Young Adult Sobriety: How to Navigate Life Without Drinking

Updated: Sep 18

Managing FOMO and Staying Social While Sober, Making Friends and Finding Your People, Finding Fulfillment and Practical Advice for Navigating Young Adult Sobriety.

FOMO in Early Sobriety: You will get it at first. I remember lying in my sober house twin bed, itching while friends from home went out or college friends reunited for homecoming. Now? I don’t even think about it.

Tip: Unfollow people from high school and college you aren’t actually friends with or see regularly.

Maintaining a Social Life While Sober: You absolutely can still have a social life, especially in cities*, while navigating life in young adult sobriety. I’ve been to plenty of parties with mostly sober people that were surprisingly fun. Like college, most friends come through other friends, and recovery meetings are a great way to meet people. I wouldn’t recommend bars or clubs in your first 90 days–6 months, but plenty of sober people still go out to hear music, dance, and socialize. And don’t forget—you have free will. You don’t have to go, stay, or drink.

* If you don’t live in a city, you can still find other young people—if you look hard enough.

Making Friends With Adults: You become friends with adults, which is kind of hilarious and amazing. They’re as lost as you are, but they know how to unclog sinks and can actually show you. Some of my favorite people are middle-aged sober women.

Finding Peace and Fulfillment Early: You find the peace and fulfillment that people our age often don’t get until later—or sometimes ever. Being sober gives you the capacity and bandwidth to grow emotionally, professionally, and personally much faster. This translates to everything you do!

Freedom You Don’t Expect: You’re actually MORE FREE. If you had told me I’d have the confidence to explore career paths I’ve always wanted, I would have laughed. Now I can decide what I want to do at any given moment because I’m actually present.