We are writing this post just a couple of days past “Quitter’s Day,” a marker of the day in early January by which most New Year’s resolutions have been abandoned. Maybe you have already experienced this phenomenon—this year or in previous years—and have found yourself discouraged by it. After all, setting goals for self-improvement can make you feel hopeful, and so it can be quite disappointing when it does not quite work out. (You can read our thoughts on setting and pursuing goals here.)
But whether your resolutions are going well or poorly, there is another activity that could be added to your New Year’s efforts that can go a long way toward supporting your recovery. That activity, recommitting to routines that have been serving you well, can be motivating—especially if your routines have become a little too…well…routine.
What We Mean By ‘Routine’
We all have plenty of routines in our lives. You brush your teeth in the morning and before bed. You mow the lawn every other Friday. You drop off and pick up the kids from school at specific times. Routines keep us on track when it comes to all the important things we need to do over and over.
For our purposes here, we want to focus on routines related to your recovery as we encourage you to think about each one and how (and in some cases, if) it is serving you well. This reflection can help you remember that your recovery routines are not just rote exercises; they are foundational to the ongoing recovery you are building day by day.
Two Examples of Recovery Routines
You might have any number of routines related to your recovery, and we would encourage you to call each one to mind in order to remind yourself of how important they continue to be as you leave drugs or alcohol in your past. We will give two examples here, but we suspect you will be able to identify plenty of other behaviors you routinely pursue in support of your ongoing recovery.
Routine One: Attending Recovery Meetings
Attending recovery meetings—like 12-Step or other programs—is a routine that can truly serve you well in recovery. After all, these meetings are attended by others who know exactly what you went through when you were using drugs or alcohol, what it took to get your recovery started, and the challenges you continue to face now.
That means these meetings are a place where you can receive support and also a place where you can offer support to others. However, it is easy—especially if you have been attending meetings for a long time—to start to take these gatherings for granted or even to start skipping them more often than you probably should. Taking a few minutes here at the top of the year to really reflect on the ways in which your recovery meeting community has supported you and the ways in which you have been able to offer support to others is a great way to reinvigorate your thinking about and enthusiasm for these key get-togethers.
Routine Two: Sticking to a Sleep System
Getting restful sleep is absolutely essential to both your physical health and your mental health. And your physical and mental health are key support structures for your recovery.
If you have done the work to create an effective sleep routine for yourself, taking a few minutes to reflect on its importance to your wellbeing and recovery can be a good top-of-the-year practice. That is especially true if you find yourself deviating from your routine more than you might like.
Maybe you have been scrolling on your phone right before bed, for example, even though you know the light from the screen can cause sleep disruptions. Conversely, maybe there is something you could add to your existing routine—some light stretching or a bit of journaling before you get into your bed are possible examples—to make it even more conducive to getting the deep sleep you need.
It is also possible that you will reaffirm that your current routine is just right for you and your sleep hygiene. The exercise of thinking it through is still valuable as it gives you the opportunity to reflect on the ways in which your routine underpins your recovery.
Let Us Get You on the Road to Recovery
Located near St. Louis, Missouri, The Aviary Recovery Center offers personalized treatment to those struggling with a substance use disorder. We also offer treatment for mental health disorders that might be entangled with your substance use disorder. The Aviary is consistently recognized as one of the best substance use treatment centers in the country, and we bring that commitment to excellence to every interaction we have with individuals receiving care from us.
If you are ready to make a transformational change for the better, we are ready to help you reach your goal and reclaim your life. We can help you replace a substance use routine with a healthier approach to life that will serve you far better than drugs or alcohol do.
