Alcohol and drug addictions are conditions that can consume many hours of a person’s day, from getting and using the substance to recovering afterward. People who have struggled with addiction for a long time tend to lose sight of how much time their dependency takes up. Then, when they go through rapid alcohol detox or other treatment and start making progress in recovery, they are surprised at how much extra time they have.
While this newfound freedom is ultimately a good thing, initially it can lead to feeling bored, restless, and agitated — emotions that have the potential to push a person toward relapse. That’s why we encourage people who are in recovery to find healthy ways to enjoy their free time.
Better Ways to Spend Your Days
To keep your recovery on track, try some (or all!) of these strategies:
Begin a meditation or prayer practice. Spiritual practices have many benefits. One of them is that they help to calm an overactive mind. This allows you to live in, and appreciate, the present moment rather than constantly thinking about what comes next.
Make a plan and start working toward it. Whether it’s a personal accomplishment like learning a new skill or achieving a health goal or a task you want to complete like cleaning out the garage, setting and achieving goals can stimulate the “reward” center in your brain in the way that substance abuse used to, but in a positive way. And once you’ve checked the box on one objective, you can set another!
Experience new things. Everyone loves a good adventure. Travel to and explore a new city. Try out the restaurant that just opened. Love antiques but have never owned any? Go check out the flea market for the first time. Not only are novel experiences fun in the moment, they can leave you with a lasting sense of accomplishment and confidence for having tried something new.
Lend a helping hand. No matter what your interests are — protecting the environment, helping inner-city youth, promoting change through political involvement — there is always an organization that is eager to have your assistance. Helping out feels good, and the human connection you get through involvement in a worthwhile cause is very beneficial as well.
Find the Good in Life
Rapid alcohol detox is a process that can help you put your life on a positive path. Then, the key is to look for activities and relationships that help you keep it there. There are so many fun, interesting, and exciting things you can do with your extra time once you are free of the grip of addiction! To learn more about our services, contact us today at (800) 205-6107.
Content medically reviewed by Vicky Magobet, PMHNP-BC, on December 10th, 2017.
