When you’re sitting on your couch in the conditioned air of your home, staring out the window at the world (or staring in the glowing window of your laptop at the digital world), it’s easy to have thoughts and feelings of boredom, lethargy, and gloominess. These go hand-in-hand with a sedentary lifestyle because you’re body has nothing to do.
Inactivity is one of the biggest triggers for relapse out there. The mind wanders and starts to look for those old, familiar sources of happiness and feel-good chemicals. It’s only a matter of time before you start talking yourself into another drink or hit just to stave off the icky feelings.
So what’s the alternative?
An active lifestyle!
Instead of sitting or laying around, usually feeling terrible about yourself or your situation, get out there and go for a good long walk. Eventually turn it into a jog or a run. You need to get your body moving, your muscles pumping, and your blood flowing in order to feel at your best. It makes the body feel alive and healthy. Exercise and physical activity of all kinds flood the brain with natural feel-good hormones and endorphins that will lift your mood before you know it.
In addition to the mood benefits of running, it’s also a great way to stay fit and healthy, which is imperative to staying clean.
You don’t have to get off the couch and run a 5k, just start with a daily walk around the block and increase it from there.
Stay on the move and addiction won’t be able to catch up.
