Whether we like it or not, winter is here to stay - so we better just like it. Winter is actually a great time to spend some time outdoors, for limited stretches of time, and enjoy the sober world-friendly activity that requires coordination, focus, and balance. So in short, sobriety. Get back in touch with your old skating side or pick it up as a new hobby if you haven’t learned before. Chicago is full of public skating rinks, including the large outdoor rink at Millennium Park, so you can enjoy the city while you skate.

Sledding

Sledding is a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous if not done properly. Sledding is a great winter activity for addicts in recovery because it is a healthy adrenaline-filled activity that they were previously unable to do safely.

Caroling

Get in the holiday spirit and spread cheer by joining a caroling chorus. You can sign up at churches and community centers, or start a group with your friends. This sounds strange at first to many people, but this is really a great way to enjoy the outdoors in the winter in a social activity that not only doesn’t require drinking, but also actually helps you with recovery.

Volunteering

If you own a car or otherwise have access to a vehicle, this is the perfect season to volunteer to spread some holiday cheer. Volunteer to deliver Christmas trees to the elderly who otherwise could not obtain one and get it back home. It doesn’t hurt to have some good karma in the bank going into the new year.