jumping | Indoor and Outdoor
If you weren’t aware, there’s such a thing as indoor skydiving. You get in a giant tube with a giant fan underneath, and you float in the air and feel like you’re skydiving.
It’s pretty fun, and it doesn’t cost much, so if you’re afraid of skydiving from thousands of feet in the air, this is a great, cheap alternative that’s much safer.
Actual skydiving can also be a fun thing to do sober and is worth checking out if you’ve got the stomach for it.
Then there’s bungee jumping, which falls in between the two. A nice adrenaline rush can be great in early sobriety to replace the highs you’re used to.
8. Going on a Boat Ride, Fishing, Hunting, and Shooting Can Actually Be Good Sober Fun
This obviously depends on where you live and how much money you have, but going boating can be some good sober fun. Whether it’s on a lake or in the ocean, you don’t have to drink to enjoy yourself on a boat.
There are plenty of places where you can rent a boat or have someone take you out for a fee, so don’t let the idea of buying a boat deter you from this sober activity.
Fishing — whether on a boat or not — is also a great sober activity. While it’s normally associated with drinking, going fishing with friends who are also sober is a good way to stay accountable.
Finally, if you’re the kind of person who likes to go hunting or shooting (and has the cash for guns and ammo), this can be great fun now that you’re sober.
9. Create Art
This is a big one for me. I love writing and creating stories, but for you creating art might mean literally painting, or it might mean making music, or just doing some journaling.
Whatever it is, I think creating art can be a profoundly good thing to do while you’re sober. It lets you channel all that extra energy that you have when you get sober into something productive that makes you feel great when you finish it.
10. Go on a Road Trip to Have Some Sober Fun
My wife and I regularly go on road trips and love it. Because you’re driving, obviously it’s important to be sober, so that can help you focus on your sobriety.
What’s really cool about sober road trips is that you can go to new meetings in new places and meet new sober people.
11. Go to an Escape Room
If you’ve never been before, escape rooms are awesome sober fun.
Basically, you’re “locked” in a room with a series of puzzles, and you have to solve the puzzles if you want to escape.
You can go with a group of friends, or even with people from your sober house (if you live in one) or your home group, and spend some time doing what I’d say is a pretty unique activity.
12. Go 4-Wheeling or Motorcycling
This is the most expensive activity on the list if you’re wanting to buy a 4-wheeler or a motorcycle yourself, but doing both these activities sober can be a huge adrenaline rush on top of being tons of fun.
Just like with boating, there are plenty of places where you can rent a 4-wheeler or a motorcycle and go along with instructors to make sure you’re doing it safely, but if you’ve got a friend with either of these vehicles, consider asking them to go with you.
13. Go to the Beach or the Lake for Some Sober Fun
Again, depends on where you live, but there are many places that have either a beach or a lake where you can hang out, get some sun, maybe do a little fishing, and relax.
Relaxing is really important in sobriety. We’re so stressed as a result of drinking and drugging that we almost forget how to relax. Beaches and lakes are perfect for that, and even when they’re crowded, they at least get you outside.
They’re also great for a BBQ, which you can definitely do with a group of sober friends from your AA group.
14. Get a Massage
Maybe not quite in the fun category, but getting a massage is a great way to relax.
I’m willing to bet you didn’t really get many massages when you were drinking and getting high, so treating yourself to a massage can be a great way to spend that extra money you’ve been making since you got sober.
15. Going Dancing Is Good Sober Fun
This one is more based on temperament, but for many of us, going to the club or the bar seems like it’s completely out now that we’re sober.
I don’t think that has to be the case. Going to the club and going dancing is absolutely an option for sober fun, but you just need to make sure — as with concerts — that you have some sober friends with you and that you’re feeling strong in your sobriety.
