Key Takeaways
- Sober calculators track time sober, offering motivation and visual progress.
- Features include goal tracking, journaling, and sharing achievements with a community.
- Common calculators: Curednation’s Sober Calculator, AA Grapevine, Sober Time, and I Am Sober.
- Incorporate by setting a quit date, regularly tracking, sharing milestones, and seeking help if struggling.
A sober calculator is a tool designed to visualize just how long you have been sober for.
People on their sobriety journey find this visualization motivating, as it can help them reach their goals and remind them just how far they have come.
In this article, we will cover just how a sober calculator works, the most popular calculators, and tips for incorporating a calculator into your recovery plan. Read on to find out more about:
- What a sober calculator is
- How a sober calculator works
- Some common sobriety calculators
- Benefits of using a sobriety calculator
- How to incorporate a calculator in your recovery plan.
Let’s get started.
What Is A Sober Calculator?
A sober calculator is a tool designed to help people track and measure the length of time they have been sober.
Essentially, it’s a simple way to calculate and display the number of days, months, or years since a person has abstained from substance use.
Some calculators also allow you to set time goals, monitor progress, and share your achievements with others.
How Does It Work?
Sober calculators are often apps that can be installed on your smartphone or other device. These apps allow you to track the time you have been abstinent from various substances.
Some sober calculators allow users to share their milestones on social media or with a community of peers that foster a sense of support and accountability.
Other features of sobriety calculators include goal tracking, journaling, and progress reports.
Related: The most helpful sober apps to help you in your journey
Common Sober Calculators
1. Curednation’s Sober Calculator
1. AA Grapevine Sobriety Calculator
Alcoholics Anonymous has created an online calculator that simply requires you to enter the date you became sober.
The calculator then shows how many years, months, and days you have been sober, including total days sober.
2. Sober Time Sobriety Tracker
Sober Time Sobriety Tracker is an app designed to calculate how long you have been sober for.
It also allows you to join an online community of people who are in recovery and also allows you to track your goals.
3. One Day at a Time Sobriety Calculator
This simple online calculator allows you to enter the date you started abstaining from addictive behavior and calculate the length of time you have stayed sober.
4. I Am Sober Sobriety Calculator
The I am Sober app is an app available on both the App Store and Google Play.
The app includes a number of features such as sober time tracking, goal tracking, and access to an online community of like-minded individuals who are on a sobriety journey.
The Benefits of Using a Sobriety Calculator:
Increased motivation
For people on their recovery journey, a sober calculator can act as a motivational tool by visually representing the progress you’ve made. It’s a tangible reminder of the commitment to sobriety and is a source of encouragement for many.
Improved self-awareness
By tracking your sobriety, it allows you to reflect on your achievements. However, it also allows you to notice patterns in lapses you have experienced to identify potential triggers.
Enhanced sense of accomplishment
During recovery, it can be difficult to remember just how far you have come. A sobriety calculator helps you to see just how far you have come and helps you set and achieve your goals.
Stronger social support
Many sobriety calculators have a social component that allows you to connect with people who are also in their recovery journey, to keep each other accountable.
Tips For Incorporating a Sober Calculator into a Recovery Plan
Set a quit date and enter it into the sobriety calculator
Sobriety calculators often require you to enter the date that you started your sobriety.
It is important to be honest with yourself and enter an accurate start date in line with your recovery plan.
If you have decided to start your journey on the day you install the app – great! Set today’s date as the start.
Track your progress regularly
Frequently checking a sober calculator can help you track just how far you’ve come. This is a helpful reminder to have both on your best and worst days.
Share your milestones with friends, family, or a support group for accountability and encouragement
Many sobriety calculators allow you to share milestones on social media or with other people using the app.
Sharing these milestones with friends and family is a great way to feel a sense of accomplishment. It also helps you provide support to others in the community.
Use the calculator to identify triggers and patterns of behavior that may lead to relapse
Finding triggers or patterns in your sobriety is important during recovery.
By tracking the times when you may have lapsed or struggled to remain sober, you will be able to identify any recurring triggers.
Once you have identified these, it is important to develop coping mechanisms to prevent further relapse.
Celebrate your achievements along the way, no matter how small
Sober calculators give you a visual representation of how far you have come on your journey.
Apps such as I Am Sober Calculator even count seconds and minutes! So, no matter how small your achievement may seem, they remind you to feel accomplished.
Seek professional help if you are struggling with sobriety
If you find you are struggling with your sobriety journey and keep restarting your timer, it is important to seek professional help.
There are several websites with sobriety resources you can refer to. Consulting with your family doctor is also a great place to start if you are struggling.
The Verdict: Are Sober Calculators Effective?
Sober calculators are a great tool to use if you’re looking for a way to visually represent your sobriety journey.
It can be easy to lose track of just how far you’ve come when you start on such a life-changing journey, and a sobriety calculator is a great way to remind yourself of this.
Celebrating achievements, setting time goals, and sharing accomplishments with friends and family are all great ways a sober calculator can help you stay on track with your sobriety.
