A new year is underway, and for a lot of people, that tends to lead to some serious reflection. If you are a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, maybe you have been reflecting on your journey so far and wondering what this year might bring.
Of course, when it comes to recovery, there is a lot to think about. So many decisions—big, small, and in between—can have an impact on your ongoing efforts to leave drugs and alcohol in your past. That can make the process of thinking through your recovery strategies a bit overwhelming. With that in mind, we would like to suggest three things that are always worthy of your attention when you are thinking about recovery.
Let’s take a look at our top three topics for recovery.
It Is Important to Eat Healthily
The food you put into your body has a huge impact on your physical health. And while you might not tend to think of it this way, your dietary choices also have a significant effect on your mental health. Those two things—your physical and mental health—are as foundational as it gets when it comes to keeping your recovery on track.
Eating in a healthful way does not have to mean completely giving up all of your favorite treats, but it does mean making intentional decisions when it comes to food. You have choices to make throughout the day for meals—not only for meals, but for snacking options as well.
Given the huge role food plays in your life and the major impacts it can have on your overall quality of life—not to mention your ability to provide good support for your recovery efforts—we devoted an entire series of blogs to the topic.
Here are links to the entries in our “Healthy Eating Supports Your Recovery” series:
It Is Important to Exercise Regularly
It is important to get regular exercise for the same reasons it is important to make healthy eating choices: Exercise supports your physical health and your mental health—and that means it also supports your recovery.
If you do not currently have an exercise routine, the most important thing you can do is get started—even in a small way. Add a 10-minute walk to your day. Do a few pushups and then do a few more a day or two later and a day or two after that. Look online for some basic stretching exercises or yoga for beginners. Again, the key is to get started—to overcome the inertia of not exercising.
If you do have an exercise routine, you are doing something great for your recovery. Make sure to keep your exercise efforts going by setting some goals, finding an exercise buddy, and leaning into forms of exercise you enjoy so that you are more likely to keep going.
We took an in-depth look at the benefits of exercise for those in recovery in this previous post.
It Is Important to Sleep Restfully
At this point, it probably will not come as a surprise that an activity we recommend for keeping your recovery intact supports your physical and mental health. Sleep does that as surely as healthy eating and regular exercise do—and by doing so, it also supports your recovery. And the key to getting quality sleep is to establish good routines.
What sort of routines do we mean? Well, the first thing we would recommend harkens back to childhood: You would be well served by setting a regular bedtime for yourself. A bedtime—and a regular waking time as well—helps your body and brain settle into the idea that specific times are set aside for sleep.
There are other things that can contribute to a healthy sleep routine. For example, you can improve your sleep by setting aside your screens an hour or two before your bedtime. A wind-down routine—maybe listening to some relaxing music, journaling, stretching, or reading something you enjoy—can support your sleep. So too can ensuring that your sleep space is dark, cool, and uncluttered.
Take a look at more sleep recommendations in this previous post.
It Is Always the Right Time to Get Treatment
When you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, it does not matter what time of year it is—whether it is the top of the year, the middle of summer, the first days of fall, or whenever. The current moment is always the right moment to get yourself into treatment for a substance use disorder.
Located in Henryville, Indiana, Wooded Glen Recovery Center is an award-winning treatment center that employs evidence-based practices supported by our experience, expertise, and empathy. We personalize treatment plans to address your specific needs—including treatment for mental health disorders that may be entangled with your substance use disorder.
If you are ready to make a change for the better—to reclaim your life, restore your relationships, and pursue your goals—we are ready to help.