Self-care and Recovery

In order to get the full benefit of recovery, you have to make self-care a priority. Self-care is what you do when you exercise, take a bath, do yoga, or eat a nice meal. Self-care is taking care of you. Self-care helps you avoid burn-out and continue in your recovery. Self-care also helps you enjoy life.

Recovery is so much more than going to meetings or groups every day. Meetings, groups, or therapy are vital to recovery, but you have to do more than attend groups. Recovery, like life, is meant to be enjoyed.

Self-care is not selfish. Taking time to relax and rejuvenate is important for your mental health. Think about driving a car. When the gas tank is empty, the car won’t move. Your recovery is like a car. Without putting in the fuel of self-care, you can lose focus on what is important. When you feel overwhelmed, you may stop going to meetings or reaching out to supportive people in your life.  

Self-care is necessary. You need time to pamper yourself. Life doesn’t always need to be stressful. If you have been in recovery a while, self-care is even more critical. Many people who have long-term recovery help others who are newer to recovery. A good rule of thumb to remember is that you can’t give what you don’t have. In order to help others, you have to take care of yourself.

Making self-care a priority starts by figuring out what you want to do and scheduling it. Self-care can be as simple as:

• Going to the movies
• Going to a nice restaurant
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Getting a massage
• Meeting up with friends
• Getting a pet or spending time with the pet you have
• Manicure/pedicure
• Learning a new hobby
• Getting a haircut

The opportunities for self-care are endless! Start by writing a list of activities that you enjoy or want to learn. After you have narrowed down self-care activities, make a schedule. Many people actually schedule times during the week or month that are for self- care.

After you schedule selfcare, make it a priority to actually do it.  Self-care is just as important as going to meetings or spending time with sober friends. Don’t ever feel guilty about allowing yourself to rejuvenate. Remember, if you are running on empty, you can’t help others and you may start to lose focus. Think of self-care as a necessity to your sobriety.

Recovery is the beginning of a new life. Hired Power and our team of dynamic experienced recovery professionals are here to guide you every step of the way. Call us today for information on our recovery services: 714-559-3919