Eventually, this leads to an unhealthy pattern of emotional drinking that is much harder to quit. But the thing is, drinking out of boredom is a type of drinking that can quickly spiral out of control if you aren’t careful. You feel like you don’t quite know what to do with yourself. Like you’re not actually doing much of ANYTHING… except not drinking. If I’m honest, it takes i drink because I am bored three beers for me to really give a fuck about anything.

Emotional Triggers for Boredom Drinking

Outside of work, Christy finds solace in nature, enjoying activities like gardening and mountain biking, alongside cherished moments with her family and Substance abuse dogs. If she weren’t excelling in her current role, Christy would likely champion environmental activism, advocating for nature’s preservation. In Clinical Mental Health from Adams State University (May 2025). Before AspenRidge, she spent six years in substance-use and mental-health roles. Jasmine takes a person-centered approach—humanistic and narrative—blending brief solution-focused work and elements of Internal Family Systems to build compassionate, collaborative change.

Family

It signals a feeling of satisfaction, pleasure, or reward, encouraging us to repeat the behavior that led to this good feeling. You need to reset your reward pathways and that’s not going to be possible as long as you are drinking alcohol. Any of these activities are natural mood lifters and a much better option than drinking to pass the time.

Bored After Quitting Drinking: How To Overcome It

For those who didn’t work from home, only 12% were prone to excessive drinking. Outside of work, Brionna finds solace in arts and crafts, particularly crocheting and creative writing. She cherishes quiet moments with a good book, her two beloved cats, and the tranquility of nature’s walking trails. When he’s off the clock, Chandler is equal parts maker and explorer—reading, crocheting, gaming, crafting, puzzling, hiking, rafting, and snowboarding. If we held an office talent show, he’d try to win it with comedy.

• Other research has considered attention as a key aspect of boredom as people often report they struggle to pay attention when bored or start daydreaming or mind-wandering.
• There is a strong relationship between boredom, stress, and drug or alcohol use.
• You can volunteer at a local shelter, food bank, or community center or get involved with an important cause.

If you choose to smoke you wouldn’t require any assistance from us or anyone else to quit. Smokers smoke because they’re addicted to nicotine…as we get older we justify our failure to quit by “buying into” some of the illusory benefits that the addiction convinces us we receive. If you’re unsure where to start, check out this guide on how to cope with loneliness through new activities and interests.

She enjoys playing board games and having home karaoke nights with her friends. Karlie says the best advice ever received is to not fall in love with potential. She is a trauma-informed clinician who prioritizes the relationship between clinician and client. Addiction impacted her own family and influenced her compassionate and empathetic relationship with clients. She believes in healing the whole person in a safe and supportive environment.

Ditch Boredom and Explore New Possibilities With Reframe!

Self-awareness and reflection are essential in identifying triggers for boredom drinking. By recognizing your emotions and thought patterns, you can uncover the triggers for boredom drinking, empowering you to make positive changes in your life. I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. The average adult experiences around 131 days of boredom per year, so how you react to this boredom is critical to your mental health.