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Make a Plan to Prevent Boredom This Winter

Nov 21, 2025 | Uncategorized

Boredom and recovery are natural enemies. Having nothing to do and no sense of purpose or accomplishment can lead to temptation and relapse. At Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, we recognize that winter can create added opportunities for boredom, and we want to help you think about ways to prevent this issue.

Found Time

SMART Recovery recommends treating times when we could be bored as “found time” that we can put to use to support our recovery. When a person is no longer using substances and no longer has to spend time seeking out their drug of choice or recovery from use, they may end up finding a lot more free time. 

Have a Routine

If you have a consistent schedule, you probably won’t find random pockets of time as often. If you can fill your days with things that support your recovery and make your life feel meaningful, you’re far less likely to give in to cravings or return to old habits.

Ways to Utilize Found Time in Winter

Although it might be easier to find ways to use up your found time when the weather is perfect and you can spend long periods of time outside, winter can still be a time of growth and productivity on your recovery journey.

  • Engage your spirituality: Attending church services, volunteering in your faith community, reading a devotional, spending more time on journaling, or whatever appeals to you to increase your connection with your inner self.
  • Winter sports: If you’re someone who likes being outside in the colder months, now might be your time to shine. Find something local to do or plan a trip somewhere to enjoy outdoor activities.
  • Reach out to your people: Invite over some friends to watch movies, play games, or talk recovery.
  • Attend extra recovery meetings: If you feel like you’re starting to slip, or even if you don’t, you can always attend some extra meetings, which may help you to make more sober friends and take your recovery journey to the next level.
  • Take a class: If there is a skill you’ve wanted to learn, there might be a class you could take to improve your abilities, meet new people, and fill the time.
  • Focus on hobbies: Whether you’re trying something brand new or picking up an old passion, winter is a great time to work on solitary pursuits.
  • Declutter and organize your space: While you’re sitting around, looking at all of your stuff, you might realize that you don’t need a lot of it. If it’s not “sparking joy” for you anymore, help it find its way to someone else.
  • Make use of your local library: Libraries are full of books, but they may also offer much more. They often have resources about jobs, volunteer opportunities, and community events. You may even be able to teach a free class about one of your passions or join a book club.
  • Get a pet: Animals are great companions, a motivation to get up in the morning, and are good for our physical and mental health.
  • Hit the gym: Maybe you can’t work out outdoors right now, but if you have a gym membership, you can still get exercise.
  • Set some goals: As the new year approaches, many people with be making resolutions because winter is often a time when people reflect more about the year that is ending and the many years before. What do you want for yourself in 2026, and what can you do today to get started on that?
  • Sign up to volunteer: Consider what you care about and how you would like to make a difference, and then find a program that aligns with that. This is a great way to make friends, find a sense of purpose, and may lead to career growth in the future. Some ways you can find volunteer opportunities include:

At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, our team of compassionate, knowledgeable professionals works with each client we serve to build a unique care plan to meet their individual recovery needs. This is a living document that they can take with them after discharge and modify as they grow and learn more about their own recovery path.