We gathered some tips and advice to help you have a sober fun long weekend. 

When we’re open and honest with our friends and family about our need to stay sober, people who truly care about us will be there to support us. If you’re feeling a bit unsure about what to do, here are some helpful tips to navigate the upcoming celebrations.

• Set Clear Goals and Expectations for yourself. Having a plan that helps you stay on track with your sobriety is job one! You know how hard you have worked to get to where you are now. A relapse is not on the agenda for this weekend so be ready and be strong. You will be pleasantly surprised how supportive most people are of your choice to remain true to yourself.
• Be prepared to spot and manage your tiggers: Anyone who has been through rehab knows that importance of being able to preemptively identify triggers, Half the battle is knowing the enemy, so being prepared when you enter into situations or confront feelings that might make you want to drink is very important.
• Lean into those tools and coping mechanisms. Take advantage of things  like deep breathing, and mindfulness tools you learned in rehab.  And for some added support, involve your friends and family members in your plan to help you deal with these triggers.
• Practice Saying “No Thanks”: Be prepared for situations where you might be pressured to drink. Practice saying “no” in a polite and firm way. Most people respond really well to “No, thank’s, I’m Sober,” or “No, thank you, I am not drinking.”  And if they don’t, maybe we need to hang with a different crowd.
• Be Mindful of what motivates your drinking: Think about why you might be tempted to drink. Are you looking for relaxation, social connection, or a way to cope with stress? Find alternative ways to address these needs without alcohol. You may want to revisit some of the exercises you were taught in your recovery program to help fortify your inner Zen Master before you head out.
• Plan your Weekend’s Activities in advance: In Canada we enjoy an embarrassment of riches when it comes to natural spaces. So it is easy to plan outdoor activities that don’t involve alcohol, like cycling trips, hiking, boating, swimming, camping even rock climbing.
  If attending a Victoria Day event is in store for you,  remember to bring along plenty of water and tasty non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy.
• Consider premade alcohol-free beverages  You may even want to indulge your inner mixologist and create some delicious mocktails. There are so many creative options out there. Now, this may not be for everyone who is in recovery, but for some, it can be a delicious choice. You know yourself best; trust your inner guide.