Your brain is an incredibly complex controller of who you are and what you do. Your brain helps you organize your senses and body and drives your development throughout your life. However, your brain requires attention and maintenance as the seasons change. During the winter, your brain may suffer from less exposure to sunlight as the weather gets colder. It is vital to your sobriety to find ways to prioritize your intellectual health throughout the winter to maintain your personal development and sustained abstinence.
For many years, researchers, philosophers, and scientists have all tried to figure out how the brain works. There are many secrets of your brain, and decades of research have gone into advancing humans' understanding of the neurological processes and development of the brain.
Understanding what makes a healthy brain versus an unhealthy one can help you understand what to do to keep your brain, and therefore your life, healthy. There’s more to your brain meets the eye. Your brain is a memory holder, an information processor, a control panel, and so much more. If you don't take action when your brain begins to become unhealthy, your rational skills and daily functions can worsen. If this happens, the signals your brain releases to your body can become unpredictable and uncomfortable. You may find yourself with a mental illness or uncontrollable and irrational behaviors.
An unhealthy brain left without help can impact every area of your life. Since the winter months often come with negative mental health effects, they can cause various health concerns and can crossover to physical alterations, leading you in a downward spiral. Your brain is the core element of who you are in thought, in action, and in reaction, so it can be critically damaging to your memories and sensations when an unhealthy brain is left unmanaged.
Your brain is an incredible organ that filters your senses and perceptions of reality. Since this is the case, an unhealthy brain can alter your perceptions and memories. It is vital to sustaining intellectual intelligence and mental health for your brain to stay healthy. A healthy brain means a healthier lifestyle and perspective on your life. Your brain connects your nervous system, thoughts, sensations, memories, feelings, and much more to make you you every day. You're not you when your brain is ill.
During addiction recovery treatment, you may have found that substance use made you a different person, and you got to rediscover who your true self is when you eliminated substances from your life. This is because addiction is a disease of the brain and can change who you are. Post-treatment, it is just as important to keep your brain healthy as it was when you were getting sober.
During the winter, as the weather gets colder, your exposure to sunlight and physical activity can become more limited. Unfortunately, these things can have negative mental health effects, such as seasonal affective disorder. Therefore, it’s imperative to take measures to keep your brain healthy as the seasons change to keep up with sobriety.
There are various ways to keep your brain healthy during the winter, such as exercising your body, exercising your brain, eating healthier, socializing, getting as much natural sun exposure as possible, and staying on top of your self-care activities. After undergoing addiction treatment, you know the importance of keeping up on recovery maintenance activities, including self-care. These activities may need to change with the seasons, so take some time to determine where to put your focus during this winter.
There are many options in the wintertime to continue mental stimulation to avoid stagnation and impairment. Some individuals choose to stimulate their brains with activities such as reading, puzzles, drawing, painting, and writing. Others find ways to move outdoor activities indoors, like indoor rock climbing, jogging, or swimming. All of these are great to help increase mental stimulation and preserve your intellectual health. A healthy diet further helps your brain maintain its health and prevent mental health disorders.
Regardless of what you do during the winter, make sure to include physical, emotional, and mentally stimulating activities to keep prioritizing your intellectual health. If you feel that it’s challenging to go outside during the winter, you can find activities inside to keep your brain active and motivated. Keeping your mind healthy goes a long way toward keeping substances out of your life. NorthStar Transitions believes that you’re capable of staying strong and maintaining your intellectual health even during the winter months. We believe that your addiction recovery treatment does not stop when you walk out the doors but long extends into the life you choose to live today.
NorthStar Transitions knows it is difficult during the winter months to motivate yourself and keep up mental health once the cold sets in. However, by using the resources and networks you built up in recovery, you have many possibilities to prioritize your intellectual health. If you struggle with substance use disorders or want to learn more about prioritizing your intellectual health during the winter, NorthStar Transitions can help you discuss personal options and activities to get you to where you want to be. Additionally, if you feel that you are struggling with the possibility of relapse, our team is dedicated to helping you in your recovery process. Maintaining your aftercare plans and seeking a life you’re proud to have, a life worth living, can make all the difference. For more information on how we can help you prioritize your intellectual health to stay sober, reach out to NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400.
