Adopting healthy habits is one of the most powerful strategies for overcoming addiction. It may feel intimidating at first to try to live more intentionally. However, once you get started, you’ll find it’s easy to stick to your new healthy routines.
Adopting Healthy Habits: The Benefits
Having self-defined habits can help you create a personal sense of balance and enhance your recovery in many ways. Healthy habits are known to benefit both physical and mental health. They also allow you to find confidence and take more control over your life.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), developing healthier routines and habits can lead to:
- Positive emotions
- More satisfaction in relationships
- Increased energy and focus
- Inspiration
- An ability to use your creative talents and skills
- Engagement in occupational, intellectual, and spiritual activities
Healthy habits can help you find more purpose in your life. This can be especially powerful if you’re in recovery and in a transition phase of making big life changes.
Creating Balance and Control
Traumas, death in the family, substance abuse, and mental health issues can all cause you to feel like you’ve lost control or focus. Adopting healthy habits can help you create balance and regain a sense of control.
It’s no secret that substance use disorder (SUD) comes with its fair share of unhealthy habits. Before, much of your life may have been devoted to your addiction. You may have even neglected healthy routines you once had, like going to your job, completing schoolwork, or getting daily exercise.
When you begin to create new habits, it may be difficult at first. Try to think of these new habits as replacing the time you once devoted to using substances.
Enhancing Overall Wellness
Healthy habits can include a wide variety of activities, occupations, and actions you can take each day. For instance, getting enough sleep and creating time for self-care are considered vital healthy habits for mental wellness.
When you’re in recovery, you may be feeling stressed or overwhelmed as you transition into a new routine. Physical habits like exercise and eating healthy can help make this transition much smoother. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains that positive physical health habits can help “decrease your stress, lower your risk of disease, and increase your energy.”
Adopting Healthy Habits in Recovery
Now that you’re in recovery, you will probably find yourself with more free time in your day. According to a 2023 study published in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, individuals in recovery have “up to 16 to 18 hours of new, unoccupied free time as they no longer require time spent for obtaining, using, and recovering from the effects of substances.” This is a lot more free time! Therefore, there’s no better time than right now to create your new, healthy routines.
How to Start Creating New Habits
A great place to start adopting healthy habits in recovery is to begin thinking about your day. Think about the habits you would like to have when you wake up in the morning, as you go throughout your day, and before you head off to sleep.
It’s also important to note that creating a new habit can take time. In fact, many studies point to 66 days as being the “sweet spot” to get your new habits to stick. With that being said, it’s crucial that you don’t overwhelm yourself. Recovery can be challenging, and the last thing you want to do is add too much to your plate.
New Physical Habits
New routines are important for supporting every aspect of wellness in your life. This means that you can begin exploring new habits for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Some ideas can include incorporating exercise into your daily routine. The more you exercise, the better you will feel, and the easier it will be to stick with it. Healthy eating and ample rest are two additional habits that will enhance your life. As you start small and work your way up, remember to celebrate your progress every step of the way.
New Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Habits
When it comes to your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, having a journal and creating space for mindfulness can have a big impact.
You may want to track your progress in your journal. Additionally, you can record any difficult thoughts and emotions that come to the surface. Mindfulness, meditation, and yoga are great practices to help you develop a sense of spiritual connection and connect with yourself on a much deeper level.
Adopting Healthy Habits at The Guest House
Adopting healthy habits can feel challenging when you try to do it on your own. At The Guest House, we offer a multitude of therapies, activities, and programs to help you move away from the negative habit of addiction and create more space in your life for yourself and your new routines.
Our cutting-edge program includes therapies for your mind, body, and soul. Here you can explore modalities like meditation, mindfulness, and breathwork to help you develop a spiritual connection and feel a profound sense of inner peace. You may also want to discover new hobbies like art or music therapy to express your feelings creatively.
Your physical health is also extremely important to us at The Guest House. We offer rigorous activity through our adventure therapy program where you will explore the great outdoors and learn survival skills. Each of our guests enjoys healthy meals, ample rest, and time alone on our beautiful 52-acre estate. No matter why you come here, you can rest assured that you will find something you enjoy at The Guest House.
Adopting healthy habits is crucial for your physical and mental well-being. Cultivating new habits is also even more important if you’re in recovery. At The Guest House, you will learn how to replace unhealthy patterns of addiction with new routines. These routines can help you expand your mind, let your creativity flow, and connect with yourself on deeper emotional and spiritual levels. We offer a wide variety of activities and programs to help you find new habits you will enjoy. Physical activities like adventure therapy and spiritual practices like meditation can help you find a sense of inner peace, purpose, and joy. For more information, call us at (855) 483-7800.