What To Bring With You To Sober Living

When you are moving into a sober living home, you may be excited but unsure of what to expect. You are entering into a space you will share with other residents.

The home will be mostly furnished, so you will not need to bring furniture, basic home goods, or home decor. Here’s some helpful advice about the stuff you will need to bring for your stay.

A little preparation goes a long way when planning a move to a sober living home.

Clothing Items to Bring

When packing for your stay at a sober living home, plan for all occasions. You want to be comfortable when you are lounging around the house. You also want to be appropriately dressed for any formal house outings and might even take holiday dress into account.

If you know how long you plan to stay, this will help you decide on clothing to pack and cater to the season and weather. Otherwise, consider all possible temperatures and weather patterns in the area.

Essentials:

• Socks
• Undergarments
• Pants
• Shirts
• Work attire
• A suit or dress
• Pajamas
• Jacket
• Shoes

Optional:

• Bathrobe
• Belts
• Shorts
• Swimsuit
• Slippers
• Hats
• Winter/heavy coat
• Long johns
• Hats
• Gloves
• Scarf

Though you should ensure you are prepared, you do not need to overpack. You will have access to laundry. Estimate about two to three weeks' worth of outfits suited for casual and formal events, and cool and warm weather.

Hygiene Items to Bring

Your basic hygiene will be important in a sober living home. You will likely feel better when you care for yourself well, especially if you have found self-care got thrown by the wayside when you were struggling with addiction.

Plus, you do not want to smell bad or look unkempt around your housemates.

Essentials:

• Shower caddy
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Floss
• Deodorant or antiperspirant
• Brush or comb
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body wash
• Soap
• Menstrual hygiene products

Optional:

• Face wash
• Shaving cream
• Razors
• Lotion
• Body spray
• Makeup
• Sunscreen
• Moisturizer

During the packing process, look at the ingredients list of every hygiene product. Sober living homes do not allow alcohol of any kind. Every product must be alcohol-free.

If there is any alcohol whatsoever, you must leave it at home. The same goes for aerosol products. Aerosols can be used as inhalants, and as such, they must be left at home. 

If you have the means, purchase alcohol-free and non-aerosol alternatives to bring with you to the sober living home.

If you do not have the means, a local food bank or even the sober living house managers might be able to provide you with what you need

Daily Life Items to Bring

When you are not in support meetings, therapy sessions, or at work, you have to find a way to keep yourself busy. Considering most people stay in sober living homes for many months at a time, you will probably want to bring items to keep you entertained in your downtime.

As everyone's interests and hobbies are different, all of these items are optional.

• Journals, notebook, pencils, pens, markers
• Books, comics, manga
• Paints, paintbrushes, canvases
• Personal electronics (if allowed by your sober living home)
• Musical instruments
• Puzzles
• A yoga mat
• Printed pictures of your loved ones
• Your favorite stuffed animal
• A chess set
• A sports ball
• Yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks

As you develop new hobbies, if you have the money, you can always purchase these items. You should keep yourself open-minded to different forms of entertainment. So long as they are not substance-related or harmful to anyone, your interests can support your long-term recovery.

Important Documents to Bring

These documents and items may be overlooked when packing, but you should keep them with you in a sober living home. You might need them for employment, doctor's appointments, or even any legal situations.

You never know when they might become pertinent. It is better to have them and not need them than the other way around.

• Birth certificate
• Social security card
• Passport
• Insurance cards
• Emergency cash
• Debit and credit cards
• Checkbook
• Driver’s license or a government identification card
• Prescriptions under your name and a list of all your medications
• A list of contacts, phone numbers, and addresses
• A list of all your medical conditions

Your house manager can help you find a way to keep these items safe and accessible should you need them. 

Miscellaneous Items

While these items may not be necessary and they may not fit into the other categories, consider bringing some of these miscellaneous items with you.

• Alarm clock
• Towels
• Plastic hangers
• Laundry basket
• Pillows
• Your favorite snack

The Right Attitude to Bring

While it is important to bring physical objects with you, one of the most important things you can bring with you to a sober living home is a positive, motivated attitude. You need to respect your housemates, whether you personally like them or not. You need to maintain hope that you can continue your path of recovery. You need to truly believe that recovery is possible for you. 

Additionally, you should create a supportive mentality when it comes to the people around you. When you go into this experience with a positive attitude, you get the most out of your time in a sober living home.

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Sober living is a great way to make recovery successful, but the groundwork has to come first. A good, reputable drug detox center helps you build a solid foundation for care at a drug detox or addiction center.

DetoxNearMe.com is the ideal resource for finding a drug detox center. With thousands of listings, finding a detox center for your specific needs has never been easier. Go into sober living fully prepared with DetoxNearMe.com!