Everything we do usually has a beginning, middle, and an end. This isn’t a way to just word fairy tales. We all come into this world more or less the same way. We start out from infancy and we travel through the years wrinkling our skin through the wear and tear as we try to figure out the meaning of life. This being said, at some point in time, everything was fresh to us. Even the things we know best and are most accustomed to today- they had a beginning. We make mistakes and hopefully learn from them or we don’t, and the world keeps spinning. Going into these mistakes, some of us find a taste for narcotics and alcohol. Maybe not a mistake at first, but once we fully immerse ourselves into our addiction and alcoholism and become void of all healthy routines- this is when the never ending list of problems has it’s beginning as well.
Eventually, it all blows up in our faces, so getting clean and introducing sobriety into the mixture is usually one of the best remedies for the nightmarish situations we so often put ourselves in. The idea is for the good times to keep rolling, but by chasing that good- we ended up creating a whole lot of bad. So we get clean and sober. We work the twelve steps. We get a sponsor, sponsees, meetings; I mean the whole nine yards. The basics sound tedious- but there’s more to creating healthy routines than shoving a big book in the face.
Left Foot Right Foot, Left Foot Right Foot
Sure, the idea of having a healthy routine seems predictable- but usually in recovery predictability is best. Most people turn away from structure- we are creatures of adaptation and look for change and thrill everywhere. This is why most try to overlook their healthy routines- or lack thereof, and their love for spontaneity. Who doesn’t love impulsivity? Randomness can be exciting for some while intimidating others. Once you get into a healthy routine of sorts, that life of impulsive decisions and discarded dreams become a distant memory of the past that you wish to no longer associate with.
Being the customary animals that we are, we look for change alterations and things that are out of the ordinary. It’s thrilling to see something you don’t get to see every day, there’s no denying that. So as addicts and alcoholics, we go overboard with this concept and rashly make decisions without thinking them completely through. This is something that tends to get most of us into a tad bit of trouble- and that’s an understatement.
Control Your Destiny
Getting a routine down that can be more or less expected every day is a winning choice move. Now nobody is saying that we all have to be black and white like robots and monotonously do the same exact thing day in and day out. Throwing a little pizzazz in there is groovy of course, but having a general healthy routine blueprint mapped out is wise. Having too much time to ourselves is usually detrimental to our recovery. How’s the saying go again, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”? This can be the case for anybody and not just us in recovery. It’s in our nature to be inquisitive, we just need to keep ourselves in check the best we can and follow patterns for positive behaviors.
Taking the time to process the trials and tribulations we experience will create a better relationship with self in the end usually. Understanding what makes us tick or why it is that something can evoke certain emotion out of us is something to stay on top of. Taking the time to be introspective and recognizing patterns in behavior will create room for self-improvement. Once we really begin eyeballing things in this manner, we will see that healthy routines will create the best version of ourselves that we can manufacture.
The Time Is Now
Entering recovery we decide that we’re tired of half-assing and slacking and want to raise the bar for ourselves. We want to become productive members of society that actually give back and don’t always take, take, take. We start seeing results and the 9th step promises come true as we continue to work on things like
- Maintaining a job
- Going to school
- Going to the gym/Exercising regularly
- Eating Healthy
- Getting a full nights rest
- Journaling
- Meditating/Praying
These are the little things that we just have to put a little effort into and the reward is tremendous. Addiction is as cunning, baffling, and powerful as the big book chooses to put it. The disease will lurk in the shadows and show itself only when least expected. Creating an all around healthy routine to live by does the addict or alcoholic wonders. Picking up new hobbies such as art projects, sports, or even volunteering can be hale and hearty ways to entertain the mind and soul. Some of us were bartenders or worked in places that go against the grain of recovery, so career changes pop on the radar for some as we blindly try to discover our sober selves. In the end, whether you’re leaving a detoxification or a treatment facility, the goal is to stay conscious of your triggers and the things that will take us back out. If we can learn to not justify our actions and stick to the plan- most of us have a more than a fair shot at this recovery gig.
Day by Day
Being stuck in the misery that is active addiction is like slowly being poisoned. The worst is when you’re looking for the remedy and have no clue what to do. Addiction and alcoholism are an ugly disease that will stop at nothing to ruin anybody’s life it can. If you or a loved one has been struggling with getting a firm grasp on sobriety and need detoxification, please call 888-481-1993 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. Our teams of specialists are waiting by to help figure out what options are best for sending your life is a comfortable direction that you can proudly stand behind.