created by sfgirlmary on 03/02/2025 at 04:01 UTC
9 upvotes, 12 top-level comments (showing 12)
When I was drinking, I did shit (meaning, nothing). In contrast, now that I’m a non-drinker, I’m getting shit done. In fact, productivity has become one of my favorite parts of being sober.
Has this been true for you, too? Without the endless cycle of wasting time while drinking followed by recovering from a hangover, do you find yourself with extra hours in the day to do constructive things, such as finally finishing that book you’ve been reading or tackling that mess in the garage? If so, I invite you to join the Sober People Getting Shit Done Club.
In order to be a member of this club, you must do three things:
1. Get something done.
2. Be sober while doing it.
3. Tell us about it.
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Actively nurture your courage so your heart remains undaunted by hardships, the business of publishing, and your own inner doubts. Showing up to create art is real work. It’s important work. Having a courageous heart allows us to win against all manner of foes so we can continue to create another day.
I found this so inspiring that I printed it out and put it above my desk. And then it occurred to me that this could also be applied to my sobriety. Here’s how I have reworded it to apply to our efforts to quit drinking:
Actively nurture your courage so your heart remains undaunted by the inevitable difficulties in life, the challenge of saying no to alcohol, and the crushing discouragement of relapses. Getting and staying sober is real work. It’s important work. Having a courageous heart allows us to win against all manner of temptations and thoughts of “fuck it” so that we can stay sober another day.
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If you are sober and have been getting shit done—whether it’s a big thing like rebuilding the engine of an old motorcycle or a small thing like making that long overdue phone call to your grandmother—I want to hear all about it!
Comment by Clean_New_Adventure at 03/02/2025 at 09:10 UTC
11 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I promised myself to check-in on the DCI every day until I reached at least 100 days this year. 33 out of 33, and putting it here as a placeholder because I’ve got to get my day started and routines are my friend. IWNDWYT
Comment by HelenaDesdemona at 03/02/2025 at 05:43 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I did an extra half hour of work (that I get paid for at the same rate)! And didn't drink and skip the whole day! Yay! IWNDWYT
Comment by makos124 at 03/02/2025 at 06:14 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I studied maths (for my own pleasure) every day in the afternoon in the past week and worked on my hobby programming project on the weekend. And I plan on continuing this trend this week. Feels great to not have brain fog, I didn't realize how drinking even a few beers on the weekend (no harm in that, right? right?..) slowed my thinking down and made me okay with just sitting there, scrolling.
Comment by SombreroDeMilou at 03/02/2025 at 07:26 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This week, I will:
It's the last thing that worries me the most as I don't know how to talk to people, how to network.
Anyway, I will be sober during all those things!
Comment by Stunning_Mess9284 at 03/02/2025 at 08:34 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
IWNDWYT. Big week ahead. Shit to get done. No room whatsoever for alcohol in the equation. Let’s go.
Comment by Northern_bhoy at 03/02/2025 at 10:36 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
IWNDWYT! Time to get my fitness back this week 🤝
Comment by DazeofGl0ry at 03/02/2025 at 13:21 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Omg i needed this. Also working on a book and have been stagnating. I just need to finish 1 chapter to be done with draft of part 1. Then I can refine the outline for part 2. That chapter is my gsd this week!
I hear you about rejection! I spent a year sending my last attempt to agents. It’s hard.
Comment by lily-071717 at 03/02/2025 at 13:29 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I’m going to plan some meals for myself and get some workouts in after having house guests and then a terrible cold all last week. And I’m going to absolutely crush my inbox later today… after coffee of course!
Comment by Wilbursmall at 03/02/2025 at 13:48 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I painted! I’m learning to clean, sand, fill holes, sand again, and paint the wood trim around windows in our old house so it will be ready to sell in the spring. I never thought I could or would do it but I am!
Comment by sugarpicklequeen at 03/02/2025 at 14:29 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yes to GSD!! I love this about sobriety. It is one of the main reasons that keeps me sober. Somehow things can take me way too long because I over think them and hyperfocus on tiny things that may or may not matter in the end. I have adhd and productivity is already a struggle. Alcohol made it far, far worse. I find my creative work gets to the point faster (I’m a graphic designer and do a lot of layout, branding, making things out of nothing) and sometimes the road to a visual solution is a winding road.
In sobriety, I’m finally seeing some gains from all these years in this field.
IWNDWYT
Comment by Real_Park_6529 at 03/02/2025 at 14:48 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Focusing on what I am doing, as opposed to dwelling on what I'm not drinking (or eating, I also have struggled with disordered eating), is a crucial part of my sobriety journey. So here we go...
Yesterday's agenda included working on the DVD storage, refraining from spending money online, getting broken-down boxes out of my office, and doing some research (without purchase!) on CD storage. We still have CDs and a CD player, but we never listen to them. I think it's because the CDs are all in binders that look like photo albums. So we don't see them—out of sight, out of mind, and all that jazz. I accomplished everything except for working on DVD storage. Instead, I helped my husband sort through all the clothes he was holding onto "just in case." He released many belongings that were no longer serving him, but kept a few things he knew he would use again, and held a few keepers for sentimental reasons. I am proud of him; it wasn't easy for him.
Today's focus will be laundry and seeing if I can cram any more garbage and recycles into the bins before curbing them. We had a lot of garbage and recycles this past week! I have a grocery pick-up planned for the odds and ends I forgot to order on Saturday. I need to review my plans for the week, especially since this weekend we are going to NYC to visit with my daughter- we will be shopping for her wedding dress! I want to take inventory of our CD collection to see how much space it would take if I put them in jewel cases again. I also would like to work on the DVD organization project. Oh! I need to email my cousins; I only have contact information for two of them, and I would like to be able to reach all four of them.
IWNDWYT
Comment by Novel-Office-755 at 03/02/2025 at 14:50 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
1. Started knitting the second sock of a pair. Too many mistakes. Ripped it all out. Started again. Knitting shall not defeat me.
2. SOBER. Alcohol won't defeat me either.
3. Told y'all. :D