You have to stay busy all the time in order to stay clean 
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One of the most important things Iāve learned in sobriety is how to sit with myself. Being busy all the time is not a sustainable plan to sobriety, nor is it a reasonable expectation.
Rather than distractions Iāve focused on building a life I donāt need to be distracted from. I did this by going to AA and therapy to address the reasons why I needed to drink and drug in the first place.
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Another nugget, right hereā¦
Such an important distinction. Thatās absolutely my goal - to build a life that I am happy with, and one that I am also happy to share with others.
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Iāve been trying to get busy doing things that are better than what I was doing before:
Before, everything I did was selfish, and just about what I wanted.
Now, Iām trying to do things that are good for me AND for other people.
So, I agreeā¦ I am busy these days; not really busy killing time though. Instead, Iām now trying to bring new life to the time I spend.
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For me personally, being busy busy busy leads to burnout and Im less likely to have the strength to abstain from poor choices. Whether thats mindless scrolling, entertaining negative company, substances, food, ect. I have to sit with myself, rest when I need it and allow myself grace. Everyone is different though, thats just my experience
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Time is precious, we never know how much is left. Why would someone want to kill time instead of being grateful to have time?
iāve been sober for quite a while and no, busy is not a sustainable concept. building a life you donāt want to escape and getting your underlying issues in order, thatās a solid path for recovery.
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I used to have to block out time and be very aware and careful of empty time. However, as I progressed in my sobriety, I started to fear and control empty time less, and now I can enjoy a whole day, totally alone, no particular tasks, and with every chance to drink, but I genuinely donāt want to, and can enjoy every minute.
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My experience with sobriety was similar, in early sobriety I did need to find ways of occupying my body and mind and distracting myself from physical and mental need and old ways of coping. As my sober time progressed and I gained some simple tools (coming on here when needing support, taking a walk to clear my mindā¦ tools like that), I was also able to start digging into the why of my using and escape. This also added tools that I could lean onā¦mindfulness, learning that my feelings wouldnāt kill me, building other healthy coping mechanism s for uncomfortable feelings and situations and parts of life. Over even more time, sobriety and not using has become a part of who I am, second nature to me (cuz it sure wasnāt my natural state!). I am now able to lean heavily on my sobriety during the rough times in life vs clinging to it with clutched fingers. For the last couple of years I have struggled mightily with life as it is, I am grateful to have the bedrock of sobriety. I know there isnāt any problem that drinking would not make much worse.
So yes, killing time was also part of my early experience, and that can change as we move toward a new healthier and healing life. You are not stuck in place, it is all a process. And as Misokatsu said, we can and do become comfortable with just being with our selves. Wishing you great success, healing and sobriety. 
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Wowā¦ this is such a powerful statement.
Rough times cause me to consider releasing the grip on my sobriety. To be able to lean upon sobriety (the stability it provides, I suppose) is an incredible thing for me to aspire to!
ā¦and, itās a phenomenal thing that you have grown to that point! 
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Early sobriety i was busy thought he more i get busy that would make my sobriety journey easier it didnt . had a good sponsor and easy does it he told me i learned to meditate and get a balance in my life my sobriety is away of life now , wish you well
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I am grateful for my sobriety, thatās for sure. And it took me a very long time to achieve sustained sobriety. After 40+ years of drinking and many of those years in a quit/relapse cycle (and very suicidal), I never dreamed or even considered that sobriety would be my rock during hard timesā¦but it definitely is. The days add up if we let them. 3,423 for me, one day at a time. Still blows my mind sometimes. Couldnāt have done it without this place.
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Hey there! Welcome back to the forum! How have u been since u posted last?
I definitely found myself being busy in early recoveryā¦ probably too busy if Im being honest. I struggled immensely in being able to sit still and to just be okay in my own skin. It was extremely difficult at that time to just sit with myself and my thoughts.
Overtime though, i started burning out. And burn out was also a trigger to use drugs. Soā¦ i had to learn to be okay with ādoing nothingā. And doing nothing is in fact doing something lol. We are not robots. Its crucial that we have time to relax and unwind in healthy ways 
Now being in recovery for some timeā¦ I LOVE my down time!! I actually need to sit down for 10min a day (its on my To Do list lol) to focus on my breath and meditate. Its such a gift to be okay within my own skin, to be able to sit without distractions. Without needing to keep my hands n mind busy.
Its another gift of recovery for sure!
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