Professional treatment is only the first step in the journey of recovery from addiction. Perhaps you understand the steps needed to create a sober life for yourself. However, executing the next steps can be a struggle. One reason for this is that you may have trouble finding sober activities you can participate in as you reacclimate to life post-treatment. This can become increasingly challenging if you also lack sober friends to surround yourself with. Surrounding yourself with people you can engage in sober activities with is an invaluable recovery resource.
Whether you are in early recovery or have been sober for a while, it is always beneficial to explore new sober activities. People in long-term recovery can begin to feel bored, stagnant, or unmotivated. Discovering new activities keeps things fresh and provides renewed motivation to continue staying sober.
As you may already know, life post-treatment requires many life changes if you hope to maintain recovery. For example, before leaving treatment, you may have needed to:
You can make these changes now if you did not have the opportunity to do so before leaving treatment. For example, if you need to find a new place to live, consider moving in with your family temporarily. This will allow you time to find a more permanent and healthy place to live. Additionally, their presence and support may be conducive to your sobriety.
Once you have made these changes, you can get back to living. However, how do you stay motivated during long-term recovery?
Individuals often have trouble finding motivation during long-term and early recovery. The first year of sobriety can be the hardest. This is partly because of the challenges people face during this time. Many people struggle to create a new life for themselves. This is normal. Starting over is never easy.
You will face many challenges throughout later sobriety as well. Staying motivated over the months and years can be difficult, but it is possible. Regardless of whether you are in early recovery or have been sober for years, sober activities can help you maintain momentum and motivation. You can engage in the following.
Remind yourself why you chose sobriety. That may include getting better for your loved ones, being healthier, or becoming more financially stable.
In early recovery, your goals should be realistic and not put too much pressure on your newfound sobriety. The longer you stay sober, the loftier your goals can become.
Spend time connecting with others to avoid isolation. Isolation can increase the risk of relapse and cause your mental health to deteriorate.
Boredom can lead the mind to wander and dwell on substance use. Having a hobby can prevent boredom, keep you occupied, and reduce the risks of relapse.
Listing the things you are grateful for is a great way to find extra motivation to stay sober. These things can be big or small. Even the smallest, most mundane daily blessings can be enough to inspire you.
As mentioned, life post-treatment requires you to make many changes. Many of the people you associated with, places you frequented, and things you used to do were likely heavily associated with substance use. When so much of your time was spent engaging in substance use, it makes sense that you may need other activities to fill your time now that you are sober.
Boredom can significantly threaten your sobriety. Finding hobbies and sober activities is an excellent way to reduce this boredom and prevent relapse. Additionally, it can be fun to experiment and try new things. What kinds of sober activities can you try experimenting with today?
To find good sober activities, consider compiling a list of anything that piques your interest. These can be activities you do alone or with friends, family, and peers. Once you have a list, you can start trying things out. You will quickly learn that you enjoy some activities more than others.
Some sober activities you can try today include:
The number of sober activities you can try is endless. If none of these suggestions resonate with you, continue brainstorming until you find things you thoroughly enjoy. Finding even a few activities can make all the difference in your recovery journey.
Individuals actively engaged in substance use often spend the majority of their time, if not all of it, obtaining, using, and spending time with people who also use. For that reason, people must find sober activities to fill up their time after treatment. Life after rehab requires many changes in order to maintain sobriety long-term. These changes are not always easy, as they may require you to end a long-term relationship or friendship, but they are necessary. Filling up your time with sober activities can be exciting because it allows you to experiment and try new things. To learn about more sober activities you can try today, call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400.
