One of the concerns (and myths!) we hear most often from those who are just a few days into their early recovery journey is, “I won’t be able to have any fun anymore! What will I even do with my friends if alcohol/drugs aren’t part of the plan?” It’s a valid concern, because boredom has been proven to be one of the strongest triggers for recurrent substance use for those who are already sober and in recovery.
Preventing boredom is essential, and thankfully, it’s actually quite simple because there are dozens of awesome, fun, and usually low-cost ways one can fill their free time outside of work and responsibilities. Just to prove it to our readers, we thought it would be cool to put together a list of 10 fun activities that you can indeed participate in without the influence or even presence of alcohol or other drugs – and we’ve verified that there are places and spaces where you can participate in every single one of these throughout the greater Hendricks County community!
- Intramural sports like basketball, flag football, softball, soccer, & more! (YMCA’s, places of worship, local gyms)
- Exercise classes like CrossFit, Pilates, yoga, & more! (multiple local gyms)
- Walking/Jogging/Running/Biking/Skating– bonus points if you take your dog with you! (dozens of miles of trails and parks)
- Shared Interest Clubs like Master Gardeners, model building clubs, hunting groups, motorsports, car clubs, motorcycle riding groups, crafting groups, & more! (A quick Facebook search supplies more than 3 dozen options just in Hendricks County.)
- Enjoy a live music event (whether at HendricksLive! in Plainfield or at a local restaurant)
- Visit an art gallery or museum (check out Gallery on the Square in Danville, or visit Newfields in Indy.)
- Art classes (Brightly Art Studio and Board & Brush are both great!)
- Attend a local festival or market (The Covered Bridge Festival is lovely, and there are dozens of others happening this season throughout central Indiana)
- Apple-picking & pumpkin patches (We love Beasley’s Orchard!)
- Eat out! (several hundred restaurants to choose from in Hendricks County, and many of them don’t have bars so you can avoid that trigger.)
This list barely scratches the surface! Of course, there are also loads of things you can enjoy sober at home, like listening to music, reading or journaling, cooking or baking, and bonfires.
No matter what you choose, it’s important to find others you can connect with and who will enjoy it with you. The Willow Center is here for you if you’re ready to get the support you need in your own recovery journey!
