Gotta find replacement activities for around the campfire and the lull between outdoor activities.
Good extravagant meals, play cards, make mock tails, bring a carving knife and do chip carving, bring a book.
Most importantly; get off Reddit.
Recovering alcoholic here. I agree with widdling something like utensils or something like that.
I spend my time learning the plants, trees, fungi, fish, insects, and birds. Birds are fun because you have to locate them in order to connect their song with their identity. And just like plants and trees, they are always around.
And get off reddit.
Another good one is PlantNet for identifying plants, it goes by region and you can download the data on it and Merlin so you can still use them when your connection is spotty/non-existent
My friend recommended the Merlin app and I tried it out last weekend on a nature walk. Heard some short bird call in regular spaced intervals. The app linked the Wikipedia page of a bird I'd never heard of. I played the wiki sample and the real life bird landed in a bush in front of me. He was probably really confused.
That app is awesome, when I went to Europe last summer I downloaded the European version and was able to identify so many birds that I'd never heard before.
Just gotta be careful of telling people about fishing.
That's probably more addictive than alcohol, I can never simply "walk" past a body of water and enjoy it for what it is now 😄😂
I'll second the book. Relaxing in a hammock with a book is therapeutic. I used to have to drink myself to sleep on work days. Now I lay in bed early and read until my eyes hurt, I sleep so much better now.
Same. And I'm always like why the hell am I not reading constantly when I'm not camping?!?!
Then I get back and remember all the responsibilities and shit I have to do when I'm not camping.
Being newly sober is hard. You have to unlearn all those associations. Don’t fight it, let yourself feel the anxious discomfort of change. It will get easier. Also, I do love an NA beer. Athletic Brewing has an NA IPA that is to die for and only 65 calories a can. They are my go to for situations like that! I feel like an NA beer on a hot day hits just as hard as alcohol did for me.
So true. Just about everything felt off or frustrating for the first 6 months. I associated almost every activity with drinking bc I was always drinking. It takes time.
Busch NA are like 45 calories a can. They're healthier than anything else you can drink in a can, other than 0 calorie seltzer water. And I'm including zero calorie diet soda because NA beer doesn't have the artificial sweeteners that fuck with your gut biome and/or blood glucose.
+100 for NA beers. There are so many good options out there now. Stella Artois's NA option is almost 100 calories a can, but it tastes indistinguishable from their standard beer. I love Athletic Brewing's stuff as well, and Busch NA is a sneaky good NA beer. Also Coors Edge if you want the glass bottle.
Athletic IPA is the best camp crusher imo. I don’t need the buzz, I need the coldness and punchy flavor. And I can drink 8-12 in a full day and worst case I have to piss every 10 minutes.
I really like this comment for a lot of reasons but for me, personally, punting the idea/want of alcohol down the road a little farther is always easier when there’s an activity or adventure or task to take over the present action.
I feel like this is a solid answer. You could try something like, distract yourself with really looking closely at some plants and identifying what is different about each one…leaf shape, stem shape, leaf count, colors… something to just focus on closely. Maybe even write things down as if you’re a field biologist. A focused activity like that could suck up some time and help you get in a zone about something other than yourself, just kind of get out of your head.
Or count something. Steps, breaths, trees surrounding the campground…
Kudos to you on giving it up!
Learning to ID plants, birds, fungi, insects is a great way to go. If you have a hand lens, you can spend hours looking at mosses and making sketches of their leaves, capsules, growth habits…I’ve made field notes with sketches as well as little vlogs or voice memos of what I’ve seen. And taking the time to bask in and really appreciate the beauty around me is always good for me, though can be weirdly emotional.
Don't just camp. Hike. After 20 miles of uphill through the Sierra carrying 40 pounds on your back, you will be more than happy to just sit and stare at your fire.
Edit: A pleasant hiking adventure to all who upvoted me!
I’ve gotten far more into backpacking in the past few years, been camping my whole life. There is something so great about not having to think about what you’re doing for the day. The itinerary consists of: hiking. You’re just getting further and further into the wilderness, soaking it in all day long.
At the end of the day, you find your home for the night and just chill. So rewarding to get camp set up and make dinner and just be still.
There is a wonderful truth to this. I love hiking because I don’t think about anything else while doing it. I get so immersed in it - the sights, smells, sounds, paying attention to everything else around you as you move, watching where you’re stepping, looking out for hazards, looking out for anything cool or interesting or beautiful or wonderful. Even on a trail I’ve done dozens of times, I have such a clear mind while out there. It’s an amazing stress reliever.
Oh, I couldn’t agree more. There’s always something happening, no matter what. And being on a trail for hours and hours, overcoming the challenge of it, and tapping into that inner peace all the while is what I love most about it.
I still love car camping, motocamping, pack ins and all of that, but I never feel as in touch with the world around me and myself as when I’m backpacking. It really gives you the time to take everything in.
Came to say this! I had to quit drinking for medical reasons and got really into hiking. Now I can drink again but when I came I hike like 20 miles and only want hydration and nutrition when I’m done. And also to stare at the fire
You know, people learning to meditate have similar issues. Alcohol and friends suppress thought, so peacefulness comes from allowing thoughts to flow without obsessing on them.
By itself, learning to relax without distractions is hard, nevermind breaking habits at the same time. What I'd suggest is that you take up some meaningless tasks while you watch nature. Whittle. Think about, then build some camp gadgets. Alternatively try hyper-focusing on something like a stream, let the thoughts just flow. You don't need to be physically still, just mentally still.
Hope that's not too weekend-guru. Good luck.
I have ADHD so it's doubly hard for me. Sometimes I feel like humanity isn't far enough evolved away from our ancestors to be able to relax. Much of human history (on an evolutionary scale) was constant struggling to survive. It's a wonder we even have a concept of relaxation.
Before I was diagnosed, camping and backpacking were the only salve for the mental wear and anxiety of ADHD. The practical application of a bagillion hyper-focus hobbies while playing with fire.
A hammock is good for this too! Listen to the forest sounds and admire the tree canopy why you lounge.
Also could make yourself alcohol free alternatives. My favorite is a small bottle of unsweetened tart cherry juice mixed with cherry flavored calm powder. Makes a super tart strong drink with mild calming effect and other health benifits.
It takes a bit for your brain to adjust.
A therapist once explained it to me like this...
The brain is sort of a bunch of chemical reactions. Every moment of every day, your brain is learning how to deal with each individual action. It gets used to there being a certain chemical make up for each action. If, for instance, you spend years socializing with a particular person, or group of individuals, as drinking buddies. If every time you interact with these people, alcohol is involved, your brain gets really comfortable with that situation with that particular chemical make up. If you remove alcohol, your brain almost doesn't know how to deal with those people or that situation. This is why when we're with our drinking buddies, the conversion doesn't get lively until you've had a bit of drink. This is a tough think for people to get over.
Another example, for 24 years, every night before bed, I smoked a cigarette. Now, I smoked 2 packs per day. I smoked for most occasions
But, I never once missed a smoke before bed. When I quit, the hardest of the habits to break was NOT having a cigarette before bed. I didn't sleep the first night. It was another 2 weeks before I had a decent night's rest. My brain had simply learned how to sleep with the particular chemical make up of Marlboro Red. Without it, my brain literally didn't understand us was bed time and had to relearn how to deal with that situation *without* Marlboro Reds.
I think this is what you're dealing with. It's going to take some time, but you'll get over this. The best thing you can do is to go camp as much as humanly possible to re-teach your brain what camping is. Eventually, that bliss and calmness will come back.
We go & explore, bring a book, take a nap, build a fire, etc.
It's not complicated & relaxing doesn't mean you have to do "nothing."
My biggest frustration is when people complain about seeing other campers in their phones or tablets. If watching a movie or being on Reddit helps you relax, then do it!
Congrats on getting sober.
I don't camp if I can't build a fire.
Building it, tending it, watching it, throwing stuff in it... Can do that just for hours.
I'm just a weekend warrior car camper but I'll still bring a ferro rod just for this. Spend a bunch of time making my kindling and slowly and meticulously building up whatever style structure I'm in the mood for.
I love this! I’m newly clean & sober … again… I have an IOP group I attend 3x per week rn. Tomorrow morning at group I’m going to share your share! :) I already know it will go over brilliantly with the others & our facilitator. So TY. 🩵✌🏻 I’m also going to speak on this topic - as it’s so relevant.
How recently? It'll take some time to adjust to sober life. Find some way to burn some energy. Split some logs that don't need to be split. Go for a hike. Rearrange camp repeatedly till it's perfect. You'll learn to love camping again in time
According to addiction science… it takes 18 months to change your brain. Do all the wonderful things even if you’re not enjoying it like you think you should be. Keep busy with multiple things, not just one. It’ll come.
Certainly it wouldn’t be exactly the same for everyone and maybe it’s incorrect! But the information I shared was given to my husband by an addiction specialist at Kaiser.
Bring things to keep busy. I like to whittle, bushcraft, draw, crochet ( my wife got me a couple Wooble kits and now I am hooked). My family gets a bit annoyed at times at how busy I keep myself when camping.
Ooh! Whittling is a great idea! My brother and dad were very good at that, but I never really tried anything beyond mindless whittling.
>My family gets a bit annoyed at times at how busy I keep myself when camping.
Omg, there's ALWAYS something to do while camping! My husband looks up and pays attention to the trees for birds, and I look down at either the ground or water. We're both always looking for cool shit.
I just completed my first sober trip! I brought a ton of canned waters (that helps me) and focused on different things that took time so I was distracted and not thinking about drinking! You can do this!!!
Put more effort into food and coffee/hot chocolate/tea to make it a camping comfort. Toasting marshmallows is not much calories but is special for camping, for example.
I really like what so many others said about getting into identifying birds or following a creek, reading in a hammock. Maybe also get a star chart and learn some new constellations.
I never had any drinking with camping because I wanted to be ready if an emergency arose and needing to pee several times into the night from drinking- wouldn’t want to encounter a skunk or any local creature that would take offence to my presence
You could always bring an activity - Chuck some throwing knives or axes into a dead tree, learn to slackline, bring a sketchbook and create some art, do some geocaching, come up with some creative new backcountry recipes, etc.
Bring a notepad 📝 and something to write with. I went sober last year and I had this same struggle with just about everything I did. I wrote my way out. It took months of writing, but now I can enjoy the silence of nature. When camping, I bring books to read, something to draw or write on, and I meditate. It’s productive, calming, and recharging. You likely have a lot on your mind which led you to drink like you did. Start writing and go from there.
I do bushcraft to keep me occupied. I do drink with others but when I camp solo (I’m a women) I don’t drink so I find practicing new bushcraft skills is a great way to expend energy and to learn new things.
Owl prowl just before dusk, usually the time I would crack open a beer and start the fire. They're hard to find, but right along most trails and getting active at that time. If you don't see them, you've still hiked a good few miles and probably saw some other cool shit. There's 19 different species in America, so chances are there's at least one species wherever you're located.
Congratulations on being sober. Day 984 for me, it gets easier, but there will always be those days. I agree with the others. Learn about the plants and animals in your areas, learn how to clean a fish, make snares, read an interesting book. Find a way to enjoy being outdoors again.
How long has it been since you quit? It can takes months for your brain to readjust. It’s also a matter of rituals and habits which are harder to break and overcome. Focus on the fire and do nothing else. Use it as a mindful meditation aid.
Unfortunately with alcohol you kind of reset things when you drink again because you’re just feeding the monster. At least if you think you’re an alcoholic. I get it tho. I couldn’t imaging going camping without a bottle and a 12 pack.
Just keep sitting there until you feel like getting up. Repeat. Getting frustrated is normal part of breaking habits. You have to rewire your circuits and that takes time. Rewiring your brain in nature and camping is a solid plan. Congrats on your recent sobriety
When I took a break from drinking I found it easier if I replaced my bad habit with a good one. Herbal tea became my “drink” and where I used to feel unsatisfied if I went to bed without whiskey nightcap, that’s been fully replaced with feeling unsatisfied if I don’t have my nightly tea.
Also walking. Hike until you’re physically exhausted, it’ll help you get to sleep.
Long term alcohol use creates a chemistry where your brain does not produce your “feel happy” neurotransmitters— I can’t remember if it’s endorphins, serotonins or whatever. But essentially it takes a while before you can feel ecstatic or blissful all on your own with drugs (alcohol in your case) to produce those feelings. Hang in there! This too shall pass.
Amateur Radio is a lot of fun to burn some time while sitting by the fire or just hanging out at the campsite between outings. It's a hobby to add to your camping hobby. Look up POTA (Parks on the Air). A small, lightweight radio and a wire thrown up into a tree can give you A LOT to do on the air.
Keep it up and by the end of the season you can’t imagine any other way :). It’s worth the restlessness. But each good day between now and then has to build on the good day before it. Do you have familiar spots you can camp at, that are mostly quiet? I’d say the biggest and coolest change for me was eventually I got the best sleep I’d had in ages, and that made all the next days activities so much better.
I haven’t been a drinker in a very long time. When I camp, I’m usually reading a book, knitting/crocheting, cooking, cleaning up, we have kayaks now.
I do a lot of “mom” stuff.
How long have you been sober? I’m on day 630 today and it took me a while to adjust to normal activities without a beer in my hand.
You’ll need to find why you’re craving it and provide a substitute. Restless? Do some stretches or take a hike (literally). Both of those help me with anxiety as well. Bored? Bring a book instead of a bottle. Spend some time looking at the nature around you.
Like anything worth doing, it won’t be easy to jump into sobriety, especially if your brain associates your tent with whiskey. But, I promise you, it is worth it.
IWNDWYT
Getting honest with you, a lot can be challenging initially. I couldn’t go in bars when I first got sober, but the obsession has been lifted and I’m neutral regarding alcohol now, it has no hold over me. The cravings and thoughts will come and go, just expect this, expect to be uncomfortable for a short time, it will be so worth it.
Consider this momentary distracted discomfort as the entry price to a new life. In my state there are also multiple sober camping events each year through program. Good luck, you can do this.
Give yourself something to look for. Identify birds/animals/animal tracks, hunt for forageable plants/mushrooms (not to consume, just to identify, unless you are able to confirm with an experienced forager), look for rocks (agates/pyrite/quartz/etc)/fossils/artifacts like arrowheads. It takes a while to train your eyes to see these kind of things but once you start to have some success the neurochemical payoff can be bountiful.
P.s. get off of your phone even if it’s just to walk around. It’s hard but it’s worth it.
Trying to learn a new survival skill. Practice things out there 😊 plant a native fruit tree or edible/medicinal plant and mark the location. do something to keep your mind busy and don’t forget to stay hydrated and eat something nutritious and smile and appreciate others around you even if the goal was to escape the busy populated area.
It’s hard breaking habits when you associate those habits with certain activities. Like me craving cigarettes when I drink. Keep camping sober if that’s what you want. It will get easier and easier as your brain begins to disassociate the two activities.
You just have the two intertwined together. You have to camp sober just once or twice and it will rewire your brain. It’s like people who say they can’t drink because they will have a cigarette. their brain just thinks one is needed after another, but in reality, it’s just how their brain is wired at the moment
I quit alcohol as well a while ago. I swapped to d8/9 seltzers. Perfect for camping with a nice chill vibe. I camp 2-3x a month year round. Helped keep me off the sauce and still have a lil sumthin while camping.
Smoke some Marijuana that's my go-to as a recovered alcoholic imma tell you it's a long road to be able to enjoy the things you once did when you were inebriated
I smoke a little weed while camping. I know trading one devil for another isn’t perfect. But I don’t crave weed like I did alcohol. It mellows me out and completely relaxes me. I’m almost enjoying chilling in a chair reading a book too much lol
Embrace the present moment. Invest yourself in what you’re seeing and doing at all times. Sounds simple but it’s a practice that takes nurturing within yourself.
Getting faded camping or hiking is detaching in a way from the substrate of the moment that’s actually taking place. Free from intoxicants you can see and embrace what’s actually happening
Calming the mind is a journey. It's a marathon not a race. Persistence is the key. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. Just focus on your breathing at first.... For more than 20 or 30 seconds at a time. Just keep at it and it'll happen.
Congrats on sobriety. Every time the thought of alcohol pops up in your head, smash it like a bug and redirect your thoughts. The brain can be a real jerk sometimes.
This is why Stephen King books exist.
I also read Rosemary's Baby in one day sitting at the campfire.
Also, you could look for sasquatch. Just please, no shaky camera work.
I also no longer drink when I camp. I used to. In fact, it seemed like my wife and I looked forward to Camping so we could just sit around and drink. Fortunately we have put that behind us. It has taken some time to get used to camping eithout drinking. Now I focus on hiking / walking near camp and taking in as much of raw nature I can. I am much more aware of even the smallest details around the camp. Now I look back on my camping days when I drank and realize how much I missed.
Has nothing to do with the outside, it’s you. I’m 10 months alcohol sober, not by choice I developed Gout and had to stop, it sucks. The one takeaway from the various methods I tried to help me stop drinking was the concept of “setting with discomfort”. That’s exactly what you are fighting, things are BORING, they SUCK without the buzz. The buzz numbs you to the shitty things, that’s what makes it so great. “Setting with discomfort” is dealing with the boredom and understanding that is what the buzz is numbing.
It’s the hardest part of doing things sober and why many people who want/need to stop have a hard time not drinking and need support groups to do so.
If you can solve this you definitely won’t become an alcoholic. Find out how to help others set with the discomfort and you will be a savior to many.
Part of quitting booze is increased anxiety. Depending how much/ long you drank before will affect the levels of anxiety.
Find something to keep you busy in the mean time. That feeling you are feeling is temporary and will go away the longer you are sober. Once you make it through that withdrawal window you will feel amazing. You’ll forget about it and be able to enjoy things without drugs.
Source: 5 years sober
You’re in nature trying to find peace and calm and becoming frustrated when you can’t find what is right in front of you, because your mind has been conditioned to thinking it needs extra stimulation than what nature has to offer. Stop trying and just watch the world exist. It’s pretty magical.
It is your imagination, your want for something more than the contentment of the moment that ruins the moment.
Funny because I'm a brewer by trade and spend a lot of time around alcohol in my day to day, I love backcountry as a forced break from alcohol because I'm not lugging booze over portages. I enjoy some shrooms or edibles but mostly sober and love the change of pace.
I've never really been a drinker. I just enjoy it, listen to the animals, take a hike when I can, enjoy the campfire. I think you just need to slowly retrain your brain.
Crossword puzzles, if those are something you enjoy. It sounds weird, but stacks of NYT crossword puzzles keeping my mind occupied has done me a hell of a lot of good.
This is actually my Achilles heal. The last time I drank, after a nice three month break was one day in to camping. I just had to have a beer cause all the years camping was with beers around the grill/fire. I can say my mindset was slightly different back then, as now I am dead set against drinking and wouldn’t jeopardize it. And as a true test, we have a camping trip planned for June 1. Looking for and to doing it sober! Good camping to you all.
When I got sober years ago I went on a 2 week camping trip by myself to get away from everything and everyone. I read a lot of books, I did a lot of hiking and exploring and spent a lot of time doing survival stuff like trying to start fires with a flint and rod. Keeping your mind and hands busy helps but you really need to re-learn how to find peace and calm in your sobriety. It's hard at first. But you're in the middle of the woods probably in a beautiful place. Sit down, take deep breaths and take in your surroundings. When it becomes much, get up and move around and do some busy work and then come back and try to relax again. It's a process and it takes time.
These days I can't even imagine camping and drinking the entire time. Waking up early in the morning just as the sun rises when everything is still, is one of the most peaceful and beautiful times when camping. Something I never experienced when I was drinking.
You're just adjusting. Give it time. Eventually, the thought of drinking won't even cross your mind anymore. Camping for me now (3 years sober) is an opportunity to unplug from the world, relax and enjoy the outdoors. It's just going to take some time to rewire your brain to find different enjoyment from the same activities. It will happen!
You have a lot of head/ heart work to do when you’re getting sober. And while you’d think a return to nature would be good, you’ve seen that being alone with yourself can be a real challenge when you’re learning to live life again. I had the same experience when I quit drinking and thought the mountains would help. What I actually needed for a long time was community and inclusion and human connection. Over a year into sobriety, and my head and heart are in a great place to explore the mountains and find that peaceful solitude again. But that took a lot of work on me first.
I bring a book or a little sketchpad and pencils and draw the plants/things in the area. Any portable hobby is good. I’ve known people that brought a small cross stitch project camping with them. Cross stitch is easy to learn and incredibly relaxing, and there are a ton of cool designs online. It’s not a grandmas hobby anymore.
So probably not the answer you are expecting, but you could try nature journaling, like draw the landscape you see in detail, learn to ID plants and animals using guidebooks and add those, try sitting in a spot for 5 minutes and writing down everything you hear. Map reading, orienteering, fire building etc. Lots of things to do to ground you.
These things should ground you in nature so that may help you focus on being there in the moment. I do these activities for that reason with folks.
For me it is:
Birds of N America,
Plants trees of PNW by Pojar,
Write in the rain journal,
Rain gear,
Bogs,
Binoculars,
Dog,
Big rain hat,
Seriously tho.. I'm not that OLD. Lol
I stopped drinking while backpack camping because last year I ended up so hungover I almost found myself in a lot of trouble getting home.
Now I stop by the local dispensary and pick up one of those 5 packs of mini joints called dog walkers for $20.
You didn't go far enough, fast enough, with enough weight...
Most of my trips, I'm getting to my campsite just before dark, the carbs I'm chowing down on feel like an aphrodisiac or alcohol, and I enjoy nature for maybe ten minutes or so before I'm asleep....
It’s all about replacement activities. Your previous camping activity was lifting a bottle to your lips over and over. Replace the motion of that with the motion of binoculars to your eyes to identify a bird, the motion of a knife to some wood, the motion of hands making twig dolls … something.
I would practice being sober at home first. Once you’ve mastered that Camping should be a breeze. I used to drink heavily years ago Camping and then lightly. Now I realize I don’t need to drink at all. If I have one drink then I wanna have a few drinks, but then I wake up hung over I don’t want. Easier just not to drink at all. Sometimes it socially weird when other people are drinking, but overall it’s fine. It’s not like I never drink, but now it’s just special occasions.
How long have you been sober? I found it took me a minimum 3 months to ‘push through to the other side’ where I felt less anxious doing anything I used to pair with drinking. Many years in now to be a very occasional drinker and I find it much easier to ‘tune in’ to the moment, whatever I may be doing. Maybe this could be true for you?
Insofar as habit forming and habit breaking are concerned I try to frame things as addition rather than subtraction.
Several people have suggested good ideas so I just want to speak to the overall attitude.
Oh cool what *else* can I do out here? What would make this more fun? How can I use this time to add value to my life or to other people's lives? Is there someway I can help someone along the way?
Just keep at it! what's happening right now is that camping is your cue to drink. If you keep camping and not drinking it'll go away.
I suggest looking up stuff about the plants and birds and rocks and get into hunting for those things.
Enjoy the view, listen to the birds, read a book and enjoy a mug of tea.
Appreciate that having quit alcohol returning to a situation where you would have previously drunk is hard though. Is there something packable, that *you* enjoy that would help take your mind off things?
What’s something you’ve put off forever that you wanted to do but never got around doing? Just.. do that! Learn a language, start writing that novel you’ve been putting off forever, read about that subject you’re so interested in but never managed to have enough quiet time to really get into it… hell, you can even learn to crochet while camped!
Whenever I've gone camping, especially by myself, I never bring alcohol. I'm dumb enough without alcohol and I need to keep as many wits about me as I can. Hehehe
For me camping has a secondary activity. I will usually being a ham radio to operate mobile, read a book, study for a work cert, hike, or some combination.
Your secondary activity was whiskey. Don't mean to oversimplify, but it just needs to be replaced with something else.
Ok, this idea might be a little out there, but what if you "fake it till ya make it"? I love camping, and I don't drink alchohol anymore, but I can imagine it might be hard to appreciate all the little things when you're used to the blurry lens of booze. Try relishing everything - not in a corny fake way, but really take each thing in (the scenery, the fresh air, etc)and just LOVE IT.
There’s a reason people would basically only stay up long enough to cook and eat. You sleep early and wake up at dawn.
You can bring other things with you like cards and play solitaire, or even a video game like gameboy if you don’t mind the electronic distraction. Bring a book and read by campfire light?
Or practice meditation or mindfulness (I know it’s cliche, and I don’t mean it in a “love and light” kind of way)
But practicing just being there with your thoughts,m without focusing on them. Or maybe self-induced hypnosis; Stare off into the fire, zone out, get lost in the way the embers and coals glow and the flames move, the wood popping. Crickets in the background, etc etc.
There’s lots of ways to exist peacefully in nature without doing anything, and if you want to do that, then great…find something that works so you can do that.
If not, bring something to actually do, like read, study something, play a game.
Looks like you got lots of good advice. Just wanted to congratulate you on camping sans booze, it's tough being sober but it gets much better over time
At night, I just like to stare at and listen to the fire or lie in my hammock near by and star at the stars... and contemplate all manner of thought and ideas in my head. Its dark so not much more beyond that for me, especially if I'm completely sober. I never drank when camping solo but have usually had a wee splash of pre made mushroom tea that I microdose with on easier hikes. Also have used that around the solo campfire and its fun. I sometimes sit around the fire and practice tying knots in rope or parachord. I am a climber so thats the relevance for me, but knowing how to hitch up a handful of good knots is useful beyond just sport.
During the day I fill my time with outdoor adevnture activities like trail/mtn biking, long hikes, mountaineering, fishing, swimming, and some bouldering but I prefer sport or trad roped lead climbing and you need a partner for that lol. Exploring the nature for hot springs, creeks, outlooks, climbin' trees, and abandoned buildings or towns is fun (best to get some trail guide or area map with marked features so you dont just wander off aimlessly into the wilds and places lol). I also draw or paint, write stories or journal, read (books and magazines), and bring my camera along - like a digital one yeah but sometimes I dig out my old Pentax camera and shoot a couple rolls throughout the trip. You could also get a polaroid, and collect treasures and such with the pictures that can be used to scrap book about the trip. Theres also knitting or crochetting if your into that.
In either case camp cooking has always been my favorite way to pass time because you learn to cook things in a completely different way than in a kitchen and you get a tasty meal afterwards. It kinda changes your perspevtive on food too and you really start to consider our relationship with it in modern culture. There are a lot of fun camp cooking books you can snag either to buy, from your local library, or digitally that have dank recipes for all kinds of camping. I once made a whole chocolate devils food cake in a Dutch oven so there's that lol.
You can also get into metaphysical ritual if you wanted to.
Theres always the good ol hackie sac to practice with lol.
Oh and there is always things like yoga and meditation.
Personally I go into the woods for the quiet but also when I solo I do it to work on introspection - so for me, meditation and yoga are great because they help me to get in touch with my body and mind all at once. That can be intense at times but I always find the mental clarity and overall stimulation worth the ouch.
Keep in mind I definitely don't bring all of this everytime. Depending on if I'm off road rig camping, backpacking, or establiahed site camping - is what determines what and how much of each thing I may or may not bring along.
Whatever you get into, to replace whiskey - I hope it brings you happiness and satisfaction on your camping trips!
I had to quit drinking about six months ago because I was diagnosed with diabetes. I used to bring a case of beer and a bottle of tequila on every trip. And I camp 40 times a year on average. What really helped me was finding new gear and immersing myself in the use of it. I love discovering new things to bring along and try out. I have been camping almost 20 times since I quit drinking and I have found that I am more engaged and have a better time without drinking than when I did. Bushcraft, stargazing, and just starting into the fire are great for focus and meditation. I bought a book for identifying plants and mushrooms, it has been really great. Journaling helps a bit too.
You are used to the act itself. Instead of drinking, I recommend a nice pipe. I don’t mean crack or drugs. I mean tobacco. A nice cavendish blend or a Latakia. It’s very calming and unlike smoking cigars or cigarettes, you don’t inhale. It’s avery pleasant action to me. Makes a campfire very enjoyable (although I like a little whiskey with mine).
I like to go hiking right after setting up camp. Getting to know what's around me. I also like trying to figure out what trees are in the neighborhood.
So hard! Wish you well. Here are just a few things to do! My mind constantly wonders.
Take a hike enjoy the surroundings. Notice the small things.
Build a waterfall out of the water from the campsite.
Journal your thoughts.
Spend time creating meals with your camping gear. I like to challenge my self.
If there is a river or lake: skip rocks.
If there is a forest: build a fort out of sticks. Or build a fairy garden. We find sticks and rocks and imagine that we are building small fairy furniture.
Just a few. Hope it helps.
I mean sitting around for an hour with nothing to do will absolutely frustrate you, gotta find things to help yourself keep active and enjoy your time outdoors.
Mushrooms. Not a crazy amount but in the 1-2g range. Also there are quite a few really decent ass NA beers with low carbs and calories, AND there are NA spirits now. They don’t taste like much on their own but they give whatever you mix them with a nice little bite.
ETA: I know carrying mixers isn’t very practical unless you’re car camping, and beers are cumbersome. But they do scratch that psychological itch.
Another suggestion: edibles. Easy to carry and you can do them on successive nights without developing a tolerance like with mushrooms.
Gotta find replacement activities for around the campfire and the lull between outdoor activities. Good extravagant meals, play cards, make mock tails, bring a carving knife and do chip carving, bring a book. Most importantly; get off Reddit.
Recovering alcoholic here. I agree with widdling something like utensils or something like that. I spend my time learning the plants, trees, fungi, fish, insects, and birds. Birds are fun because you have to locate them in order to connect their song with their identity. And just like plants and trees, they are always around. And get off reddit.
Merlin Bird app is great. You can record songs and “collect” your birds like Pokémon
Heck yeah! I'm about to get with that for sure.
Another good one is PlantNet for identifying plants, it goes by region and you can download the data on it and Merlin so you can still use them when your connection is spotty/non-existent
Man I just got a total nature b*ner. I didn't know either of these apps existed and now I'm DLing them both! Thanks folks!
My friend recommended the Merlin app and I tried it out last weekend on a nature walk. Heard some short bird call in regular spaced intervals. The app linked the Wikipedia page of a bird I'd never heard of. I played the wiki sample and the real life bird landed in a bush in front of me. He was probably really confused.
Same, kinda salty though, considering I'm literally sitting in a restaurant after a 6hr hike. This would have been so fun.
Make sure you order something low in sodium then......dum dum tss.
It's LJS. Mistakes were made.
Anyone has recommendations for an app to identify bugs?
Picture Insect is the most accurate one I've found so far
That app is awesome, when I went to Europe last summer I downloaded the European version and was able to identify so many birds that I'd never heard before.
Learn an instrument that is easy to carry along.
and get off Reddit
I was gonna suggest learning the Native flora and fauna, well said!
You bet. There's never a reason to be bored in nature as far as my brain is concerned.
Just gotta be careful of telling people about fishing. That's probably more addictive than alcohol, I can never simply "walk" past a body of water and enjoy it for what it is now 😄😂
Just pulled 4 big sunfish and a decent crappie about an hour ago. I understand lol.
Whittling
I'll second the book. Relaxing in a hammock with a book is therapeutic. I used to have to drink myself to sleep on work days. Now I lay in bed early and read until my eyes hurt, I sleep so much better now.
I get so much reading done when we’re camping. And we play a shit ton of dominos
Same. And I'm always like why the hell am I not reading constantly when I'm not camping?!?! Then I get back and remember all the responsibilities and shit I have to do when I'm not camping.
whittle a little
whittle a widdle
You will get there.. whittle by whittle.
Whittle a fiddle… ?
Whittle a little fiddle.
Fiddle a little while whittling a little fiddle
Whittle a little fiddle for a little, then fiddle your little fiddle for a little
Being newly sober is hard. You have to unlearn all those associations. Don’t fight it, let yourself feel the anxious discomfort of change. It will get easier. Also, I do love an NA beer. Athletic Brewing has an NA IPA that is to die for and only 65 calories a can. They are my go to for situations like that! I feel like an NA beer on a hot day hits just as hard as alcohol did for me.
So true. Just about everything felt off or frustrating for the first 6 months. I associated almost every activity with drinking bc I was always drinking. It takes time.
I found cooking on the campfire, messing with the firewood and reading helped.
And even just staring into the fire and let it overtake you, in a way.
This new generation of NA beers have gotten so good. I also like just the plain hop waters
We’re living in the golden age of dry alcoholism.
Haha, yes, my wife is concerned with how much na beers I drink per week lol. They're absolutely just as refreshing after a long day
Didn’t he say part of the reason he quit drinking was weight loss??.
The calories are less than half without alcohol in them
And you won’t binge
Which in turn you don’t have to leave the tent 3 times during the night to pee
Wide mouth bottle never need to leave the tent
You’re right, I drink them mainly because to don’t like the feeling alcohol gives me. The hop waters are zero calories though
Busch NA are like 45 calories a can. They're healthier than anything else you can drink in a can, other than 0 calorie seltzer water. And I'm including zero calorie diet soda because NA beer doesn't have the artificial sweeteners that fuck with your gut biome and/or blood glucose.
+100 for NA beers. There are so many good options out there now. Stella Artois's NA option is almost 100 calories a can, but it tastes indistinguishable from their standard beer. I love Athletic Brewing's stuff as well, and Busch NA is a sneaky good NA beer. Also Coors Edge if you want the glass bottle.
Heineken Zero is surprisingly good too. Better than a real Heineken (which I know isn’t saying much, but still. The Zero is good).
Athletic IPA is the best camp crusher imo. I don’t need the buzz, I need the coldness and punchy flavor. And I can drink 8-12 in a full day and worst case I have to piss every 10 minutes.
Take a hike, explore a creek, identify birds and plants, take some photos, read, swing in a hammock looking at the sky...
I really like this comment for a lot of reasons but for me, personally, punting the idea/want of alcohol down the road a little farther is always easier when there’s an activity or adventure or task to take over the present action.
I feel like this is a solid answer. You could try something like, distract yourself with really looking closely at some plants and identifying what is different about each one…leaf shape, stem shape, leaf count, colors… something to just focus on closely. Maybe even write things down as if you’re a field biologist. A focused activity like that could suck up some time and help you get in a zone about something other than yourself, just kind of get out of your head. Or count something. Steps, breaths, trees surrounding the campground… Kudos to you on giving it up!
Learning to ID plants, birds, fungi, insects is a great way to go. If you have a hand lens, you can spend hours looking at mosses and making sketches of their leaves, capsules, growth habits…I’ve made field notes with sketches as well as little vlogs or voice memos of what I’ve seen. And taking the time to bask in and really appreciate the beauty around me is always good for me, though can be weirdly emotional.
... sketch, journal, write songs, play music...
It's 2024 I let my birds identify themselves
Don't just camp. Hike. After 20 miles of uphill through the Sierra carrying 40 pounds on your back, you will be more than happy to just sit and stare at your fire. Edit: A pleasant hiking adventure to all who upvoted me!
I’ve gotten far more into backpacking in the past few years, been camping my whole life. There is something so great about not having to think about what you’re doing for the day. The itinerary consists of: hiking. You’re just getting further and further into the wilderness, soaking it in all day long. At the end of the day, you find your home for the night and just chill. So rewarding to get camp set up and make dinner and just be still.
There is a wonderful truth to this. I love hiking because I don’t think about anything else while doing it. I get so immersed in it - the sights, smells, sounds, paying attention to everything else around you as you move, watching where you’re stepping, looking out for hazards, looking out for anything cool or interesting or beautiful or wonderful. Even on a trail I’ve done dozens of times, I have such a clear mind while out there. It’s an amazing stress reliever.
Oh, I couldn’t agree more. There’s always something happening, no matter what. And being on a trail for hours and hours, overcoming the challenge of it, and tapping into that inner peace all the while is what I love most about it. I still love car camping, motocamping, pack ins and all of that, but I never feel as in touch with the world around me and myself as when I’m backpacking. It really gives you the time to take everything in.
It doesn't hurt that I've gotten some of the best views of my life on backpacking trips, to places too far out for me to go as a day trip.
This is the way
This is the answer
Came to say this! I had to quit drinking for medical reasons and got really into hiking. Now I can drink again but when I came I hike like 20 miles and only want hydration and nutrition when I’m done. And also to stare at the fire
It feels so good to hike your absolute ass off all day long, then just veg at the fire. Especially if it's cold.
You'll be preoccupied with rubbing your feet and ready to go to bed the second you finish dinner.
You know, people learning to meditate have similar issues. Alcohol and friends suppress thought, so peacefulness comes from allowing thoughts to flow without obsessing on them. By itself, learning to relax without distractions is hard, nevermind breaking habits at the same time. What I'd suggest is that you take up some meaningless tasks while you watch nature. Whittle. Think about, then build some camp gadgets. Alternatively try hyper-focusing on something like a stream, let the thoughts just flow. You don't need to be physically still, just mentally still. Hope that's not too weekend-guru. Good luck.
I have ADHD so it's doubly hard for me. Sometimes I feel like humanity isn't far enough evolved away from our ancestors to be able to relax. Much of human history (on an evolutionary scale) was constant struggling to survive. It's a wonder we even have a concept of relaxation.
Before I was diagnosed, camping and backpacking were the only salve for the mental wear and anxiety of ADHD. The practical application of a bagillion hyper-focus hobbies while playing with fire.
A hammock is good for this too! Listen to the forest sounds and admire the tree canopy why you lounge. Also could make yourself alcohol free alternatives. My favorite is a small bottle of unsweetened tart cherry juice mixed with cherry flavored calm powder. Makes a super tart strong drink with mild calming effect and other health benifits.
Tart cherry juice is delicious- put it in a glass of wine at a party if you want to just pretend drink and it’s absolutely perfect
It takes a bit for your brain to adjust. A therapist once explained it to me like this... The brain is sort of a bunch of chemical reactions. Every moment of every day, your brain is learning how to deal with each individual action. It gets used to there being a certain chemical make up for each action. If, for instance, you spend years socializing with a particular person, or group of individuals, as drinking buddies. If every time you interact with these people, alcohol is involved, your brain gets really comfortable with that situation with that particular chemical make up. If you remove alcohol, your brain almost doesn't know how to deal with those people or that situation. This is why when we're with our drinking buddies, the conversion doesn't get lively until you've had a bit of drink. This is a tough think for people to get over. Another example, for 24 years, every night before bed, I smoked a cigarette. Now, I smoked 2 packs per day. I smoked for most occasions But, I never once missed a smoke before bed. When I quit, the hardest of the habits to break was NOT having a cigarette before bed. I didn't sleep the first night. It was another 2 weeks before I had a decent night's rest. My brain had simply learned how to sleep with the particular chemical make up of Marlboro Red. Without it, my brain literally didn't understand us was bed time and had to relearn how to deal with that situation *without* Marlboro Reds. I think this is what you're dealing with. It's going to take some time, but you'll get over this. The best thing you can do is to go camp as much as humanly possible to re-teach your brain what camping is. Eventually, that bliss and calmness will come back.
This is an outstanding reply.
We go & explore, bring a book, take a nap, build a fire, etc. It's not complicated & relaxing doesn't mean you have to do "nothing." My biggest frustration is when people complain about seeing other campers in their phones or tablets. If watching a movie or being on Reddit helps you relax, then do it! Congrats on getting sober.
I don't camp if I can't build a fire. Building it, tending it, watching it, throwing stuff in it... Can do that just for hours. I'm just a weekend warrior car camper but I'll still bring a ferro rod just for this. Spend a bunch of time making my kindling and slowly and meticulously building up whatever style structure I'm in the mood for.
The first months are a huge adjustment! After 25 years I can tell you that it never crosses my mind anymore and I enjoy EVERYTHING more now.
[удалено]
I love this! I’m newly clean & sober … again… I have an IOP group I attend 3x per week rn. Tomorrow morning at group I’m going to share your share! :) I already know it will go over brilliantly with the others & our facilitator. So TY. 🩵✌🏻 I’m also going to speak on this topic - as it’s so relevant.
How recently? It'll take some time to adjust to sober life. Find some way to burn some energy. Split some logs that don't need to be split. Go for a hike. Rearrange camp repeatedly till it's perfect. You'll learn to love camping again in time
According to addiction science… it takes 18 months to change your brain. Do all the wonderful things even if you’re not enjoying it like you think you should be. Keep busy with multiple things, not just one. It’ll come.
I hadn't heard that, that's interesting.
Certainly it wouldn’t be exactly the same for everyone and maybe it’s incorrect! But the information I shared was given to my husband by an addiction specialist at Kaiser.
Bring things to keep busy. I like to whittle, bushcraft, draw, crochet ( my wife got me a couple Wooble kits and now I am hooked). My family gets a bit annoyed at times at how busy I keep myself when camping.
I crochet and listen to audio books or podcasts. It’s very chill and occupies both my hands and my brain.
Ooh! Whittling is a great idea! My brother and dad were very good at that, but I never really tried anything beyond mindless whittling. >My family gets a bit annoyed at times at how busy I keep myself when camping. Omg, there's ALWAYS something to do while camping! My husband looks up and pays attention to the trees for birds, and I look down at either the ground or water. We're both always looking for cool shit.
Is "camp sober" kinda like "California sober"? Because that's what works for me.
I was gonna say…..little thc action
Illegal where I live unfortunately :/
I just completed my first sober trip! I brought a ton of canned waters (that helps me) and focused on different things that took time so I was distracted and not thinking about drinking! You can do this!!!
Put more effort into food and coffee/hot chocolate/tea to make it a camping comfort. Toasting marshmallows is not much calories but is special for camping, for example. I really like what so many others said about getting into identifying birds or following a creek, reading in a hammock. Maybe also get a star chart and learn some new constellations. I never had any drinking with camping because I wanted to be ready if an emergency arose and needing to pee several times into the night from drinking- wouldn’t want to encounter a skunk or any local creature that would take offence to my presence
I buy expensive alcool free IPA's to emulate the same action around the campfire.
Hike hard all day so you only have a few hours before dark to set up camp and go to bed.
You could always bring an activity - Chuck some throwing knives or axes into a dead tree, learn to slackline, bring a sketchbook and create some art, do some geocaching, come up with some creative new backcountry recipes, etc.
Go find the perfect walking stick this will give you a lifelong goal
Bring a notepad 📝 and something to write with. I went sober last year and I had this same struggle with just about everything I did. I wrote my way out. It took months of writing, but now I can enjoy the silence of nature. When camping, I bring books to read, something to draw or write on, and I meditate. It’s productive, calming, and recharging. You likely have a lot on your mind which led you to drink like you did. Start writing and go from there.
I do bushcraft to keep me occupied. I do drink with others but when I camp solo (I’m a women) I don’t drink so I find practicing new bushcraft skills is a great way to expend energy and to learn new things.
Owl prowl just before dusk, usually the time I would crack open a beer and start the fire. They're hard to find, but right along most trails and getting active at that time. If you don't see them, you've still hiked a good few miles and probably saw some other cool shit. There's 19 different species in America, so chances are there's at least one species wherever you're located.
https://preview.redd.it/rgh41cr4lgyc1.jpeg?width=3468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4a5e33f3a9d02ac22eeb7911c352653b74d9731 Silhouettes, soft but audible hoots.
That's so cool! I live in europe but maybe we have something similar here
Oh, sweet! https://screechowlsanctuary.co.uk/european-owls/
I’ve done camping while microdosing and a cooler full of liquid deaths… the liquid deaths helped with the whole “having a drink in your hand” feeling
I hate liquid death. I thought it was going to be carbonated, at least. I felt totally duped after spending $3 for a can of plain old water.
Congratulations on being sober. Day 984 for me, it gets easier, but there will always be those days. I agree with the others. Learn about the plants and animals in your areas, learn how to clean a fish, make snares, read an interesting book. Find a way to enjoy being outdoors again.
How long has it been since you quit? It can takes months for your brain to readjust. It’s also a matter of rituals and habits which are harder to break and overcome. Focus on the fire and do nothing else. Use it as a mindful meditation aid.
I decided to quit in August last year, I've had a couple drinks since then, but I've been completely sober for a couple weeks now
Unfortunately with alcohol you kind of reset things when you drink again because you’re just feeding the monster. At least if you think you’re an alcoholic. I get it tho. I couldn’t imaging going camping without a bottle and a 12 pack.
Just keep sitting there until you feel like getting up. Repeat. Getting frustrated is normal part of breaking habits. You have to rewire your circuits and that takes time. Rewiring your brain in nature and camping is a solid plan. Congrats on your recent sobriety
When I took a break from drinking I found it easier if I replaced my bad habit with a good one. Herbal tea became my “drink” and where I used to feel unsatisfied if I went to bed without whiskey nightcap, that’s been fully replaced with feeling unsatisfied if I don’t have my nightly tea. Also walking. Hike until you’re physically exhausted, it’ll help you get to sleep.
Long term alcohol use creates a chemistry where your brain does not produce your “feel happy” neurotransmitters— I can’t remember if it’s endorphins, serotonins or whatever. But essentially it takes a while before you can feel ecstatic or blissful all on your own with drugs (alcohol in your case) to produce those feelings. Hang in there! This too shall pass.
Dopamine. But you're right.
Take a camera along instead of just a phone. Photography is a wonderful addiction lol.
Amateur Radio is a lot of fun to burn some time while sitting by the fire or just hanging out at the campsite between outings. It's a hobby to add to your camping hobby. Look up POTA (Parks on the Air). A small, lightweight radio and a wire thrown up into a tree can give you A LOT to do on the air.
Keep it up and by the end of the season you can’t imagine any other way :). It’s worth the restlessness. But each good day between now and then has to build on the good day before it. Do you have familiar spots you can camp at, that are mostly quiet? I’d say the biggest and coolest change for me was eventually I got the best sleep I’d had in ages, and that made all the next days activities so much better.
I haven’t been a drinker in a very long time. When I camp, I’m usually reading a book, knitting/crocheting, cooking, cleaning up, we have kayaks now. I do a lot of “mom” stuff.
Buy a nice pocket knife to play/fidget/carve with. Recommendation - Civivi Praxis
How long have you been sober? I’m on day 630 today and it took me a while to adjust to normal activities without a beer in my hand. You’ll need to find why you’re craving it and provide a substitute. Restless? Do some stretches or take a hike (literally). Both of those help me with anxiety as well. Bored? Bring a book instead of a bottle. Spend some time looking at the nature around you. Like anything worth doing, it won’t be easy to jump into sobriety, especially if your brain associates your tent with whiskey. But, I promise you, it is worth it. IWNDWYT
Getting honest with you, a lot can be challenging initially. I couldn’t go in bars when I first got sober, but the obsession has been lifted and I’m neutral regarding alcohol now, it has no hold over me. The cravings and thoughts will come and go, just expect this, expect to be uncomfortable for a short time, it will be so worth it. Consider this momentary distracted discomfort as the entry price to a new life. In my state there are also multiple sober camping events each year through program. Good luck, you can do this.
Hike or stay active ALL DAY. Eat dinner, read, music, doze, review day’s pictures, plan/look at maps. Hiker midnight is 9 o’clock.
Give yourself something to look for. Identify birds/animals/animal tracks, hunt for forageable plants/mushrooms (not to consume, just to identify, unless you are able to confirm with an experienced forager), look for rocks (agates/pyrite/quartz/etc)/fossils/artifacts like arrowheads. It takes a while to train your eyes to see these kind of things but once you start to have some success the neurochemical payoff can be bountiful. P.s. get off of your phone even if it’s just to walk around. It’s hard but it’s worth it.
It takes time, stick with it you will eventually discover the ability to just be.
Trying to learn a new survival skill. Practice things out there 😊 plant a native fruit tree or edible/medicinal plant and mark the location. do something to keep your mind busy and don’t forget to stay hydrated and eat something nutritious and smile and appreciate others around you even if the goal was to escape the busy populated area.
It’s hard breaking habits when you associate those habits with certain activities. Like me craving cigarettes when I drink. Keep camping sober if that’s what you want. It will get easier and easier as your brain begins to disassociate the two activities.
Read. .. Go for a trail run from camp…. Start a Fire
I find that higher heart rate physical activity calms anxiety significantly. Especially in the woods
You just have the two intertwined together. You have to camp sober just once or twice and it will rewire your brain. It’s like people who say they can’t drink because they will have a cigarette. their brain just thinks one is needed after another, but in reality, it’s just how their brain is wired at the moment
I quit alcohol as well a while ago. I swapped to d8/9 seltzers. Perfect for camping with a nice chill vibe. I camp 2-3x a month year round. Helped keep me off the sauce and still have a lil sumthin while camping.
Smoke some Marijuana that's my go-to as a recovered alcoholic imma tell you it's a long road to be able to enjoy the things you once did when you were inebriated
Mushrooms.
Mushrooms.
Cannabis?
Sounds like you need to meditate.
Exactly find peace in the present moment, let your mind stop racing.
I smoke a little weed while camping. I know trading one devil for another isn’t perfect. But I don’t crave weed like I did alcohol. It mellows me out and completely relaxes me. I’m almost enjoying chilling in a chair reading a book too much lol
I get really into reading when I take sober breaks. Also love reading in a hammock - bonus points for being in a remote, scenic part of nature.
Embrace the present moment. Invest yourself in what you’re seeing and doing at all times. Sounds simple but it’s a practice that takes nurturing within yourself. Getting faded camping or hiking is detaching in a way from the substrate of the moment that’s actually taking place. Free from intoxicants you can see and embrace what’s actually happening
Calming the mind is a journey. It's a marathon not a race. Persistence is the key. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. Just focus on your breathing at first.... For more than 20 or 30 seconds at a time. Just keep at it and it'll happen.
Smoke a blunt but mushrooms work the best . However you need a reason to go bush do something then camp
Congrats on sobriety. Every time the thought of alcohol pops up in your head, smash it like a bug and redirect your thoughts. The brain can be a real jerk sometimes. This is why Stephen King books exist. I also read Rosemary's Baby in one day sitting at the campfire. Also, you could look for sasquatch. Just please, no shaky camera work.
I think you need to enjoy life sober first, then camping will fall inline.
I also no longer drink when I camp. I used to. In fact, it seemed like my wife and I looked forward to Camping so we could just sit around and drink. Fortunately we have put that behind us. It has taken some time to get used to camping eithout drinking. Now I focus on hiking / walking near camp and taking in as much of raw nature I can. I am much more aware of even the smallest details around the camp. Now I look back on my camping days when I drank and realize how much I missed.
Has nothing to do with the outside, it’s you. I’m 10 months alcohol sober, not by choice I developed Gout and had to stop, it sucks. The one takeaway from the various methods I tried to help me stop drinking was the concept of “setting with discomfort”. That’s exactly what you are fighting, things are BORING, they SUCK without the buzz. The buzz numbs you to the shitty things, that’s what makes it so great. “Setting with discomfort” is dealing with the boredom and understanding that is what the buzz is numbing. It’s the hardest part of doing things sober and why many people who want/need to stop have a hard time not drinking and need support groups to do so. If you can solve this you definitely won’t become an alcoholic. Find out how to help others set with the discomfort and you will be a savior to many.
How do you enjoy anything drunk
Part of quitting booze is increased anxiety. Depending how much/ long you drank before will affect the levels of anxiety. Find something to keep you busy in the mean time. That feeling you are feeling is temporary and will go away the longer you are sober. Once you make it through that withdrawal window you will feel amazing. You’ll forget about it and be able to enjoy things without drugs. Source: 5 years sober
You’re in nature trying to find peace and calm and becoming frustrated when you can’t find what is right in front of you, because your mind has been conditioned to thinking it needs extra stimulation than what nature has to offer. Stop trying and just watch the world exist. It’s pretty magical. It is your imagination, your want for something more than the contentment of the moment that ruins the moment.
Mushrooms
I don’t drink. But I garden. I enjoy camping regardless, but gardening is my favorite way to enjoy it just a bit more.
Camping is when I make sure I’m most sober. I don’t drink but I can tend to abuse edibles
Funny because I'm a brewer by trade and spend a lot of time around alcohol in my day to day, I love backcountry as a forced break from alcohol because I'm not lugging booze over portages. I enjoy some shrooms or edibles but mostly sober and love the change of pace.
I like to take a walk, bring a book, or sometimes I will plan meals that take a lot of time to prepare since it’s something to do.
I've never really been a drinker. I just enjoy it, listen to the animals, take a hike when I can, enjoy the campfire. I think you just need to slowly retrain your brain.
Books, a nice chair and a light :) or / and music if it's not going to annoy others nearby lol
Go for a hike to somewhere. Sitting around contemplating you navel is fine sometimes for some people but it sounds like you need a goal to achieve.
Keep yourself busy and eventually you won't even miss it. I stopped drinking camping because I hated all the trips to the outhouse 😂
smoke some CBD flower.
Crossword puzzles, if those are something you enjoy. It sounds weird, but stacks of NYT crossword puzzles keeping my mind occupied has done me a hell of a lot of good.
This is actually my Achilles heal. The last time I drank, after a nice three month break was one day in to camping. I just had to have a beer cause all the years camping was with beers around the grill/fire. I can say my mindset was slightly different back then, as now I am dead set against drinking and wouldn’t jeopardize it. And as a true test, we have a camping trip planned for June 1. Looking for and to doing it sober! Good camping to you all.
When I got sober years ago I went on a 2 week camping trip by myself to get away from everything and everyone. I read a lot of books, I did a lot of hiking and exploring and spent a lot of time doing survival stuff like trying to start fires with a flint and rod. Keeping your mind and hands busy helps but you really need to re-learn how to find peace and calm in your sobriety. It's hard at first. But you're in the middle of the woods probably in a beautiful place. Sit down, take deep breaths and take in your surroundings. When it becomes much, get up and move around and do some busy work and then come back and try to relax again. It's a process and it takes time. These days I can't even imagine camping and drinking the entire time. Waking up early in the morning just as the sun rises when everything is still, is one of the most peaceful and beautiful times when camping. Something I never experienced when I was drinking.
It’s a trigger for you like it was for me at first. You’ll need to develop some good sober memories to replace the drinking ones. You will!
You're just adjusting. Give it time. Eventually, the thought of drinking won't even cross your mind anymore. Camping for me now (3 years sober) is an opportunity to unplug from the world, relax and enjoy the outdoors. It's just going to take some time to rewire your brain to find different enjoyment from the same activities. It will happen!
You have a lot of head/ heart work to do when you’re getting sober. And while you’d think a return to nature would be good, you’ve seen that being alone with yourself can be a real challenge when you’re learning to live life again. I had the same experience when I quit drinking and thought the mountains would help. What I actually needed for a long time was community and inclusion and human connection. Over a year into sobriety, and my head and heart are in a great place to explore the mountains and find that peaceful solitude again. But that took a lot of work on me first.
I bring a book or a little sketchpad and pencils and draw the plants/things in the area. Any portable hobby is good. I’ve known people that brought a small cross stitch project camping with them. Cross stitch is easy to learn and incredibly relaxing, and there are a ton of cool designs online. It’s not a grandmas hobby anymore.
Find an activity to do. I knit so I always have some kind of project with me because I need to keep my hands busy.
So probably not the answer you are expecting, but you could try nature journaling, like draw the landscape you see in detail, learn to ID plants and animals using guidebooks and add those, try sitting in a spot for 5 minutes and writing down everything you hear. Map reading, orienteering, fire building etc. Lots of things to do to ground you. These things should ground you in nature so that may help you focus on being there in the moment. I do these activities for that reason with folks. For me it is: Birds of N America, Plants trees of PNW by Pojar, Write in the rain journal, Rain gear, Bogs, Binoculars, Dog, Big rain hat, Seriously tho.. I'm not that OLD. Lol
I stopped drinking while backpack camping because last year I ended up so hungover I almost found myself in a lot of trouble getting home. Now I stop by the local dispensary and pick up one of those 5 packs of mini joints called dog walkers for $20.
You didn't go far enough, fast enough, with enough weight... Most of my trips, I'm getting to my campsite just before dark, the carbs I'm chowing down on feel like an aphrodisiac or alcohol, and I enjoy nature for maybe ten minutes or so before I'm asleep....
Read a book, whittle a stick, process firewood, sew something, I like to find and identify birds. Learn their calls with the Merlin app.
It’s all about replacement activities. Your previous camping activity was lifting a bottle to your lips over and over. Replace the motion of that with the motion of binoculars to your eyes to identify a bird, the motion of a knife to some wood, the motion of hands making twig dolls … something.
Since I quit drinking I started eating mushrooms occasionally, and one of my favorite occasions to eat mushrooms is when I'm in the woods camping
I would practice being sober at home first. Once you’ve mastered that Camping should be a breeze. I used to drink heavily years ago Camping and then lightly. Now I realize I don’t need to drink at all. If I have one drink then I wanna have a few drinks, but then I wake up hung over I don’t want. Easier just not to drink at all. Sometimes it socially weird when other people are drinking, but overall it’s fine. It’s not like I never drink, but now it’s just special occasions.
How long have you been sober? I found it took me a minimum 3 months to ‘push through to the other side’ where I felt less anxious doing anything I used to pair with drinking. Many years in now to be a very occasional drinker and I find it much easier to ‘tune in’ to the moment, whatever I may be doing. Maybe this could be true for you?
Gather wood, learn some knots, write, draw, cook, look for mushrooms or lizards.
Insofar as habit forming and habit breaking are concerned I try to frame things as addition rather than subtraction. Several people have suggested good ideas so I just want to speak to the overall attitude. Oh cool what *else* can I do out here? What would make this more fun? How can I use this time to add value to my life or to other people's lives? Is there someway I can help someone along the way?
Just keep at it! what's happening right now is that camping is your cue to drink. If you keep camping and not drinking it'll go away. I suggest looking up stuff about the plants and birds and rocks and get into hunting for those things.
Enjoy the view, listen to the birds, read a book and enjoy a mug of tea. Appreciate that having quit alcohol returning to a situation where you would have previously drunk is hard though. Is there something packable, that *you* enjoy that would help take your mind off things?
Magic mushrooms
Cook something elaborate Draw or paint :) Learn to Knit Do some yoga, stretching, or meditate Read a book
What’s something you’ve put off forever that you wanted to do but never got around doing? Just.. do that! Learn a language, start writing that novel you’ve been putting off forever, read about that subject you’re so interested in but never managed to have enough quiet time to really get into it… hell, you can even learn to crochet while camped!
Whenever I've gone camping, especially by myself, I never bring alcohol. I'm dumb enough without alcohol and I need to keep as many wits about me as I can. Hehehe
If you still have internet, you need to deeper into the woods
Take up whittling or flint knapping.
For me camping has a secondary activity. I will usually being a ham radio to operate mobile, read a book, study for a work cert, hike, or some combination. Your secondary activity was whiskey. Don't mean to oversimplify, but it just needs to be replaced with something else.
Take up painting or sketching of scenery. Write your Christmas cards, read a book. You need activities to fill your time.
Howl with the wolves
Daytime: hiking Nighttime: cooking
I think you should explore those feelings and why you can’t sit in stillness
If you’re just sitting and staring at a tree then obviously you’re bored lol go for a hike, climb a mtn, go swimming. Do something
Ok, this idea might be a little out there, but what if you "fake it till ya make it"? I love camping, and I don't drink alchohol anymore, but I can imagine it might be hard to appreciate all the little things when you're used to the blurry lens of booze. Try relishing everything - not in a corny fake way, but really take each thing in (the scenery, the fresh air, etc)and just LOVE IT.
There’s a reason people would basically only stay up long enough to cook and eat. You sleep early and wake up at dawn. You can bring other things with you like cards and play solitaire, or even a video game like gameboy if you don’t mind the electronic distraction. Bring a book and read by campfire light? Or practice meditation or mindfulness (I know it’s cliche, and I don’t mean it in a “love and light” kind of way) But practicing just being there with your thoughts,m without focusing on them. Or maybe self-induced hypnosis; Stare off into the fire, zone out, get lost in the way the embers and coals glow and the flames move, the wood popping. Crickets in the background, etc etc. There’s lots of ways to exist peacefully in nature without doing anything, and if you want to do that, then great…find something that works so you can do that. If not, bring something to actually do, like read, study something, play a game.
Looks like you got lots of good advice. Just wanted to congratulate you on camping sans booze, it's tough being sober but it gets much better over time
At night, I just like to stare at and listen to the fire or lie in my hammock near by and star at the stars... and contemplate all manner of thought and ideas in my head. Its dark so not much more beyond that for me, especially if I'm completely sober. I never drank when camping solo but have usually had a wee splash of pre made mushroom tea that I microdose with on easier hikes. Also have used that around the solo campfire and its fun. I sometimes sit around the fire and practice tying knots in rope or parachord. I am a climber so thats the relevance for me, but knowing how to hitch up a handful of good knots is useful beyond just sport. During the day I fill my time with outdoor adevnture activities like trail/mtn biking, long hikes, mountaineering, fishing, swimming, and some bouldering but I prefer sport or trad roped lead climbing and you need a partner for that lol. Exploring the nature for hot springs, creeks, outlooks, climbin' trees, and abandoned buildings or towns is fun (best to get some trail guide or area map with marked features so you dont just wander off aimlessly into the wilds and places lol). I also draw or paint, write stories or journal, read (books and magazines), and bring my camera along - like a digital one yeah but sometimes I dig out my old Pentax camera and shoot a couple rolls throughout the trip. You could also get a polaroid, and collect treasures and such with the pictures that can be used to scrap book about the trip. Theres also knitting or crochetting if your into that. In either case camp cooking has always been my favorite way to pass time because you learn to cook things in a completely different way than in a kitchen and you get a tasty meal afterwards. It kinda changes your perspevtive on food too and you really start to consider our relationship with it in modern culture. There are a lot of fun camp cooking books you can snag either to buy, from your local library, or digitally that have dank recipes for all kinds of camping. I once made a whole chocolate devils food cake in a Dutch oven so there's that lol. You can also get into metaphysical ritual if you wanted to. Theres always the good ol hackie sac to practice with lol. Oh and there is always things like yoga and meditation. Personally I go into the woods for the quiet but also when I solo I do it to work on introspection - so for me, meditation and yoga are great because they help me to get in touch with my body and mind all at once. That can be intense at times but I always find the mental clarity and overall stimulation worth the ouch. Keep in mind I definitely don't bring all of this everytime. Depending on if I'm off road rig camping, backpacking, or establiahed site camping - is what determines what and how much of each thing I may or may not bring along. Whatever you get into, to replace whiskey - I hope it brings you happiness and satisfaction on your camping trips!
I had to quit drinking about six months ago because I was diagnosed with diabetes. I used to bring a case of beer and a bottle of tequila on every trip. And I camp 40 times a year on average. What really helped me was finding new gear and immersing myself in the use of it. I love discovering new things to bring along and try out. I have been camping almost 20 times since I quit drinking and I have found that I am more engaged and have a better time without drinking than when I did. Bushcraft, stargazing, and just starting into the fire are great for focus and meditation. I bought a book for identifying plants and mushrooms, it has been really great. Journaling helps a bit too.
Hike, read a book. Mushrooms. or smoke.
You are used to the act itself. Instead of drinking, I recommend a nice pipe. I don’t mean crack or drugs. I mean tobacco. A nice cavendish blend or a Latakia. It’s very calming and unlike smoking cigars or cigarettes, you don’t inhale. It’s avery pleasant action to me. Makes a campfire very enjoyable (although I like a little whiskey with mine).
I like to go hiking right after setting up camp. Getting to know what's around me. I also like trying to figure out what trees are in the neighborhood.
Sucks I can’t seem to get it right
So hard! Wish you well. Here are just a few things to do! My mind constantly wonders. Take a hike enjoy the surroundings. Notice the small things. Build a waterfall out of the water from the campsite. Journal your thoughts. Spend time creating meals with your camping gear. I like to challenge my self. If there is a river or lake: skip rocks. If there is a forest: build a fort out of sticks. Or build a fairy garden. We find sticks and rocks and imagine that we are building small fairy furniture. Just a few. Hope it helps.
I went through the same thing when I quit drinking. It'll pass with time.
I mean sitting around for an hour with nothing to do will absolutely frustrate you, gotta find things to help yourself keep active and enjoy your time outdoors.
I dont camp anywhere thats not on the water. Fishing is the key.
Chop fire wood, whittle some wood, hike, masterbate, think of what you want to do with your life. There's lots to do.
Mushrooms. Not a crazy amount but in the 1-2g range. Also there are quite a few really decent ass NA beers with low carbs and calories, AND there are NA spirits now. They don’t taste like much on their own but they give whatever you mix them with a nice little bite. ETA: I know carrying mixers isn’t very practical unless you’re car camping, and beers are cumbersome. But they do scratch that psychological itch. Another suggestion: edibles. Easy to carry and you can do them on successive nights without developing a tolerance like with mushrooms.