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Staying Sober During the Holidays

December 10, 2025

The holiday season is short, but it can be stressful nonetheless. Protecting your recovery is of the utmost importance, so it’s essential to focus on the bigger picture. If you’re reading this, that’s something to celebrate in and of itself. By exploring tips for staying sober during the holidays, you’re setting yourself up for success, and that is worth taking pride in. As a top-rated addiction and mental health treatment provider, Northstar Recovery Center is here to support you and your long-term recovery.

Helpful Strategies for Staying Sober During the Holidays

Often, maintaining your progress is about so much more than saying no to drugs and alcohol. Here are some helpful strategies for staying sober during the holidays.

Reduce and Plan Ahead for Triggers

While you can’t always avoid them entirely, what you can do is reduce and plan ahead for triggers. To start, identify your personal triggers. Some common ones that emerge around the holidays include:

Being around people who are drinking.
Being in places, like parties, where substances are present.
Increased feelings of loneliness, overwhelm, sadness, or grief.

After identifying triggers, consider what’s within your control. Maybe, you can attend a support group or sober event to curb feelings of isolation. Perhaps, you need to set boundaries or say “no” to attending a potentially triggering event. It’s okay to put yourself first and do what you need to do.

Brush up on Self-Care

One of the best things you can do to maintain your sobriety is to brush up on self-care. Here are some of the things you can do that have the potential to make a big difference:

Keep up with basic routines. Look at the simple things first: Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating regular meals and snacks? Are you staying hydrated? These things are foundational parts of self-care.
Doing something you enjoy. It doesn’t have to relate to the holidays: going to a comedy show, exercising, reading, listening to music or podcasts, having a spa day at home, seeing friends, or anything else that elicits positive feelings without adding too much pressure.
Keep going to support groups and appointments. Even when you don’t feel your best, showing up to meetings and appointments (e.g., therapy) is an important part of caring for yourself in addiction recovery.

Some elements of self-care, like bathing or brushing your teeth, are normal daily tasks. Others, like spending time on your hobbies, are more fun. Do what you can to blend the two.

Start New Holiday Traditions

If your celebrations involved drugs or alcohol in the past, they don’t have to now. To get into the spirit and protect your sobriety, start new holiday traditions. Depending on your interests, you might try:

Baking cookies.
Local holiday light displays.
Gift exchanges with friends.
Making a gratitude list.
Winter sports.
Arts and crafts.
Board games.
Volunteering.

Talking to supportive people in your life, like family members, friends, your treatment team, or people in meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can help you explore ideas that stand out to you.

Use Self-Compassion

While finding joy and taking time for gratitude can support your mental health, some people feel pressure to be happy all of the time during the holiday season or to hide their struggles. It’s okay to have a hard time emotionally. Acknowledge how you feel without judging it (this is called radical acceptance, a skill commonly taught in dialectical behavior therapy), and use self-compassion. Your feelings make sense, and this time will pass.

Our Programs and Resources

Getting treatment for addiction allows you to build skills that support your sobriety year-round. Our programs and resources are here to help individuals and families heal from addiction and its effects.

Addiction Day Treatment Programs In Massachusetts

Our addiction day treatment programs in Massachusetts are comparable to a highly intensive outpatient program (HIOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP). Day treatment meets six days per week, so it is highly structured. Clients participate in therapy and other treatment activities from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays and from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturdays.

Intensive Outpatient Program In MA

Our intensive outpatient program in MA is the next step down from day treatment. Clients entering the intensive outpatient program (IOP) at Northstar Recovery choose from morning, afternoon, or evening treatment schedules, making it possible to get the care you need while maintaining other responsibilities.

Virtual Addiction Treatment In Massachusetts

In addition to our in-person treatment options, we offer virtual addiction treatment in Massachusetts. This includes our virtual PHP, virtual IOP, and hybrid scheduling, which combines in-person and online therapy sessions.

Call Northstar for Flexible Addiction Treatment in Massachusetts

Northstar Recovery Center provides personable and caring substance abuse and mental health treatment. With locations in West Springfield and Southborough, our team is proud to act as a guiding light on your journey to recovery. Call Northstar for flexible addiction treatment in Massachusetts today at (833) 853-8153.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are AA meetings held during the holidays?

Yes. AA fellowships meet regularly throughout the holiday season. Many even hold special meetings, since the holidays can be a tough time for those in recovery. To find your nearest local AA resource, go to aa.org and type in your location where it says “Find AA Near You.” Your local AA resource should have an up-to-date list of AA meetings, including those held during the holidays.

How can mindfulness help with staying sober during the holidays?

Mindfulness can help you stay sober during the holidays and throughout the year by promoting self-awareness, helping you maintain realistic expectations, and keeping you grounded. The idea of mindfulness is to stay present. A few examples of activities that can help you facilitate mindfulness include breathing exercises, meditation, and mindful walking.

Why are holidays hard for people with addiction?

Everyone’s different, but some people facing addiction and other mental health concerns have a hard time during the holidays. There are various reasons for this, such as:

Being in situations where substances are present.
Interpersonal conflicts or seeing people you would not usually see.
Changes in routine.
Loss of a loved one.
Financial strain.

Being conscious of (and honoring) your needs is important. You don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re just starting recovery or have been sober for a long time, having support during tough times can be crucial.

What is the hardest day in recovery?

It’s different for everyone. For many people, the acute withdrawal stage is one of the hardest. Others find that their most challenging days come later, when they have less support and supervision, or when they experience stressors, like the holiday season. We recommend a step-down approach to treatment and offer alumni services so that you or your loved one can access continuous support.