Dear Ms. Blah,

Thank you for your question! If you’re eight months alcohol-free and feeling flat, you are not alone. It’s common to hit a “meh” stage around this time. The early days of sobriety are often filled with intensity as you navigate white-knuckle cravings, social settings, and raw emotions. By month eight, that urgency can wear off. The dust settles. And what’s left can feel…underwhelming. You might even start wondering: Is this it

The exciting news is, the absence of alcohol is just the beginning! Sobriety isn’t just about subtracting a harmful substance from your life; it’s about discovering all the great things you’re adding in its place.

If you’re feeling like the sparkle is missing, it’s likely a sign that your nervous system, your identity, and your sense of purpose are ready for more.

Here are five ways to reignite your spark:

1. Reconnect with Your “Why”
At the beginning of your journey, you probably had a powerful reason for quitting. Health, family, peace, freedom. Revisit it. Write it down. Say it out loud. Has your “why” evolved? Maybe now it’s less about escaping rock bottom and more about building something solid and vibrant. Reflect on what you really want next, not only what you don’t want.

2. Get Curious, Not Complacent
Flatness is often a symptom of routine. If every day feels the same, your brain craves novelty. So feed it. Try something new: a dance class, a morning hike, or a weekend art retreat. Even rearranging your furniture or changing your daily walk route can help your mind wake up. Sobriety makes room for newness; go find it.

3. Do Something That Scares You a Little
Growth lives just outside your comfort zone. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try but put off? Public speaking, taking a solo trip, signing up for a race, launching a blog? When we challenge ourselves, we build confidence. That confidence becomes the fuel for feeling alive again.

4. Tend to Your Spiritual or Creative Life
You’ve taken away a substance that used to help you cope, celebrate, unwind, and grieve. What’s replacing it? Many people in long-term recovery find that creativity or spirituality becomes a vital lifeline. Journaling, painting, gardening, prayer, poetry, and meditation—these things light up the soul. What makes you feel connected to something bigger

5. Talk About It Honestly
The urge to go back to drinking is often a cry for aliveness, not just a craving for alcohol. Talk to someone who gets it. A coach, a sober friend, a group. Say the quiet thing out loud: “I’m bored. I’m restless. I want more.” You deserve a version of sobriety that doesn’t feel like punishment; it can feel like freedom, like energy, like joy. But sometimes you have to build that joy, brick by brick.
You’re not doing sobriety wrong. You’re just ready for the next chapter.

Boredom is a signpost, not a dead end. It means your nervous system is healing and asking for more life. So go give yourself something to be wildly curious about. Your spark is not gone; it’s waiting to be reignited.

You’ve come this far. You don’t need to go back. You just need to go deeper. I always say I wouldn’t sustain sobriety if I weren’t having any fun. Fun is a top value of mine. I hope this inspires you.

With a punch of pizazz!
Coach Heather