As you continue walking the path of recovery, it can become easy to grow complacent. After being sober for months or even years, you may find your days passing seemingly without anything significant happening. You turn inwards and wonder if this life is even worth it if you should return to your old ways for at least some action in your daily life. These thoughts can be highly threatening to your sobriety for obvious reasons, but you don’t have to let them win.
By taking purposeful actions each day in recovery, you can make every day count. These actions can help you stay on the path and continue progressing towards a lifetime of sobriety. Over time, you will realize how to make the most out of your recovery and help others to do the same.
Even those who have been in recovery for an extended time can find themselves slipping back into old habits. During active addiction, many individuals find themselves consistently lying as a means of maintaining their behaviors. Therefore, you need to change your actions in recovery if you wish to maintain a healthy and sober lifestyle. This means that even when it’s challenging, you need to be honest with yourself and others. If you are having a rough time, don’t deny it. Accept your feelings and be open with yourself. Talk to someone you trust about the challenges you are facing so you have the proper support to overcome them.
Being honest with yourself and others will not only help you maintain your recovery, but it will teach you healthy daily habits that will boost your overall well-being.
It is all too easy to blame yourself for past or present mistakes in your life, especially those that caused you to veer off course or cause unnecessary problems. However, you can’t be hard on yourself every day and expect to be successful in recovery. Learning how to show compassion towards yourself will boost your mental and emotional well-being — critical for maintaining sobriety.
It can be challenging and awkward at first, especially if you aren’t used to being gentle with yourself. Starting with small actions such as positive affirmations or reminding yourself that you are not broken can be a great way to become familiar with the process. Over time, you should realize the benefits that this practice holds for you.
When you were in early recovery, you most likely had a select few individuals that were always there to support and guide you through the process. Looking back, think of all the times you were struggling with recovery and the individuals that swooped in to keep you afloat. They are part of the reason you have gotten to where you are today. An excellent way of saying thank you aside from personally telling them yourself is to do the same for someone else. You don’t even need to engage in everyday practices to help someone, but just offer an ear or compliment someone.
If you want to do more, you can offer to be a sponsor or mentor for someone that is in early recovery. No matter what you do, you can make your days in recovery count and boost your general well-being by being there for others that need a helping hand.
On the days when you have a little black rain cloud that you can’t seem to shake, making a conscious effort to practice gratitude can help bring a positive perspective. When life gets busy, you may overlook the simple pleasures in life that remind you why you got sober in the first place. By taking two minutes to write down a gratitude list or meditating on the things you are grateful for, you can change your perspective and not lose a day to negative thoughts.
Self-care is perhaps one of the best ways to take care of yourself, boost your recovery, and improve your overall mental and emotional states. When you have done the hard work to get sober, don’t forget to slow down and take time for yourself. You deserve to rest because this is a productive activity too.
You can find numerous self-care suggestions online, but ultimately the practice looks different for everyone. Try out a couple of activities to see what feels good for you and helps you unwind. These could include watching your favorite movie, cleaning your room, getting a new outfit, or even singing along to your favorite song. Whatever it is, make sure you take the time to enjoy it and make that day in recovery count.
Long-term recovery can become seemingly monotonous over time as you continue working to maintain a healthy and sober lifestyle. However, you don’t have to live this way. Practicing specific actions to make each day matter can have tons of benefits for your overall recovery. No matter what you do, make sure it is conducive to healing and makes you feel good. Recovery is a lifelong journey that should be full of hard work and experiences you enjoy. If you need help navigating this part of the journey, NorthStar Transitions is here to help. We have an extensive alumni program full of outstanding individuals working hard at maintaining recovery. We also have programs such as outpatient therapy, day treatment, and sober living if you need extra support in your recovery journey. To learn more about the programs we have to offer, give us a call today at (303) 558-6400. Recovery begins at NorthStar.
