Addiction recovery isn’t easy — in fact, it will likely be one of the hardest things you ever do – but a few steps can help make it a little easier.

1. Start a journal. Journaling is a simple and powerful recovery tool. You can write about what you’re most grateful for or how you’re feeling or use your journal to track your recovery progress – there’s no right or wrong way to fill those blank pages.
2. Set SMART goals. Start by asking yourself: What’s most important to me and to my recovery? Use this answer to formulate some SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely or Time-sensitive) goals. Here’s an example: To walk one mile, five days a week, starting on Monday morning.
3. Prioritize self-care. This includes eating nutritious foods, getting proper sleep, exercising, managing stress and putting yourself and your recovery first.
4. Exercise. Making exercise part of your recovery plan can help you better cope with stress and cravings, increase your confidence and keep you strong, energetic and focused as you complete your many recovery tasks.
5. Focus on the positive. Recovery is hard work and there will be times when you feel tired, discouraged and deflated. Taking steps to have a sunnier outlook can help you overcome these lows. Some ideas: Practice positive affirmations, volunteer to help others, explore new hobbies and interests, meditate, surround yourself with positive people.
6. Seek support. It’s pretty common to feel lonely during recovery, but resist the urge to isolate yourself. Instead, surrounding yourself with loved ones who support your decision to get sober will give you the strength you need to complete the hard work of recovery. You can also join an in-person or online support group where you can swap stories and recovery obstacles with recovery peers.
7. Embrace your spirituality. A sense of spiritual emptiness is common for many people struggling with addiction. And yet believing in something bigger than yourself and taking the time to connect to the world around you will benefit your recovery in many ways. Spiritual practices like prayer or meditation have been study-proven to ease anxiety, increase optimism, decrease loneliness and reduce cravings.

Support on Your Recovery Journey!

Overcoming addiction is a challenging journey, but we’re here to help make it easier. At Spearhead Lodge, we offer our residents a range of evidence-based clinical services along with a curriculum of alternative therapies to boost recovery success. To learn more about our services or verify your insurance benefits, call today: 888-483-0528.