“Hey! Do you wanna do something this weekend”
“Yeah, what shall we do?”
“Hmmm not sure… go for a drink?”
Yawn. Does this sound like every weekend of yours? It used to be mine, and back in my 20s this is what I looked forward to at the weekends. Especially being from the UK; the winters are spent drinking in the pub and the summers are spent trying to find an open space to drink outside.
Now that I permanently travel, my weekends are spent going to bed early to go snorkelling, kayaking, hiking, climbing volcanoes or just exploring the area.
When we stay in the same place we can get stuck in a routine of doing the same things and we become lazy. So, if you are bored of drinking every weekend and want some inspiration for other things to do with your weekend, you have come to the right place. And you don’t have to be a traveller to mix things up.
You may have already read my co-bloggers post; Is Now A Good Time To Reassess My relationship With Alcohol? And if you haven’t yet, you must! Cat makes some very thought-provoking points around how alcohol affects our relationships, mental health and productivity. It had me questioning, there must be more to the weekends than drinking?
12 Fun Weekend Ideas For When You Are Bored Of Drinking
1. Wander Around A Night Market/Farmers Market
You need to do a bit of research with this one, but in most cities there will be a cute night market for you and your friends to mooch around. There will be delicious food, a hot chocolate and crafts you can purchase. If instead you prefer a day time market, in most towns and villages you can find quaint farmers markets. Here you will be able to purchase fresh produce, sample local food and support local businesses.
2. Bring Out Your Inner Artist
I have no artistic bone in my body but I spent one Friday night with a boyfriend attending a free drawing class at the National Portrait Gallery in London and it was so fun! You don’t have to take the drawing class seriously, in fact the less serious you are the more fun it will be. But even if you don’t go to a drawing class, have you considered walking around an art gallery? It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
3. Hit Up A Comedy Club
If you’re weekends are boring, comedy clubs are a great way to resolve that. You’re already paying to have a good time and therefore don’t need to resort to drinking, depending on the quality of the stand up, of course. And if you’re short on cash then try an open mic night, these are usually free and you can buy a soft drink instead. If open mic and comedy aren’t your thing, get some friends together for a quiz night at the pub and stick to a lime and soda.
4. Go To A Concert... Sober!
Again, if you are going to a concert to see music you already enjoy, there’s no need to bring alcohol into the mix. You’ll probably have a better time and remember more of it, plus you’ll wake up without the hangover too. Win win! I went to a Jazz Club in Mexico city, ate pizza, drank water and it was an awesome way to spend my weekend!
5. Go On A Walking Tour Of Your Local City
It’s something I do as a tourist when I’m travelling, to get to know the area and learn about the history. Yet I never think to do this in my home country, but why not? You might actually learn something new and they are usually free with a small donation or tip. It’s also a great way to meet other people.
6. Learn A New Skill
You can do this on your own, with a friend, partner or group of people. It could be anything from candle making, playing an instrument, photography, baking, knitting. Find something you are interested in and give it ago! If you get bored of it, start something else. There’s no harm in starting lots of different hobbies until you find one you love!
7. Host A Theme Night Dinner
Pick a country out of a hat and serve the local food for a theme night dinner. You could also dress up and have games if you really want to go all out. Italy and Mexico are some easy choices or you could try Thailand or Indonesia for dishes a little more tricky to make. Forget the tequila and go virgin with the margaritas! It’s a great way to spend your weekend with friends.
8. Start A Side Hustle
Why not? Get your bestie round, make some tea and start brainstorming business ideas, then get to work! I am a big advocate of having a passive income and even if nothing comes from it, the whole process can be enjoyable and a great learning experience. For inspiration and ideas, check out what people are selling on Etsy.
9. Get Active With A Friend
This could be going to the gym together, following a Joe Wicks youtube workout, heading out for a run or have you ever tried indoor rock climbing? There are SO many ways to make exercise fun with your friends. And you might find your new favourite hobby!
10. Make Christmas/Easter Decorations
Of course this depends on the time of year but it’s something a bit different to do. Start by shopping for all the pieces you need and then set your decoration making kit up at home, put some Christmas music on and it’s a fun sober night in! You could do the same for Easter too.
11. Go On An Adventure!
Whether that’s driving somewhere new, a last minute camping holiday, or catching a train to explore a different city for the day. You could choose a random place on the map and see where you end up! Even if it’s the middle of nowhere, go explore the country you live in because you might be surprised.
12. Plan Your Next Vacay
I don’t know about you but I LOVE planning, researching and organising trips! Maybe that makes me weird? But you can do this with your bestie and even put together a travel board with all your ideas. It’s a great way to bond and something fun to do on a Friday night.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE an ice-cold glass of Rose, a fruity Pina Colada and a strong Espresso Martini. I definitely still have weekends where I just meet friends for a drink. But I also know there is more to life than drinking myself silly every weekend, like I used to in my 20s and quite frankly, it’s boring! There really are so many fun weekend activities that don’t involve drinking, it does takes a bit more effort to research and organise, but that can be part of the fun.
If you have any more ideas for unique weekend plans, please share them in the comments below! Enjoy your sober weekends.
Amber x
P.s Have you thought about doing some of these weekend activities on your own? It can be daunting so read our post: How To Embrace Spending Time Alone – Where To Start.
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