We all make mistakes and fall short of the versions of ourselves that we strive so hard to be. For anyone who has experienced trouble with addiction, breaking out of negative habits can be a challenging exercise of patience and will. Sometimes, the best way to recover from addiction is to cut ties from everything holding us back and embrace a new lifestyle that propels us forward instead of holding us back. 2017 has come and gone, and now a new year promises the chance of a better life. If you’re ready to leave your addiction behind and get your life back on track, here are some tips for making 2018 a year of personal thriving.
Change Your Routine
As a recovery survivor, it’s normal to come to the realization of how much our daily activities revolved around our addictions. For instance, a recovering alcoholic might find that their day was based on getting to the next drink, with their entire schedule revolved on making that drink a reality. Even after dropping the addictive substance from your life, if you still follow the same routine that you followed as an addict, you could still be at risk of returning to bad habits. Sit down and work out a new routine for your day, from when you wake up to when you go to bed. Trying a new routine will add further distance between you and the habits that had a negative impact on your life. Even the smallest change to a daily routine can have a huge
impact.
Exercise Your Body and Mind
People become addicted to drugs and alcohol because these substances fill a need. It’s only after we let these substances control every aspect of our lives that we realize the damaging effects. When you let go of your addiction, you need to find something new to fill your need. For many, exercise becomes a great replacement for addictive substances. Exercising the body releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good, similarly to how a drug might make you high. Exercise doesn’t always mean jogging through the park or swimming laps around the pool. Mental exercises like meditation can enlighten and lead you to understanding your place in the world and lessen your need of drugs and alcohol to feel fulfilled.
Clean Out Your Closet
As you strive to make 2018 the year you thrive, you’ll want to do your best to remove any negative traces of your old life. The best way to move forward is by shedding what’s been holding you back in order to make room for what’s to come. One way to do this is by simply decluttering your home.
First, ask a friend, relative, or professional to assist you in removing everything that you associate with your previous lifestyle. This includes any remaining drugs or alcohol, as well as any paraphernalia. Then, give the space a good cleaning. Scent can be a powerful trigger, so wash all linens, window coverings, and clothes in a new laundry detergent with a different scent
than you’re used to.
Additionally, you might also consider decluttering your social life. Social media for many of us can be a constant source of negativity. Oftentimes, the posts our friends and idols make online depict a lavish lifestyle that doesn’t capture the complex difficulties of life. Furthermore, it also celebrates some of the negative behaviors that you might be trying to avoid, such as doing drugs and going out for a night of drinking. By shifting away from the superficial relationships online, you can begin to focus on the real-life relationships you have with people you interact with daily.
Overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a strong will and determination to move on with life and seek something better. Making the decision to quit was your first step. Now it’s time to continue those next steps in 2018 toward your best possible
life.
Post by Adam Cook. For more information on Adam email him at: information@addictionhub.org, or go to his website: Addiction Hub