Breaking old habits is one of the hardest aspects of addiction recovery. After continuous use, engaging with your addiction becomes a part of your daily routine, and when you become sober, you may feel like you have a void to fill. Although your physical withdrawals have passed, you may not know how to go about your day. Overcoming the habitual aspect of addiction requires realigning your behaviors and ways-of-thought. To break old habits, form new ones. To change your daily routine for the better, try implementing these healthy habits into your addiction recovery process.
Meet with Your Addiction Recovery Mentor
Make a habit of frequently meeting with your recovery mentor. A mentor can answer your questions, listen to your concerns and struggles, and offer their experience, advice, and support. Forming a close relationship with your mentor means that you have emotional support throughout the addiction recovery process, increasing your chances of fully recovering from your addiction.
Keep a Journal
As your body and mind adjust to sobriety, you will experience a range of emotions. To help you deal with some of the complexities of addiction recovery, make a habit of keeping a daily journal. Journaling helps you organize your thoughts, rationalize your emotions, and think introspectively about your addiction recovery process. Overall, it is a great way to keep your mind sharp, active, and occupied. For the best results, make a habit of journaling at the same time every day, such as every morning or every night.
Pick Up a Creative Outlet
Another way to deal with the emotions of addiction recovery is to pick up a creative outlet. Each day, make a habit of doing a creative activity that you enjoy such as writing, painting, or playing a musical instrument. If you don’t have an existing creative outlet, try learning something new! Take a community art class, join a community theatre, or learn how to play an instrument. Anything you can work into your day that will take your mind off your addiction will help you break your old habits.
Exercise
For those who are not artistically inclined, try exercising a little more. Exercising will make you feel physically and mentally well, and will help you deal with the emotions of addiction recovery. Make a habit of exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Go on a jog, ride a bike, visit a gym, or take an exercise class at your local recreation center. By making a habit of exercise, you can break the habit of addiction.
