The start of a new year is often seen as a time to make positive changes and improve one’s lifestyle. For recovering addicts, this could include making a commitment to sobriety or beginning the process of rehabilitation.
Maintaining sobriety and sticking to rehabilitation goals isn’t always simple, but it’s well worth the effort. Getting sober can offer you a new lease on life, improve your relationships, and free you up to focus on the things that truly matter.
To this end, you would do well to start the New Year with a positive approach to your recovery. Here is a new opportunity to strengthen your sobriety and establish worthwhile goals. It’s time to put your addiction behind you and start making progress toward a life you’ll be content with.
1. Boost your mood with exercise
This New Year, resolve to become more physically active after leaving South African rehab. Making a positive adjustment in your lifestyle doesn’t have to be extreme. Think about making some small adjustments, like committing to a weekly goal for running and eating three healthy meals every day.
You might also decide to make it a point to sleep for a full eight hours every night. Achieving any of these objectives can set you on the path to recovering from addiction.
In a positive way, a healthy routine can affect both your body and mind. Exercising has been shown in a number of studies to improve mental health by decreasing stress and anxiety and increasing restful sleep.
2. Form positive connections
At times, the recovery process can make you feel completely alone after you leave your South African rehab. You may feel isolated because you believe no one else can relate to your situation. It’s important to reach out to loved ones who are trying to help and support you.
Pick a close circle of family and friends to rely on for strength in the coming year. Don’t be shy about letting them in and asking for help. Just making this one small act can have a major impact on your success in beating addiction.
3. Do something positive for someone else
For those who have been sober for some time, remembering the people who cared enough to help them through tough times may be a powerful source of strength.
Do something nice for someone else every day to pay it forward. You might also volunteer in your local community or support another person’s recovery by acting as their sponsor.
To be in recovery is to realise the need of helping both oneself and others. Helping a neighbour or spending some time volunteering at a local soup kitchen or animal shelter may do wonders for your self-esteem and the bonds you share with your community.
4. Become mindful
Negative emotions, such as anger, may creep in occasionally, but keeping an optimistic outlook can help you stay on the path to recovery. Make a list of everything that makes you happy, and when you’re feeling sad, pick a few items at random from that list to focus on.
Mindfulness meditation is a great tool for letting go of the past and focusing on the here and now as part of your rehabilitation. Your mental health might benefit from activities like yoga, journaling, or even just sitting down with a warm cup of tea and a pet.
Article provided by Recovery Centre White River
