A daily routine can be anything but boring when you establish healthy habits that will enhance your physical and emotional well-being. Planning ahead so you can fit into your day all the things you need to do—plus some of the things you want to do—can go a long way to helping your recovery.
Make Your Health and Well-Being a Priority
When you are focusing on your path to recovery, it’s easy to let nutrition and fitness slip. One way of avoiding a poor diet is to plan your meals ahead of time. This can be as simple as writing out menus for the week, or by preparing your meals a day or two in advance so that your meals are ready to cook or reheat with little trouble. When you approach your daily diet with this kind of mindfulness, you’ll find you make better food choices.
Another way of making your well-being a priority is by carving out 30 minutes a day for your preferred choice of physical activity. Whether you enjoy a hard sweat session at the gym or a gentler form of exercise, aim for meeting your goal—your way. If a half-hour seems to daunting to do all at once, try breaking it up into sessions throughout the day; for example, three 10-minute walks spaced throughout the day still counts as daily activity.
Take Time to Relax and Reflect
At first it may seem that being on the go constantly is the best way to keep your mind focused on your recovery, but it’s very important to take it easy, too. A regular schedule of sleep will have an enormous impact on how you feel each day, so make sure to turn in and wake up at around the same time each day.
Make it a point to include a low-key activity each day. This could include writing in a journal, reading, or meditating. If you’re new to meditating, set a timer for five minutes, close your eyes, and simply focus on your breath going in and out. As you get accustomed to it, you can add more time or perhaps some gentle background music. See what might work best for you; there’s a reason it’s called a meditation practice, after all.
Get on the Road to SMART Recovery
Having a community of support is also key to your success in recovery. That’s why Beachside offers its SMART Recovery program. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. The program uses science-based methods to help individuals focus on self-empowerment and self-reliance.
The program features four points: Building and maintaining motivation; coping with urges; managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and living a balanced life. You are able to customize your program for success, completing the four points at your own pace. There is no lifetime commitment to this program, which means the decision is yours as to when you move on from the program.
By establishing a daily routine that allows time for both work and relaxation, you will set yourself up for success in your recovery.
To learn more about our SMART Recovery technique, or establishing a routine that will support your ongoing recovery, call and talk to one of our trained admissions counselors at 866-349-1770.