Self care refers to actions that you take to focus on your psychological, physical, or social well-being. Self care is important for everyone, providing a way to focus on individual needs and reduce the risk of things like fatigue or stress.
It is especially important in recovery where basic activities like hobbies, creativity, exercise, healthy eating, and sleep can make the difference in your long-term success.
Why is Self-Care in Recovery Important?
Self-care in recovery helps you establish a routine, put your emotional regulation first, and stay on point for a successful recovery.
Routine
Self-care in recovery creates a stable routine, one that can continue the routine learned in inpatient or outpatient care. When you create a routine for daily tasks, you free yourself up to stay active during the day with more willpower. For example, you can create a routine for:
- When you wake up
- When you exercise
- What you eat
- How you prepare for bed
- When you go to sleep
Simple routines for things like this can create a feeling of safety within your home. If you prioritize it, then you won’t be tempted to do things like:
- Eat unhealthy food when you are emotionally distressed
- Stay up too late with anxiety
- Go through the day never finding time to get rid of your stress with exercise
Manage Your Mood
One big problem that people face when struggling with addiction is the mental health toll that comes with it. This can extend to the development of secondary mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, as well as poor emotional regulation, stress, or irritability.
With the right type of self-care plan, you can put yourself in a position to more effectively manage your emotions at all levels which can directly influence your mood.
For example:
- Setting up a routine and prioritizing exercise as part of your self-care and recovery can provide an outlet for stress management and help you when you are feeling angry.
- Utilizing meditation and journaling practices as part of your self-care routine can provide a safe outlet when you are overcome with anxiety and need to stop the endless rumination by writing down your worries or by meditating so that you can turn your attention toward the present.
- Breathwork can help you overcome feelings of anxiety.
- Being outside in nature can help you when you are burned out and need to reconnect with gratitude.
- CBT practices like setting goals and reflecting on your progress can help you when you are struggling with impatience or when your recovery isn’t going as quickly as you’d like.
- Music can help you when you are feeling depressed and need a way to boost your mood.
Control
In all of these aspects, self care and recovery gives you greater control over how you feel, how you spend your time, and how you find purpose. When you prioritize self-care, you give yourself a chance to utilize healthy coping mechanisms that reduce your risk of relapse, help you build new relationships, and move forward with your sobriety.
Learning About Self-Care in Recovery with Sequoia Recovery Centers
If you are dealing with substance abuse recovery, it is essential that you focus your efforts on what you need most. At Sequoia Recovery Centers, we know that self-care in recovery is an essential part of your time at our addiction treatment center and after leaving it. Every client is unique and needs individualized approaches toward recovery, and a big part of that is creating a tailored experience that ensures you meet your personal goals. Part of meeting those goals extends to having the right type of self-care program, something that is often intertwined with creating a routine and finding a supportive community around you.
We partner with industry leaders to help you achieve optimal transitions with high-end care and personalized self-care in recovery. Part of this might take the form of continuing to participate in our outpatient programs or by finding local support groups in your area. However you choose to pursue self-care and recovery, we are there to provide you with tools and support.
Overall, self-care in recovery is an essential way to overcome the physical and mental toll that addiction can take. Substance abuse can cause several issues in terms of mental health disorders, physical health problems, and detriment to social relationships or personal achievements. Prioritizing self-care in recovery helps you rebuild your sense of self-worth, regulate your emotions, and prioritize your recovery.
Contact our team today to learn how we can help you learn self-care practices that really work.