Knowing how to promote recovery after addiction treatment can be a common concern among soon-to-be alumni. Though finishing treatment is a significant achievement, it’s understandable why many may be worried about life after treatment. It’s a common misconception that a person has to make huge difficult changes to remain in recovery. The truth is that it can just take small changes to improve your quality of life and promote recovery.
Learning how to make these simple changes is not something people have to do on their own. Addiction treatment facilities such as Painted Desert Recovery utilize therapies designed to keep clients in recovery long after treatment is finished. Many of these suggested changes are encouraged in treatment. Clients have plenty of time to practice them with the help of mental health care professionals before they resume their normal lives. Though these five suggested changes listed below may not seem like a lot, they do go a long way to promote recovery in anyone’s life.
#1. Promote Recovery by Creating a Schedule
Having a daily schedule can help promote recovery by making sure you have time to care for yourself. Life can be incredibly busy, and it can be tempting to cut corners to fit in more work. However, you need to have time to sleep, eat, rest, and practice self-care to remain healthy. Having a schedule can take the guesswork out of the day, which can reduce anxiety and allow you time to accomplish your needs.
#2. Get Proper Nutrition and Exercise
Nutrition and physical health go a long way in keeping oneself fit and healthy. A lack of adequate nutrition especially has an observable effect on our mood. That’s why addiction treatment facilities such as Painted Desert Recovery utilize nutritional therapy as part of addiction treatment. Now, this doesn’t mean a person has to give up foods that they love or have a restrictive diet. It simply means making healthier choices, such as choosing baked veggie chips for a snack or eating at regular times.
Moving your body is another great way to promote recovery. Again, nobody is expected to bench-press their body weight immediately after treatment. Instead, try going on a brief walk every day. Participating in outdoor activities is fun, boosts mental health, and keeps your body active. There are a plethora of activities that someone can participate in to promote recovery, such as swimming, bike riding, and horseback riding.
#3. Promote Recovery by Finding Personal Spiritual Fulfillment
One way many people promote recovery in their lives is to find some form of spiritual fulfillment. Many find this fulfillment in the act of prayer or other religious observations. However, this is not the only way a person can satisfy their spiritual needs. Other common examples include practicing meditation, discovering their method of self-expression, mentoring others, or finding a cause they are passionate about.
Again, it’s best to start small if you want to donate time to a cause you care about. Many local places that help the needy are always looking for volunteers. A good example is animal shelters, which appreciate the volunteers who walk the dogs and clean the enclosures. Ask around and you’ll be sure to find charitable organizations in need of help.
You can also promote recovery within yourself by expressing your feelings through art, song, dance, and other creative mediums. Some find spiritual fulfillment by sharing their creative endeavors with others, which in turn can encourage others to do the same.
#4. Join a Sober Community
Sometimes the hardest thing a person can do is to reach out to others, especially if they carry the internalized shame of addiction. However, there are many groups and communities solely dedicated to providing support and companionship to those in recovery. You can encourage and promote recovery in your life by joining a sober group or community. Remember, you don’t have to immediately join something wild like a skydiving group if you are naturally introverted. The goal is to participate in a way that makes you comfortable.
There are plenty of quieter groups out there, such as book clubs, that can provide just as much support. Many addiction treatment facilities, such as Painted Desert Recovery, have sober communities in the area that are happy to welcome new alumni. With the widespread availability of the internet, it’s easier than ever to find support groups and communities who understand what you’ve gone through. Making time to socialize doesn’t just promote recovery; it also brings joy and fulfillment.
#5. Organize Your Space to Promote Recovery
Having a cluttered environment can seriously impact a person’s mental health. That’s why those in recovery need to keep organized and tidy. There are mental health care professionals who help clients create a plan to streamline their homes and reduce clutter. Nobody wants to feel constant stress and anxiety, and properly organizing the home can greatly improve mental health. An example of a small change that can make a big impact is to use disposable paper dishes if you experience anxiety over dirty dishes being left in the sink. Another is to use labels to create places for household objects to “live” and be returned to.
In conclusion, there are many ways a person can promote recovery in their lives. This is just a small sample of things you can start doing to improve your mental health, even for those who have never been in addiction treatment and recovery. Of course, people can always rely on the help of a mental health care professional for advice on promoting recovery. At Painted Desert Recovery, clients begin their lives with the support they need to achieve success. Like how they decided to seek help, so, too, can they decide to live a happy, healthy life.
At times, recovery can feel overwhelming and difficult. Many can feel as though they have to make serious and hard life changes immediately to properly recover. However, the best strategy is to start small and work up to big changes. Sometimes, a simple small change can make a big difference in your recovery. Here at Painted Desert Recovery in New Harmony, Utah, clients have access to compassionate staff and comprehensive addiction treatment. Utilizing therapies such as group therapy and nutritional therapy helps clients make these small changes to improve their lives and promote healing. Anyone can achieve recovery and stay in recovery with the right help and support. To learn how Painted Desert Recovery can help you, call (844) 540-0353.
