Are you looking forward to life after addiction? If you want to kick the drug habit for good, you need to build a happy life. Here are some useful tips.
There’s nothing like coming out the other end of addiction to take your life back.
No matter how long you struggled with drug use – or whatever kind of use you’ve partaken in – sober living is such a breath of fresh air. This is your time to recover from the pains of addiction and re-create your life to be fun and fulfilling without relying on any substances.
Sometimes, though, this newfound freedom from addiction can be hard to manage. There’s no manual to life after addiction, or to being happy in general.
In truth, once you’re done with rehab and recovery, the rest is up to you to stay on track. The following are some things you can do to not just keep from falling off the wagon, but to make the most of this beautiful new chapter!
Establish a New, Refreshing Routine
To start your new chapter on the right foot, come up with a new routine.
This should be a general guideline to follow throughout your days. It doesn’t have to be super strict or jam-packed with things to do. But, you should at least get into some sort of flow during your mornings and evenings.
This is your time to do whatever you’d like.
Some people use the mornings as a chance to wake up slow. They like to have time to sip on their coffee or tea and read a book, or just go for a walk. They may practice things like meditation or journaling to start the day, too.
Others like to get up and go. Maybe your mornings in life after addiction look like going for a nice run or hitting the gym, followed by a huge, filling breakfast.
Either way, deciding what to do with your mornings, evenings, and the time in between is up to you. The thing is, with a set routine, the choice to continue on your sober path becomes easier. You won’t be as tempted to fall back into drug use if you’re filling your time with other, more beneficial things.
Do More of What You Love
As you start to create your routine, you may notice you have more responsibilities in life after addiction than you realized.
Time at rehab kind of slows down. It’s a simple life to help you focus on getting better, where the schedule of the day is often set up for you and there are barely any distractions. This rehab place is a great example of that.
After rehab, though, you’re thrown back into daily life. You have work to do and bills to pay, and on top of that, probably some sort of exit counseling with your rehab center. That may leave you little time to do all the things you love every single day.
But, the more you make your favorite activities a priority, the more time you’ll have to enjoy them. This goes for everything from keeping a regular workout routine to seeing your family on a consistent basis.
When you learn to balance what you love and what you need to do to support yourself, life gets much more enjoyable every step of the way.
Try a New Hobby
Once you’ve got the hang of balancing priorities and personal interests, you may find you have more time on your hands than you think. Rather than twiddling your thumbs and risking falling into a relapse, commit your time to practicing a new hobby.
This could be absolutely anything – so long as it’s not harmful, of course!
Your new hobby may be some sort of outdoor activity, like running, cycling, hiking, camping, fishing, or gardening. It may be something that occupies your hands such as painting, drawing, or writing. Maybe, what you really want to learn has more to do with stimulating the mind, the way learning a new language or reading more books might.
Whatever you choose to do, commit to it. See how this new hobby makes you feel and the sense of life it brings you.
Keep in mind, though, that you may not fall in love with a certain activity as you first think you will. It’s okay to explore your options until you find what clicks. Then, go all in.
Build Stronger Relationships
Another great benefit of trying a new hobby is the chance to do this with someone you care about. Actually, fostering relationships is a crucial part of life after addiction.
You may have some bridges to mend from things that were said and done before you went to rehab. Maybe, addiction was the wedge that came between you and your family for too long. Or, it could have been what kept you from connecting with anyone – family or not – in the first place.
Now is your time to make up for the moments that were lost while you were under the influence. At the end of the day, there are good people all around you. Some of them may be individuals who have cared about you long before you recovered. Others may cross your path in the recent or far future, and for good reason.
Keep these people close. Remind them how much you appreciate their presence in your life. This could be the chance to create more trustworthy, reliable friendships than you ever thought possible.
Although, keep in mind there could be a couple ties you still need to cut, now that you have a better, newfound way of life. Be wary of spending time with anyone who used to encourage your substance behavior.
This is your chance to get things right – and the best way to do this is with the right people by your side.
Discover All the Beauty of Life After Addiction
Life after addiction can be anything you want to make of it.
It may be time to take your shot at love or to finally get your finances in order. Living sober might inspire you to take the trip of a lifetime or to settle down and plant some healthy, strong roots.
Whatever you choose to do, always remember to keep your health in check. There are some parts of addiction that never go away, like the tolls that drugs can take on your body. Not to mention, you have to keep your mind sharp to maintain a sober life.
For health and wellness tips to help you do this, click here.
