There are times when you need to make a big change in your life. Getting treatment for a substance use disorder is a perfect example. Drugs and alcohol chip away at your life in all sorts of ways, damaging your physical and mental health, threatening your relationships and finances, and more. When you are in the grips of a substance use disorder, a big change is absolutely called for—and that is what high-quality treatment can help facilitate.
But there are other times when you can see big benefits from small changes. That is certainly true for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder. This blog post is the first in a three-part series that will identify some little habits you could foster that can lead to sizable improvements in your life while firming up the foundation of your recovery efforts.
It can be easy to overlook or avoid making small changes for one reason or another. Indeed, the fact that a potential change is small can make it seem like it must also be inconsequential. But as we will see, that is simply not the case. Often, a little change will lead to outsized benefits while also putting you in a stronger position for making big changes in your life.
Let’s take a look at a few of those kinds of changes.
Get Your Day Off to a Good Start
How your morning goes can set the tone for your whole day. And the reality is that lots of people—perhaps you yourself—consistently experience chaotic mornings. Indecision about what to wear, a lack of breakfast food in the house, or a lost set of car keys can get things off to a shaky and stressful start.
By making a small change or two, you can change the way your mornings go—and that can mean your whole day goes more smoothly. Little changes might include picking out your clothes the night before, planning your breakfasts for the week in advance, and designating a specific spot for your car keys so you always know where they are.
You might also smooth out your mornings with a mindfulness exercise or a bit of stretching. You could choose calming music rather than the rowdiness of a morning radio show or the anger that underpins so much talk radio. Taking a moment to review your day’s to-do list before you dive into your day can also be a good way to get things off to a good start.
Exercise Your Option to Exercise
It can sometimes seem as though exercise is an all-or-nothing proposition. You might feel as though you have to join a gym or commit to training for a marathon or what have you to really see any benefits from exercise. But that is not the case.
Adding even a small amount of exercise to your day—a 10-minute walk, for example—can be a great way to support your physical and mental health as well as your recovery efforts. Learning and doing a few yoga stretches each day (perhaps as part of your morning routine) is a small commitment that can provide real benefits, too. Each time you add a little bit of exercise to your routine, you are doing yourself—and your recovery—a favor.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of Water
When you think about it, it is kind of amazing how many different things a person might drink on a given day. There’s coffee from simply black to oh-so-complex options, various kinds of tea, different sorts of milk, energy and sports drinks, sodas, ice cream drinks, and so on (not to mention all the alcoholic beverages that can lead to the development of a substance use disorder). With all those options, it can be easy to forget the most foundational beverage of all.
That beverage is, of course, water. Water does the important work of hydrating the body, which is important for your overall health. Equally importantly, water has no calories, no caffeine, no sugar, and no other additives that can have negative effects on your wellbeing. If you change your habit of drinking an afternoon soda to drinking a glass of water, you are making an easy investment in better health. Even if you still sometimes choose the soda over the water, you will still be moving in a good direction for your health and your recovery.
More Small Options With Big Benefits to Come
As we have noted, this is the first entry in a series devoted to small practices that can provide big boosts for your recovery. Be sure to check back for additional ideas.
We Are Here to Help You Launch Your Recovery
Located near Wichita, Kansas, Bel Aire Recovery Center is committed to helping individuals reclaim their lives from drugs or alcohol. If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, you might well feel trapped as your health continues to deteriorate, but you find yourself unable to leave drugs or alcohol behind on your own.
That is where high-quality treatment can make all the difference. We will see you through detoxification and rehabilitation and then provide ongoing resources and support as your recovery journey gets underway. We are always here to help.
