Self care in addiction recovery is crucial if you want to stay sober. However, how does that process work? Is it difficult? Can you make it work for you?
When you are no longer drinking, you need to find healthy ways to fill the void and the spare time you have now that you’re not taking part in these unhealthy actions. However, it shouldn’t simply be once a week, either. Of course, you might be spending your weekend breaks without knowing what to do now that you’re no longer a party animal. Or you might not know activities that don’t involve happy hour after work throughout the week. That’s where life skills training comes in!
Below are 15 self-care ideas that you can take part in any day of the week. Do not save these just for Sundays. In fact, we advise trying one a day, seven days a week. Plus, as a bonus: Most of these sober self-care ideas are cheap or free, as well, so you should be able to quickly try one or two today.
1. Get some exercise
If you’re trying to find something to do, exercise is always a great choice and definitely well-liked with Coalition Recovery visitors. You can sign up with a health club, which is specifically enjoyable if you additionally go to one with amenities like a sauna (highly recommend). Naturally, there is also free exercise like hiking with friends or your dog, running (ever tried doing a half-marathon?), or bike riding. You can likewise attempt even more daring things, like hot yoga, rock climbing, or kayaking.
2. Keep supportive family members close
One of the very best parts of having free time when you’re sober is that you get to pick what to do with that time as opposed to spending it hungover in bed for the majority of the day. Among the most enjoyable tasks you can do is hang around with those you adore, like your family members. Just see to it that you’re spending your time sensibly with people that are encouraging of your recovery. Otherwise, it simply will not be that enjoyable.
3. Cook yourself some comfort food
Cooking on your own can be truly nurturing for the soul. Coalition followers recommended spending self-care Sundays on tasks such as food preparation, making pancakes or waffles, or even cooking something comforting throughout the cold weather (like soup). An additional entertaining thing to do is make some homemade pizza… or, if you’re feeling a little bit on the lazy side, order in and take pleasure in some time off.
4. Try being more spiritual
A few Coalition Recovery readers recommended going to church if you require something to do throughout your self-care days… yet any type of kind of spiritual activity will certainly work. For some, that means going to church or synagogue or mosque. For others, it could mean engaging in meditation or reading some books. Find what fills your soul, whatever that is, and do that.
5. Cuddle your pet
Something that’s highly recommended on our self-care list is cuddling with your pets. Seriously. There is absolutely nothing better for some self-care than getting some love from your dedicated puppy or cute cat. Invest at least 20 minutes a day and you’re sure to feel revitalized in no time.
6. Socialize with good friends
Time with close friends is crucial when it concerns your sobriety and your self-care. Just as you want to hang out with family members who are supportive, the exact same goes for the other people that love you: Your chosen family. Several of the tips we received included hiking with friends and/or brunching. I’m personally a really big fan of the brunch recommendation for lazy Sundays that are not spent feeling hungover.
7. Take a look at free events around
No matter where you live, there are usually at least a few completely free events in your area that you can check out. These can consist of anything from your local botanical gardens holding a nighttime holiday event to free concerts in the summer. Especially in Tampa, there are many things to do, even if it might take a little extra research on Facebook to find things you like doing.
8. Treat yourself to a quiet, relaxing evening at home
Do you know what’s a really good time once in a while? Not leaving your house. Plenty of pointers consisted of things like Netflix ‘n Chill with your significant other, making a pot roast and chilling on your sofa, throwing on comfortable clothes while you drink your night cup of chamomile, and just taking part in some sort of quiet time. You do not need to have an insane, wild party life any longer. You also do not need to make-believe like that life was fulfilling, either. Appreciate the quiet while you can.
9. Go to a self-help meeting
Of course, absolutely nothing says self-care like taking yourself to a meeting. Most of our viewers suggested that as a terrific way of looking after yourself, whether your meeting is a traditional 12-step or one of the many AA alternatives like SMART recovery.
10. Do something that makes you feel good
There are a lot of things that can make you really feel good yet, here, we specifically suggest things that will enhance your self-esteem in some way. Things that our audience enjoyed, particularly, consisted of getting a pedicure or manicure, submitting grad school applications, going thrifting, and heading to the farmer’s market. Generally, there are no restrictions as long as the thing you’re doing makes you realize your true potential in some way… whether that potential includes buying fresh veggies for your Sunday night soup or just dancing the evening (and early morning hours) away.
11. Go to bed early
One of my personal preferred types of self-care is receiving a good night’s rest. Usually, this means going to bed early. I was still mainly sticking to my twelve o’clock at night bedtime and found myself significantly tired by it when I became sober. I began going to bed at 9 pm and my life changed for the better. Nowadays, I wake up early and am a lot more productive as a result of that. Our viewers likewise extremely advised napping as a kind of self-care.
12. Play some games
Games are a great means to invest time when you’re sober, whether that means playing video games alone (or with online friends) or getting together for regular board game nights with your best friends. You can also try a great old fashioned game of solitaire to take the stress off.
13. Care for things in your home
This might not look like the most prominent type of self-care however it was really noteworthy among our viewers who know that nothing feels quite comparable to having a beautiful, clean home. Things that were highly recommended in this category included doing some chores (laundry?), food shopping, cleaning up the oven, hygge-ing your house, and simply organizing. It’s a simple thing to do yet a great way to spend the time and, as a bonus, you’ll get a wonderful home afterward!
14. Get creative
Creativity is something that you might not think of as a kind of self-care, however, it’s one of those activities that people love to engage in after getting sober and getting in touch with their much deeper selves. To get imaginative, there are lots of choices. You can journal, attempt a coloring book, do some writing, paint, or perhaps attempt photography. And do not stress, you do not need an expensive camera for it—just your phone and some time outside.
15. Indulge in reading strictly for pleasure
It’s not self-care Sunday if you’re not doing some reading, at least in my home. It seems that a great deal of Coalition followers feel the same, too. May we recommend some effective women’s recovery memoirs? You won’t regret it.
There are plenty of things you can do to deal with yourself in sobriety however the most essential thing you can do is take some time for yourself, period. Sober self-care is critical in order to maintain your strong recovery. Whether you choose one of the activities over or another thing, do not forget to do some daily self-care. And of course, we do mean on days aside from Sunday.
Self Care In Addiction Recovery
Self-care is important for recovery because it is the foundation upon which everything else in recovery will be built. In order to have a strong base of recovery, you must go through a process during which you learn how to take care of yourself physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.
To learn more about self care in recovery, don’t hesitate to call us at 888.707.2873 today. As always, Coalition Recovery is here to help in your journey.
