How to Have Fun Without Alcohol This Holiday Season
Whether you’re trying to get or stay sober or simply want to cut back on your drinking, it’s possible to have fun without alcohol this holiday season.
Drinking less or not drinking at all can prevent weight gain and even help you feel physically and mentally better after all the festivities are over. That said, it’s not always easy to pass on the drinks this season when alcohol seems to be everywhere.
So how can you have fun this holiday without alcohol, especially if it’s always been your crutch at gatherings? We’ve got a few ideas for you here!
Make Delicious Non-Alcoholic Drinks
You can do this during a get-together with friends or solo. Either way, it’s a fun way to welcome the cozier seasons and the holidays. Whether you’re a chocolate fanatic and want to make hot cocoa from scratch, or you want hot apple cider with whipped cream and cinnamon, go for it!
If you’d like, you can even create mocktail recipes that include holiday-inspired spices and flavors such as ginger, cinnamon, orange, and peppermint. The sky’s the limit with what you can create, so have fun making a booze-free drink that you can impress your guests with.
Have a Themed Get-Together
Alcohol can often be the unintended star of the show during get-togethers, so hosting a themed event can be more doable for those avoiding alcohol and give people something to do together.
Some ideas for a gathering include:
A baking bash. Whether you want to decorate gingerbread houses or make yummy treats from scratch with your friends and family, you can host this event as a competition or as just a fun way to make Christmas cookies and other baked goods.
A self-care social. Invite your besties over to wind down at your place with face masks, nail polish, and cucumber water, much like a spa but with much-needed time relaxing and catching up with friends, just without the happy hour.
A gift-wrapping party. Have your friends come over with their gifts, and you can wrap them while gossiping, watching a favorite movie, or just listening to Christmas music. To make things extra fun, make your friends forget about alcohol with a hot chocolate bar.
Plan an Outdoor Day
Yes, the temperatures are getting colder—but that’s what fleece is for! Plan an outdoor day solo or with friends or family to go skiing or snowboarding, walk in nature, play in the snow, or even run a 5K.
While out in nature, you can even collect some natural ornaments or tree decorations you may find, such as pinecones, rosemary, evergreen branches, holly, mountain laurel, and sage, if you can find these in your area. Winterberry, rosehips, and oranges also make for great holiday decorating.
See a Play or Holiday Performance (or Host a Movie Night)
Holiday-themed performances and plays are popular this time of year and can make for a moving evening with a partner or friends. However, if plays and live performances aren’t your thing, you can check out the latest movie in theaters or host a movie night.
Friends or family can even wear their pajamas or loungewear for extra comfort for a home movie night. Make some popcorn, grab some cookies, gather by the fire, and vote on your favorite holiday films to watch—no alcohol needed.
Treat Yourself
Reducing alcohol in your life or cutting it out completely isn’t easy and typically requires a shift in perspective and even your lifestyle. So give yourself a pat on the back by treating yourself.
If you’re on a budget, treating yourself could be something as small as a gingerbread latte from your local coffee shop or something as extravagant as a beach getaway in the middle of winter.
The point is to celebrate yourself and know that although life isn’t perfect and things can feel hard during the holidays, you’re loved and doing your best.
How Will You Celebrate the Holidays This Year?
Alcohol doesn’t have to be the focus of every holiday event this year. Try having fun this holiday season without alcohol by trying one of the above activities—we bet you won’t even miss your old glass of wine!