Staying busy during recovery is one of the most significant steps you can take towards living a healthier life. If you're wondering how exactly you go about doing so, consider first that there are dozens upon dozens of experiences that you haven't had yet, and even more activities that you haven't tried! For example, joining a sports team is an activity for you to consider when you're working to stay occupied.
So why exactly is it easy to stay occupied during your addiction recovery? And what are some of the things you can do to keep away from your addiction?
At first you may doubt that staying occupied will help you during recovery, but consider this: when your mind is focused on an activity, you are less likely to wrestle with urges and cravings. This will naturally allow you to stay focused on your task and avoid feeling like you need to relapse. You'll also find a personal sense of accomplishment, which more often than not will be enough to keep you on the path to overcoming addiction. In this article we'll be touching on 5 simple tasks to jump start your path to recovery.
1. Exercising
Working out or getting exercise in some other way will have a positive impact as it will release the 'feel good hormones' that will keep you from having withdrawal and getting depressed over the need to quit your addiction. According to a new study, those who don't exercise or part-take in some type of physical activity are more likely to develop symptoms of depression over time. And despite popular belief, it doesn't take an incredible amount of activity to make a difference. Studies show that even just one hour of exercise 1-3 times a week can prevent depression. Most people usually choose yoga as their form of therapy as it doubles as a form of meditation while being physically beneficial as well.Some of the benefits of yoga include:
- increased flexibility
- increased muscle strength and tone
- improved respiration, energy and vitality
- maintaining a balanced metabolism
- weight reduction
- cardio and circulatory health
- improved athletic performance
- protection from injury
Many treatment centers actually offer this as an official form of therapy.
2. Exploration
You might want to consider new activities such as visiting historical or tourist sites in your area. Often these are not expensive, but will help you to branch out and stay focused on something other than your feelings of addiction. Spending time with your close friends/family while doing something that doesn't feel like 'partying' will be a healthy experience, and you might discover that you thoroughly enjoy what you're doing. Travel is also said to be a fantastic stress reliever. According to a 2013 study, a notable 89% of vacationers / travelers felt a drop in stress after just two days.
3. Spa Day Recovery
Having a spa day either at home or abroad is a fun way to pamper yourself, rejuvenate, and improve your appearance at the same time. This activity is fun do to alone, but can also be done with your friends. Massages are especially relaxing, and have several benefits, here are just a few:
- Disengaged from work, family and friends.
- Slow down and allows the body to re-generate.
- Improves blood circulation hence sending more oxygen and nutrients through the body and cells.
- Stimulates the lymphatic system to rid the body of toxins.
- Releases Serotonin and enhancing the “feel good” factors.
- Relieves chronic pain situations – arthritis, sciatica and muscle spasms.
- Body exfoliating treatments polish the skin, promote cells re-generation, refine pores and offer skin relief.
- Water is yin and yang – when body is submerged in water, it offers true balance.
- Heat treatments to stimulate blood circulation and initiate purifying process.
- Body wraps to re-mineralise the body, re-charge the body with nutrients and elements, boosting moisture in the skin, helping to rejuvenate and relax the body and mind.
4. Go Outdoors
The outdoors has been the ideal setting to help individuals cope with mental health and behavioral challenges for the past few decades. Outdoor therapy, also known as outdoor wilderness therapy, is one of the fastest growing alternative venues of recovery because it allows you to remove yourself entirely from your normal environment. In addition to this being fun, it is usually cost effective. If you have adventurous friends, invite them along too! Being in a social and sober environment with the ones you're close with will help make the transition into healthy living much easier. Try hiking, camping, or even just going on walks to get up, get out, and get active!
5. Get Organized
Clean up those files on your phone and computer. Wash the interior of your car. Try making your bed every morning, do some of that laundry that accumulated over the week. Studies have shown that people who make their bed every morning start their day by feeling quite productive and with a much better sense of well being.According to such studies, a majority of people, after making their bed, feel as if they have accomplished something which means that they have more motivation to complete the tasks they have throughout their day. Staying on top of small chores and tasks will help simplify your life and stay organized, not to mention you'll feel like you're in a much cleaner area, which can have a powerful impact on your everyday life.
Staying active and gaining new experiences may seem like a small feat, however even putting in the smallest effort can make the biggest difference.Whether its taking the time to step outside and into a new setting, or completing the small tasks you have before you throughout the day, you are making a difference in your well being. Listed here are only 5 different types of activities, but there are a lots of different ways to jump start your path to recovery.
