Founder and Contributing Writer – Jason Mayo
Congratulations.
You made it through Thanksgiving.
You navigated mashed potatoes, unsolicited political opinions, Aunt Linda’s “just a sip” Champagne pressure, and turkey dry enough to exfoliate. And you did it sober. That’s huge.
But now we enter the Holiday Bermuda Triangle. That stretch between Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Solstice, and New Year’s where time becomes meaningless, cookies replace vegetables, and everyone drinks like they’re living on a pirate ship.
Even seasoned sober folks can wobble here, so let’s talk strategy.
Know Your Weather Patterns
Every family has a forecast: emotional storms from the past, people pushing drinks, or that weird silent tension no one mentions. Feeling triggered doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’re human.
The key is awareness. If Uncle Bob turns into a tequila preacher after 6 p.m., maybe don’t sit next to him. If old friends want to relive college, it’s okay to bow out. You can love people and still protect yourself.
Bring Your Own Lifeboat
Not an actual inflatable (unless that’s your thing), but come prepared: a favorite non-alcoholic drink, an exit plan, a supportive friend, and snacks. Low blood sugar has taken many of us down faster than peer pressure ever did.
Sometimes just having a sparkling water with a lime in your hand, shuts down the “Why aren’t you drinking?” interrogation. And if you need an escape, “I have to check on something in the kitchen” works every time.
Enjoy the Moment
There’s actually a lot of good in this season when you’re not numb or sneaking refills. You remember conversations, taste dessert, drive home safely, wake up clear-headed, and actually be present. It may feel strange at first. Joy can feel unfamiliar, but it grows.
Build Sober References
One of the best gifts you can give your future self is proof: proof you made it through that party, that dinner, that gift exchange where someone thought a whiskey scented candle was a good idea.
Next year, when anxiety kicks in, you’ll have that reference point: “I’ve done this before. I can do it again.”
Final Thought
Holidays aren’t about perfection. They’re about showing up for yourself and the people you love in ways you couldn’t when you were drinking or using. If you get through this season sober, even imperfectly, you win.
And next year, someone may look at you and think, “If they can do it, maybe I can too.”
That’s the real magic.
Jason Mayo is the creator and founder of Sober Not Subtle and the author of In Case of Emergency, Break Childhood. He is a certified recovery peer advocate at a Recovery Community and Outreach Center in New York.
Before working in recovery, Jason was owner and executive producer of award winning visual effects and animation companies in NYC.
He currently writes for The Sober Curator, has been a contributing writer for the Forbes Business Council, creator of the popular Dad blog Out-Numbered, and author of the children’s books, “Do Witches Make Fishes?” and “The Boy and the Billy Goat.”
When Jason isn’t working or writing, you can find him watching Netflix with his wife or grabbing coffee with one of his two daughters. You might also catch him in his studio playing Fortnite as a Partnered streamer on Twitch.
The coolest thing that ever happened to him as a Dad Blogger was being named to the “25 Dads Who Rock” list published by Working Mother – keeping company with Barak Obama, Jay-Z, Will Smith, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Matthew McConaughey and Brad Pitt.
Jason is passionate about advocating for people living with substance use disorder and mental health issues. His goal is to use humor, creativity, and lived experience to make a positive impact on the world.
Jason has been sober since March 25th, 2010.
👉 In Case of Emergency, Break Childhood: A Gen Xer’s Survival Guide to Anxiety, Addiction, and Accidental Enlightenment is available now in paperback and ebook.
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