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What to do with my time

cyberius

cyberius

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Mar 11, 2013
Messages
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For the past few years, most my time has been spent either high, getting high, or thinking about getting high. I don't really have much else going on in my life besides work and drugs which is why I've been using so much.

What does everyone do for fun here besides drugs? I'd love to take up a couple new hobbies to focus my energy on something else, but at this point doing drugs is so deeply wired in my head it's hard to think of anything else to do for fun. :\
 
Not a new game by a long shot but i found my old game silent hunter 3 its a u-boat sim type and once i started playing it again its hard to stop. I also found a greywolves expansion pck free to download and it makes it a new game entirely. I must say i smoke a lot more though when i am playing it so i also build model planes for my grandsons now even though they are too young i do find it very relaxing
 
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cyberius said:
For the past few years, most my time has been spent either high, getting high, or thinking about getting high. I don't really have much else going on in my life besides work and drugs which is why I've been using so much.

What does everyone do for fun here besides drugs? I'd love to take up a couple new hobbies to focus my energy on something else, but at this point doing drugs is so deeply wired in my head it's hard to think of anything else to do for fun. :\
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Hey cyberius I totally feel you. I quit after a few years of living my life totally focused on getting and staying high. Honestly my big thing that helped rewire my brain was Netflix and exercise. Both very addictive and easy to do for a good part of your day. Good luck to you man and keep us updated!

Blesséd be,
vk
 
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I am currently starting to expand my understanding of chemistry, largely organic, before I go back to school to finish the degree I started. The way I see it is if I stick to the plan I am trying I will be able to learn most of the stuff I forgot/didnt know and when I manage to get back to school, hopefully in 2 years, it will be more of a review then a challenge. I dont have the money or the time to try to learn it while I am at school. Lucky for me its my lifes passion so I quite literally study it every free moment I get. Its only possible because I have a large amount of formal chemistry/lab training from majoring in it for 3 years at a university.

But its all encompassing and largely solo work... perfect for the guy who lost all of his old friends during a heroin addiction and will now be single for the first time in about 6 years. It uses most of if not all of my brain so its easy to have the real world slip away when i am studying or doing lab work. I have a feeling i am a rarity though

*edit* funny because I always said "ill probably never be a famous chemist, famous scientists usually hold up in a lab/ with their work and ignore family because my g/f gets my priority attention i will never be able to lock myself in the basement for days trying to discover something new" I guess maybe now i can
 
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Although i would most avidly advise working out, i am one of those people that loses motivation very easily, so i understand that that may not be the best suggestion sometimes even though it can usually be the most helpful activity.
MY advice would be to force yourself to find a new hobby, and also force yourself to plan activities for most of your day that way you do not find yourself getting bored. It doesnt even have to be very invigorating activities, just something to get you away from your mind. Maybe pick up cooking, or take a bartending class, or find some things in nature around your city that are fun to visit with friends or even alone. Maybe try wood-working or carving, or if you live near water, maybe kayaking or another water sport.

There are a lot of options out there, you just gotta push yourself to find some that you like.
 
I am returning to my old hobbies. I went on a kayaking/camping trip this past weekend, kayaked some more today, and rode my bike about 10+ miles. I also like to read, watch movies, attend 12 step meetings and sporting events and perusing museums. I also met someone who agreed to go out on a date with me - something not possible when drunk/high.
 
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Exercise, eat healthy, get in shape, explore new music, being around nature can really help trenendously depending where your located right now.

Photography, cooking, writing, adult sports leagues are just some things you could look into.

Just some food for thought.
 
I was concerned that if I allowed myself to stay bored I wouldn't stay sober so I had to plan weekly activities. My husband and I both enjoy going out a night, so we take ballroom dance lessons once a week and also go to dances. This occupies two to three nights a week, and allows us to dress up, socialize, enjoy music, and get exercise.

We also enjoy golfing and go out and play on the weekend end. Since we live on the course, it's a five minute walk to the clubhouse to practice. It's both fun and challenging, and it gets me out into nature.

Unless the weather is bad, I also walk for at least an hour a day. I've also taken up cooking which is surprisingly relaxing, and has added health benefits. If I'm really bored and have a few hours on my hands I'll break out the camera and go around town and take pictures. I'm fortunate to live 10 minutes from the ocean, and the city has a beautiful historic downtown, and some great parks so there is always good subject matter to be found.

I have found that unstructured time is dangerous to my recovery, so regardless I stay on a schedule. I go to bed early, wake up early, and make sure I have a plan for my day so I am not free floating. I'm currently unemployed which makes it difficult, but I am working on continuing my education so hopefully I can get a job in the near future, which will then consume at least 8 hours on the week days lol.
 
zombywoof said:
As said earlier getting fit and training can help release those endorphin's and that itself could turn out very addictive for you but in a good way for your mind and body.
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I keep hearing this but to be honest I think its a YMMV situation with exercise. Since I lost my scooter and have to pedal bike everywhere (and I live in the country so everything is FAR) I have been more addicted than ever. Wasn't till I quit my job a month ago that I realized how fucked things had got.

But cooking, playing the guitar, and watching mindless TV for hours and hours waiting for my brain to reset is how I spend my days now. Its fun I made a Chicago-style deep dish yesterday from scratch dough, sauce, and all. I'm almost as good at guitar as when I was a teenager. That's what helped me the most was to remember all the shit I used to do when I was younger. Life used to be so fun now I actually wish I was working all the time cause atleast I wouldn't have to deal with the boredom. I feel where your at I know how it is. Only thing that helps is time.
 
I'm in the same position right now OP. I'm 11 days sober off hard drinking and this anhedonia and depression sucks. It's not even so much that I can't think of things to do, I just find it pointless. I could watch a tv show right now and not even remember what I just watched. I hope this shit goes away.
 
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