You have decided to take back control of your life. Recover from to alcohol or drug addiction may not be the easiest thing to do, but if you put your mind to it, it is certainly achievable. After kick the habit and professional treatment, it is important to consider what goals you want to achieve. You can then split these into smaller goals. Make sure the goals are specific, measurable, achievable and realistic. Set a deadline when you want to achieve the goals. The small and healthy changes you bring into your life can have a positive impact on your daily routine. Goal setting is an important part of the therapy. Below are 10 ways on how to achieve your goals during recovery:
# 1 New hobby
Swap old habits for a new hobby, such as adult coloring books or write in a journal instead of using social media.
# 2 Adjust your living environment
Make a change in your living environment, open the windows, tidy up your room, change the decor or move the furniture. Having a big clean once in a while doesn't hurt either. Get rid of items you haven't used for a long time. Very small changes can make a big difference.
# 3 Improve your mental well-being
Improve your well-being by meditating, yoga or exercising. Regular exercise increases endorphins, which is linked to a positive attitude. This way you can kill two birds with one stone, physical condition and mental well-being.
# 4 Kindness
Performing arbitrary acts of kindness will help build your character and brighten your day. Open the door to someone or be willing to pay someone's coffee. Chat with strangers on the train instead of sitting on your phone.
# 5 The answer to your question is YES!
Practice saying yes when good opportunities come your way. Do you always say no when a friend invites you to a night at the cinema? Then try saying yes. New positive experiences brighten up your day and can help you discover new hobbies or meet new people.
# 6 Relapse prevention
If you feel the desire to use, call a friend or sponsor. Discuss it and seek support.
# 7 Eating healthy
Develop a healthy diet and try to sleep at least 7 to 8 hours a day. A good night's sleep reduces the feeling of hunger the next day, which contributes to a healthy diet.
# 8 Have fun
Find ways to have fun while being clean and sober. Have a game night or go for a walk with friends. Do things that make you happy.
# 9 Find distraction
Another way to distract yourself from cravings is to go for a walk or go for a drive. Also running is seen by many people as a good distraction during recovery.
# 10 Imagine ...
Imagine how you will become as a non-user and how much better your life will be when you control usage. What new opportunities will arise and what habits you will abandon.
take your time
These 10 ways may sound simple, but they have a big impact on your life. You don't have to apply all 10 of them, of course. Pick the ones that suit you best and try to keep them up for a while. According to a British study, it takes an average of 66 days (about two months) to learn a new habit. After these days you will find yourself applying the behavior without thinking about it. And the more difficult the goal, the longer it takes to reach it. That is why it is so important to split the goals into smaller steps. That way you will not only achieve your goal faster but you will also have it small successes to celebrate and that is important during recovery.