How to Use Fitness to Maintain a Sober and Healthy Lifestyle
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 14.5 million people in the US struggle with alcohol abuse, while another 9.2 million are addicted to opioids. Additionally, those who enter rehab often find it difficult to stay sober after leaving the facility. However, a study published in the journal Behavior Modification shows that incorporating exercise into a recovery plan effectively prevents a relapse and helps keep an addict's focus off destructive cravings.
So if you’re struggling to maintain your hard-won sobriety, here are a few tips from Lucy Reed on using fitness to support your healthy new lifestyle.
Do an Activity You Enjoy
Doing physical activities you enjoy helps you stick to your plan. Aerobic exercise like running, swimming, or a brisk walk outdoors releases endorphins into your bloodstream, giving you a natural "exercise high" that lasts for hours. Weight lifting helps you build muscle mass and increase your bone strength.
If you don't want to join a gym, give cycling a try. It's a great way to spend your free time and enjoy outdoor scenery. There are riding clubs you can join to cycle with a group of like-minded people. Benefits from a new cycling habit can include a healthier heart, increased muscle mass, more stamina, and a thinner waistline. Bicycling is also an excellent exercise to relieve stress, and spending time outside can also help lift you out of depression.
Research Rehab Centers Near You
One proven way to be intentional about recovery is entering or reentering a rehab facility if you relapse and need help regaining your sobriety. Before choosing a center, research the best rehabilitation centers in New York along with the types of treatment they offer, their credentials and certifications, and reviews from clients. If you're worried about costs, look for substance abuse treatment centers in or around your area that offer payment plans or assistance and that accept multiple types of health insurance.
Stay Motivated for the Long Haul
After a few months with your new exercise routine, you may notice you have to force yourself to stick with the program. Purchasing a fitness tracker can help you stay focused as it tracks your activity and rewards you when you reach a milestone. If you love competition, you can link your tracker with friends and compare your daily numbers to theirs.
Listening to music while you exercise is another way to stay motivated to keep up your physical activity. Getting the best speakers or wireless headphones you can afford lets you listen to your favorite tunes while you work out to keep you moving to the beat.
Create a Relaxing Home Environment
Taking care of yourself is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to your mental health. One of the best ways to do this is to create a relaxing environment in your home. Get rid of any excess clutter and anything you associate with your old addictive habits. Addressing these issues immediately helps you convert your personal space into a positive and healing place, and CleanerDigs.com has great tips for helping you address common clutter issues on a regular basis.
Organizing your house helps you focus and think clearly because you won't be distracted by clutter. Set up a weekly cleaning schedule to keep your home tidy. Taking steps to declutter, organize, and clean your home benefits you by giving you a feeling of accomplishment, improving your mental mood, and helping you feel in control of your environment. And if you want a vacuum that will do the job great every time, check out the Toppin Vacuum Cleaner!
Likewise, while reducing stress is always a good idea, also try to view stress as a potentially valuable daily motivator – so long as it’s kept in check, preferably by tempering it with a healthy amount of sleep and exercise. After all, stress can drive us to work harder and more creatively to meet our deadlines, but when stress starts to mess with our concentration, it’s time to make some changes.
Stay Healthy Inside and Out on Your Recovery Journey
There’s no question about it: recovery from addiction is a long road, but you can do it! You’ve already come a long way, and you’ve proven that you have what it takes to see this through. In addition to looking at rehab centers near you, an important step is to make physical fitness a regular part of your life. This will help you stay sober and deepen your well-deserved commitment to a healthier lifestyle.