Having a healthy daily routine is essential for a successful recovery from a substance use disorder. A routine helps you reduce stress, stay organized and focused, manage cravings, and fend off loneliness.
Essential Daily Practices for a Sober Lifestyle
If you went through residential treatment, you had a specific schedule to follow each day. Waking up early, eating a healthy breakfast, and attending a counseling or support group session may have been a part of your morning routine. The rest of your day may have been filled with other required activities, making it easy to know what to expect each day.
Once you leave a treatment program, it can be a challenge to maintain a daily routine without the mandated structure. However, creating a routine for yourself can help establish new patterns supporting your new lifestyle.
When deciding what daily practices to incorporate into your routine, include things you believe will benefit you but that you also enjoy. Include a relaxing or fun activity in your daily routine, such as having coffee with a friend, going swimming, cooking, or playing a game with your children.
Here are some other things to consider adding to your routine:
- Get up at the same time each morning.
- Make your bed every day, and set a schedule of chores for each day of the week. This can give you a sense of accomplishment and set the tone for the rest of the day.
- Eat a healthy breakfast filled with fresh, nutritious foods. Plan your meals for the rest of the day.
- Make time for exercise. This can be something as simple as walking your dog or practicing yoga. Exercise is good for your body and can clear your mind.
- Take time for yourself. Setting aside even five or ten minutes a day as your own personal quiet time can be a powerful antidote to life’s challenges.
- Attend a regular support group meeting with others who share similar experiences.
- If you work outside the home, arrive on time every day and don’t make a habit of calling off unless there’s an emergency.
- Meditate daily as a tool for managing stress and relaxing.
- Write in a journal to reflect on what you have accomplished and how far you have come in your recovery journey. You can also write down what you are grateful for.
- Take time for daily practice of a new (or old) hobby or interest.
- Get enough sleep. Have a nightly routine, so your body knows it is time to unwind and rest.
Benefits of a Daily Routine in Recovery
Recovery is a process. Daily practices can help keep your life more organized and less stressful. They help you feel a sense of accomplishment each day, which can give you confidence in your ability to stay strong on your recovery journey. Other benefits of a daily routine include:
- Improved health, if your routine includes healthy lifestyle practices.
- Less boredom, knowing what you will do daily.
- Better sleep, knowing that you’ve done what you needed to do that day.
- Reduced risk of relapse as you build positive behaviors to combat cravings.
Contact Our Georgia Recovery Center Today!
If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder, contact Twin Lakes Recovery Center today. We are a leading Monroe, Georgia, treatment center and offer a variety of treatments and programs, including medically supervised alcohol and drug detox, inpatient residential treatment, intensive outpatient programming, relapse prevention, and more. Contact us to find out more about how we can help.
