Go wild sober, keep bees, play Dungeons and Dragons – how to relax if you have a stressful job

December 30, 2023

Narmeen looked sober and excited after quitting drinking two years ago. She was looking for a non-alcoholic way to relax from a stressful job. “There are always a lot of short-term changes, so you have to be very agile,” she says of working in the events department. "It's a very arduous process." It can be long and unpredictable. On a recent project, Narmeen said she worked about 100 hours a week, and then on the actual event day she worked 20 hours straight.

Sober clubbing is the perfect de-stresser, says Narmeen – and it`s far more relaxing than a “normal” night out. “I might be self-conscious in a regular bar. But at a sober rave? Definitely not. It`s very welcoming: everyone`s just got the best intentions,” she says. "I can't dance, I can't sing, but we just do it. If you take away the alcohol element, it becomes a safer, nonjudgmental space." That's why Narmeen goes to sober raves. She didn't mind going alone, but it was something she didn't feel she could do on a normal night. She says, "It helps me de-stress because it's so stress-free."

It's also a way to stay healthy: Narmeen attends gym classes regularly, but she goes to sober raves like: I realized that there are advantages. Opportunity to express yourself creatively. She also feels "much calmer" after the rave, leaving her ready for a busy week. "It's such a beautiful atmosphere. "It just makes me feel so good," she says. "In these few hours you will forget everything outside the walls."