When someone enters one of our substance abuse programs in Chicago, it is usually with the intention to stop their drug or alcohol use, but addiction recovery isn’t just about quitting.
Lasting addiction recovery is about changing your lifestyle. Many addicts have destructive habits and routines, but recovery is the time to break these bad habits and create a new routine.
Why Building a Daily Routine in Recovery Is Important
Creating a daily routine for recovery isn’t just about being healthier, it is for the sake of your sobriety as well. Many people do not realize just how important their routines are and how they can impact their recovery journey.
Addicts may lead disorganized lives and get high simply out of boredom. On the other side of the spectrum, some addicts lead stressful lives and turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. It is important to create a healthy daily routine for recovery that finds a good balance between the two. A good routine will be structured enough to remove the temptations that come with boredom, but filled with activities that promote overall wellbeing to reduce stress and the risk of relapse.
Not only is finding the right schedule important, but also the activities you do matter. Long-term drug or alcohol abuse can lead to sleep problems, malnutrition, and poor mental and physical health. Addiction recovery is the time to replace these bad habits with healthy ones to allow yourself to heal. When someone is healthy, they also tend to feel happier and are less likely to relapse.
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How to Create A Daily Routine for Addiction Recovery
While you may understand the benefits of building a healthy routine in addiction recovery, doing so is sometimes easier said than done. It can be overwhelming to know exactly what you should and should not do. To help, our Chicago PHP rehab is breaking down each aspect of creating a daily routine for recovery and sharing some tips for each.
Sleep Schedule
Lack of sleep doesn’t just leave you feeling groggy, but consistent poor sleep can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Now that you are in recovery, your body needs time to heal and a good sleep schedule can help. Especially, if you are in early recovery and are have problems falling asleep, a set sleep schedule can make sleep come easier.
Quick tips for setting a good sleep schedule in recovery include:
- Setting an alarm in the morning to avoid oversleeping
- Setting an alarm at night to start getting ready for bed
- Spending time winding down before bed
- Avoiding screen time late at night
Healthy Diet
Many addicts suffer from malnutrition or unhealthy weight loss from lost appetite. Others may indulge in an unhealthy diet while under the influence. While getting sober can help you remove these toxins from your body, your body still needs those missing nutrients to heal. A healthy diet can help reverse some of the negative physical effects from addiction.
Quick tips for following a healthy diet in recovery include:
- Writing in a food journal
- Getting rid of junk food and unhealthy options at home
- Transitioning to healthier options slowly
- Getting others to join you
Work
Creating a daily routine for recovery also includes getting back to work. This can be daunting for many people in recovery, but work keeps you busy and can also renew your sense of purpose. Both can help you avoid relapse.
Quick tips for finding work in addiction recovery include:
- Find something you enjoy
- Look for something that will give you purpose
- Be patient
- Network
- Search for a structured job to aid in recovery
Exercise
Regular exercise is important for everyone, but there are several added benefits of exercise in addiction recovery. Especially for long-term drug users and alcoholics, exercise can help with both physical and mental healing.
Quick tips for exercising in recovery include:
- Exercise with a buddy
- Switch it up
- Find exercises you enjoy
- Do at least 30 minutes a day of light exercise
Recovery Meetings
Just because you completed an IOP or other treatment program doesn’t mean your journey is over. In order to find lasting sobriety, you need to continue to be active in your recovery. One of the best ways to do this is to attend regular recovery meetings and make it a part of your normal routine.
Quick tips for finding recovery meetings include:
- Find a group that meets regularly at a set time
- Try out a few groups before picking one or two you like
- Go with a friend
Fill the Free time
Boredom in recovery can be a big addiction trigger for many people. To avoid letting these addiction cravings get the best of you, make sure you fill in that free time when you aren’t exercising, at meetings, or working.
Quick tips for filling your free time in recovery include:
- Picking up an old hobby
- Finding a new hobby
- Practicing mindfulness or other activities from rehab
- Trying out new things until you find something you want to stick with
- Setting time aside each week for your hobby
Creating a daily routine for recovery is important if you want to find lasting sobriety, but if you are struggling to get started, let us help.
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At Banyan Chicago, we will work with you from initial intake to long after your program is complete. Call us today at 888-280-4763 to get started.