Drug and alcohol addiction can negatively impact almost all aspects of your life. Such dependencies can make even the most routine tasks challenging and complicated. They also have an adverse effect on our performance at school, college, work, and even relationships. However, an integral part of overcoming your drug and alcohol addiction is shaping your daily routine to complement your healing. Breaking bad habits get more natural when you substitute them with healthier, more sustainable ones. Hence, creating a lifestyle change or overhaul is an effective way to recover from a drug and alcohol addiction. What healthy habits can help you turn your life around and overcome your demons? Read on to learn more about the best practices you can introduce into your lives to start afresh and bid goodbye to your dependencies.
Why are building habits integral to recovery?
Drug and alcohol addiction are chronic conditions that hamper our ability to lead ordinary, fulfilling lives. They are not temporary inconveniences that we can treat with over-the-counter medication. In most instances, they stem from deeply personal mental health issues, disorders, and traumas and require a multi-dimensional treatment protocol. As a result, therapy and counseling are integral parts of any addiction recovery. Such dependencies develop over time due to individuals forming a habit of consuming abusive substances. As a result, breaking these habits are the primary function of any detoxification and rehabilitation program. Doing so becomes more manageable when individuals substitute them with healthier habits that add value to their lives.
Habits can be as fulfilling as they are destructive, and hence try to substitute those that break you with those that help you grow. We have all undertaken New Year’s resolutions to form new habits. While not all of us stick to such declarations, they provide us a goal to work towards and achieve success. Hence, habit-forming is a tool that enables addicts to let go of their past and build a better future. By including positive, healthy, and sustainable routines in their everyday lives, individuals can break the vicious cycle of addiction.
Lifestyle Changes to Overcome Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Planning and Time Management:
The most integral step in ensuring you stay off drugs and alcohol involves breaking the patterns that lead you to their consumption. Taking small steps to correct these patterns requires you to stay focused and attentive throughout the day. By planning your day ahead of schedule, you ensure that you never let yourself too close to triggers. As our elders used to say, an idle mind can quickly negate the positive effects of therapy by enabling you to overthink and spiral. Hence, stay active during the day by planning and allocating the time required for specific tasks.
Journal Your Progress
Keep a journal to note down your daily activities and to gauge your progress along the way. Doing so will also help you notice self-destructive patterns that you need to avoid to stay on the right track. Journaling helps you understand your personal growth and is an excellent tool for introspection and self-discovery. You can critically review how you felt during your recovery and how to stay positive by identifying your natural coping mechanisms.
Socialize Carefully
One of the easiest ways to fall out of recovery is to get too close to temptations too soon. While it might sound easy to do, staying away from your triggers is a lot more challenging than you might think. Socialising can help prevent feeling isolated and alone during your recovery. However, you can feed your addiction if you hang around the wrong type of people, as they might lead you back to your bad habits. The world is brimming with opportunities, and staying active can help you keep away from your triggers.
Stay Active
Drug and alcohol addiction disorders can harm your body and trigger the early onset of several ailments. An integral part of recovery involves getting back into good shape, and leading an active lifestyle can be an excellent way to achieve this goal. By constantly working out, exercising, and staying active, you leave yourself very little time to wallow in pity or loneliness. As a result, you will soon start feeling better both physically and mentally. When you feel like you want to de-stress, play football or go on a walk!
Love Yourself
Don’t forget that loving yourself is key to self-healing and discovery. Invest in self-care and treat yourself to spas and retail therapy once in a while. Reward yourself for staying strong and positive by taking yourself out and investing in personal growth. Sign up for new courses, go out on dates that bring you closer to nature, and draw yourself luxurious baths from time to time. Love yourself unconditionally for all it does for you every day, and make sure you avoid pangs of negativity and self-doubt.
Yoga
Sign up for a yoga class to stay active and mindful as they help you spend time fruitfully. Yoga focuses on unity and mindfulness by combining subtle physical movement and breathing techniques. These aid individuals in their path to self-discovery while also improving physical wellbeing and flexibility. Yoga also helps improve strength. Additional support for yoga routines such as a yoga mat from Pureful Yoga would also be great.
Meditation
Set aside at least 10 minutes every day to practice mindful meditation. Spend this time practicing breathing techniques and clearing your mind of negativity. Doing so will help you focus and concentrate better while aiding your journey of self-discovery and introspection.
Focus on Education
Sign up for new courses and teach yourself new skills to stay active mentally. Doing so will help you direct your energy and mental clarity towards building positive and rewarding experiences. Since these activities take up your time and attention, you will find yourself worrying less about trivial matters and triggers.
Eat Healthily
Reward your body by focusing on your nutrition and eating healthy every day. Cook your meals at home and ensure your body receives all the nutrients and vitamins it needs. Also, stop restricting yourself and eat whenever you feel hungry.
Get Enough Sleep
We all require rest to stay balanced and prevent several ailments and mental health issues. Focus on your rest and take all the steps needed to ensure you don’t fall prey to insomnia. Take a shower before bedtime, log out from all mobile devices and limit your screen time to make it easier to fall asleep.
Conclusion
Everyone’s made mistakes during their lives in different ways. Take control of your present and right the wrongs of your past to build a better future for yourself. Own up to your past decisions, and promise yourself you’ll do better by creating healthy and sustainable habits. What new routines have you added to your day to help yourself on your road to recovery? Mention what’s helping you lead a healthier and happier life in the comments section below!
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