Successful recovery from a drug use disorder requires structure and regularity. It might be simple to revert to bad habits and a dysfunctional lifestyle if you don’t have a healthy routine to follow. The process of quitting an addiction might be the ideal time to restart other aspects of your life. Having these new, healthier behaviors might give you a sense of empowerment as you work on your recovery.
Structure and Routine’s Positive Effects on Recovery
You can benefit from structure and regularity during your recovery process in a number of ways. Making and following a schedule may act as a stabilizing influence, aid in the development of self-control, enhance mental health, keep you active, and enhance physical health:
1. It Aids in the Establishment of a New Normal
For many people with an addiction, starting the recovery process can be a frightening new step. Your feelings of fear may be replaced with thoughts of stability as you become adjusted to a new routine. When your life seems to have flipped upside down or when you feel particularly exposed, routine offers a feeling of stability.
You may feel that you are replacing your drug use disorder with new, healthy behaviors if you develop new routines. According to one research, it typically takes 66 days for people to develop habits that become automatic parts of their daily routine. After your first two months of abstinence, you could notice that your new regimen starts to seem more natural.
2. It Aids in Self-Control Training
It takes more than just willpower to beat a drug use problem. Addiction is an illness that has to be properly managed. Self-control has a crucial role in your long-term success after the earliest phases of addiction treatment. Temptation will arise, and you may fight it by maintaining self-control.
You can’t just summon up self-control whenever you need to. Psychologists claim that it is more like a muscle that can be worked. People in recovery can take heart from this since it shows that willpower can be developed and stored for use when necessary. You may prepare yourself to withstand temptation by restraining yourself from staying in bed beyond your bedtime or from eating a nighttime snack.
3. It can enhance your mental and emotional well-being.
A drug use disorder can both cause and be a symptom of self-esteem problems. Therapy should be a part of a thorough plan for addiction treatment in order to assist individuals in addressing these underlying problems and promoting positive self-talk. In addition to treatment, creating healthy habits can help people feel better about themselves and enhance their mental health.
Think about the confidence boost you have after working out in the morning or after accomplishing a long-term objective. You may feel in charge and successful by celebrating many small triumphs along the way when you follow a program.
4. It Aids in Preventing Boredom
Structure also helps long-term sobriety by minimizing boredom, a problem that can lead to a relapse. A sense of purposelessness may lead someone to turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to pass the time or liven up their days. For those in recovery, a lack of structure combined with excessive free time creates a hazardous dynamic.
It’s especially important to make a plan that will help you prevent extended periods of inactivity if you’ve previously used drugs or alcohol to overcome boredom. A sober schedule should include enjoyable pursuits like hobbies with healthy routines like going to treatment.
Key Elements of a Sobriety Schedule
It might be beneficial to have a routine while you’re recovering, but what should this plan entail? Each person’s response could appear different. This is why it’s crucial to talk to a counselor about your schedule so they can advise you on the routines that will be most helpful to you. A healthy regimen can contain the following elements:
Sleep: Establishing a consistent sleep and wake-up time might help your body sync up with its internal clock, or circadian rhythm. You’ll be able to sleep better at night and wake up feeling more refreshed as a result of this. A healthy sleep schedule also enables your body to recover emotionally and physically.
Exercise: Keeping your body physically fit and healthy in general requires regular exercise. Additionally, studies show that exercise might support a person’s recovery. You don’t have to go to the gym every day. Simple steps like adding exercise to your daily and weekly schedule are wise.
Personal hygiene: You should include basic personal hygiene in your everyday regimen, such as taking a shower, brushing your teeth, and flossing. You needn’t, however, end there. Anything that makes you feel your best, such as arranging occasional time for a soothing bubble bath or establishing a regular skin care regimen, should be done.
The Difficulties of Keeping Routines
Many individuals, whether they are in recovery or not, are aware of how helpful the appropriate routine can be in assisting them in reaching their objectives and leading happier, healthier lives. Why then do so many individuals find it difficult to follow a schedule? Creating new behaviors is challenging. It takes time to become used to a new habit, and while you acclimate, you’re likely to stray sometimes. You could watch too much TV over the weekend or stay up too late one day.
In these situations, it’s crucial to treat yourself with grace and to concentrate on all your accomplishments. Many individuals have unreasonably high standards for themselves, and when they aren’t met, they give up completely.
Harmonizing Your Routine With Your Goals
You need to establish a routine that is not oppressive and instead supports you in finding balance in your life to prevent a scenario in which you become overwhelmed and give up. One of the instruments for sobriety is a schedule, although it shouldn’t rule your life entirely. You could: Become too fixated on your routine; if you don’t give yourself enough leeway.
- Be resolute when your routine needs to change as a result of life upheavals.
- Put mundane tasks above the demands of your loved ones.
- Avoid experimenting with novel ideas that could improve your life.
- Feeling monotoned by a busy schedule that prevents enjoyment in the moment.
Helpful Resources
