When a former addict is in recovery and going through a change, creating and sticking to a daily routine adds a sense of stability.
Addict or not, having a daily routine is a great way to simplify life while still ensuring that you’re taking care of yourself and everything that needs to get done in a day. A daily routine can consist of simple “rituals” or a simple schedule that you feel checks off all the boxes, but either way, sticking to this routine can help a person stay clean and sober. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of sticking to a routine when in recovery.
Benefits of Having a Daily Routine
Especially in early recovery, a lot of your life will be about learning how to maneuver around stressful situations and temptations without ever giving in. One of the best ways to do that is to create a day-to-day routine that will allow you to balance your responsibilities and sobriety while allowing yourself to make time for self-care. While that in and of itself is a great benefit to having a routine, there are other advantages to it as well. Here are a few benefits:
- Creating a space to get better at stress management
- You will learn how to manage your time better
- You will have higher self-esteem and find your sense of purpose
- You might find yourself becoming more productive at daily tasks
- Your physical health may improve, as can sleep quality
While daily stressors can come up now and then, and you can’t always avoid having a hard day, taking part in daily rituals and a routine can help you maintain composure. Even in the most challenging times, knowing you have control over your schedule and life can play a significant factor in staying sober.
How to Create a Daily Routine
You might want to start small and easy then add more things to your daily routine. You may want to consider starting with a morning routine then adding on to it as you go. The first thing you should do is list everything you need to get done in the morning. Consider things like waking up at the same time every day, eating breakfast, exercising, getting dressed, leaving for work/school, and so forth. Then create a schedule and block out how much time you use for each of those things.
As you continue to stick to a routine, you can start adding to your day. Like completing a particular daily work task at the same time every day or taking a lunch break every day at the same time. Maybe you like taking walks, so you plan to take a 15-minute work break and go on a walk at 2:45. All of these things contribute to developing a routine.
If you find that a routine that you repeat day in and day out just does not inspire you, consider partaking in daily rituals instead. By that, we mean that you set time aside to do things you must do or want to do every single day. Some daily practices can include but are not in any way limited to the following:
- Read for 15 minutes
- Practicing a hobby
- Following a nightly skincare routine
- Watching the sunrise while eating breakfast
- Meditation
- Cooking for yourself
- Maintaining a chore schedule
- Going to bed early
- Attending a recovery group
Steps Recovery Centers for Help with Addictions
If you have been struggling with addiction or substance abuse, or if someone you love is struggling, consider Steps Recovery Centers for help. We specialize in many forms of overcoming addiction, such as alcoholism and drug addiction.
We pride ourselves on providing our patients with the tools they need to recover, like support groups, therapy, and helping them create a daily routine for when they get back to everyday life. We want to help, so contact us today to learn more about our services and to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.
We have centers in Draper. Payson, and St. George, Utah.
