Addiction Wellness Retreat: 8 Essential Recovery Tips
Your rehab program is over. Soon you’ll leave the luxuries and support system of the wellness retreat. You have to go back home and resume your life.
When you start on the journey of addiction recovery, it’s imperative that you know:
- Addiction recovery not only takes time, it is also a complicated process, and
- There will be good days and there will be days full of challenges.
Addiction recovery is full of surprises and for this reason, at Moffitt Wellness Retreat; we spend a considerable amount of time with our patients discussing the many different ways they can stay on a healthy and sober path. Below, we have outlined ten tips to help you create and maintain your motivation as well as a positive attitude while in recovery. From our experience we realize that staying motivated and maintaining a positive attitude could be some of the biggest challenges you face.
Along with these tips and the guidance you’ll receive from your very own recovery coach/counselor, you should have all the support you need in maintaining your sobriety. Just think of it, when you have completed your rehab program at a wellness retreat, you will have a new opportunity to shape a bigger and brighter future for yourself. You’ll be ready to try new experiences and realize the many possibilities that are available to you.
Moffitt Wellness Retreat: Our 8 Tips for a Successful Recovery
Believing that recovery is possible makes it possible!
1. Talk to your family, friends, counselor, and support groups
Your family, friends, and counselor care about you. Give them the opportunity to be there for and with you. Talk to them when you have good and not so good days. Involve them and allow them to be there for you. Share with them your goals and how you plan to achieve these goals. When they understand what you are trying to achieve it’s easier for them to assist you.
Use the same approach towards your support groups and/or personal counselor. They are there for a reason and they are behind you 100%. And, if you attended your rehab program at Moffitt Wellness Retreat, you will always have access to the counselors you worked with. So, if you’re having a bad day, take the time to connect and talk with one of the people who inspired you along the way. Sometimes the chance to talk with other people in recovery means the difference between feeling defeated or motivated.
2. Start new activities, create new memories
You should have had several chances to experience and learn new activities while attending your rehab at a wellness retreat. Now you have the opportunity to open new doors and explore those new interests. Keep this in mind during your recovery, especially in the first few months as you’re continuing to adapt to your new sober life. It’s refreshing and stimulating to get out and explore new interests, hobbies and activities. And, if you attend a rehab program at Moffitt Wellness Retreat, you’ll find that most of the activities you enjoy here will also be available in your local community. On the other hand, remember all those things you’ve always wanted to experience, now is a very good time to do it. Yes, go for that cooking classes or learn how to play golf. Creating new memories is a wonderful experience!
3. Keep an appreciation journal
Do you have a personal journal? One of the easiest things to do to stay positive is to make sure that you record it when you have those great days and great moments; take the time to write them down. What happened, what were your feelings at that moment, who were you with and what did they do? Keeping an appreciation journal will give you something concrete to refer to when you’re having less of a good day. It will help you to re-focus your energy and keep a positive mindset going.
4. Help others, make a difference
Very few things have as much motivation and a positive effect on your psyche as helping others. When people express their appreciation it lifts your spirit and gives you a feeling of both belonging and being valued. Actually, it’s just hard to stay negative when you’re appreciated, when you’re making a difference in other people’s lives. Volunteer! Care for local animals, tutor children, serve the homeless, or find another option that ignites your passion. You’ll be surprised how many great volunteer activities are available in your hometown.
5. Be forgiving of yourself
You know that mistakes and regrettable behaviors go together and thoughts about these behaviors will surface more than you realize. It’s ok to forgive yourself.
One of the best ways to stay positive is to not focus on the negative. Realize that there will be good days and days full of challenges, but also realize that you are strong and can work through them. Think of what you have achieved this far. If you were able to complete a treatment program at a rehab center or wellness retreat, you have already experienced some of the roughest days possible. You now are more than capable to move forward during the roughest recovery days outside of rehab.
6. Integrate Exercise – A body in motion stays in motion…
Exercise has been proven to be mood lifting and helping to create feelings of balance. For this reason a significant part of our rehab program is dedicated to helping patients establish and integrate an exercise program into their daily schedule. Embrace this easy tip and let this be the beginning of a healthy life supported by a strong body. And, if you are not the gym-type of person, there is always Yoga or a Pilate’s class to join.
7. Eat Healthy
Pay attention to your body’s nutritional needs, increase your awareness of what you eat and continuously strive to root out unhealthy patterns. At our wellness retreat we focus consistently on nutritional programs and help our patients to realize the value of healthy eating habits. Once you have been discharged from your rehab program make an effort to learn more about the value and nutritional aspects of the food you consume. This will enable you to continue eating healthy; adding more fruits and vegetables to meals, drinking more water during the day, and reducing sweets and processed/fast foods.
8. Start Traveling
Traveling creates independence, relaxation, learning, and new perspectives. During your recovery pamper yourself. Make an effort to visit new places, whether international, national or just a weekend getaway. Learn and experience the people, their customs, and their history. Even daytrips to a nearby city is a great way to change the scenery.
Summary
Which of these tips do you think will work for you? Which are you the most excited about trying? Or, if you have specific tips that work for you, please share with us. Although nobody’s path to recovery look the same, many people find that embracing new activities and creating new friendships help to make the journey a more positive experience.
If you or a loved one is searching for freedom from drug and/or alcohol addiction or simply need guidance in discovering the benefits and importance of healthy living, now is a good time to call us for a complimentary and confidential consultation to begin your wellness journey!