Why Is Routine Important in Recovery?

Have you stopped to think about why a routine is important in recovery? Structure and routine are key components in recovery. It can be easy to fall back into old habits without a positive routine. New healthy habits will lead to a sense of empowerment in recovery. After all, you decided to take your life back when you chose to eliminate illicit substances from your life. Now, you may wonder, “Why is a routine important in recovery?”

For one, keeping a healthy routine will create a sense of balance throughout your day. This blog will discuss the importance of a routine, how to create your daily structure, and how Restoration Recovery can connect you with recovery support.

Why Is a Daily Routine Important?

When you were in a space of addiction, you did not have a healthy routine that brought out the best in you. It was easy to wake up without an agenda or do whatever you wanted to. In recovery, a daily routine will help you stay focused on your journey and keep your eyes on the prize. 

Being in recovery can be a scary place. A lot of what you are experiencing may be new. It is easy to want to step into the old version of yourself. This is one of the reasons it is important to fill your days with things to look forward to and events that will connect you to a better version of yourself. A daily routine is important because it helps you to establish a new normal. Getting used to a daily routine will reduce feelings of fear because routines produce stability.

4 Tips to Establish a Routine

Establishing a routine takes work for most people. You have done things your way for a long while. But now is the time to start something new. In treatment, you learned to eliminate people, places, and things that were triggers in recovery. Establishing a new routine will help eliminate what is no longer good for your soul.

Keep in mind that everyone is different, so your routine and what you view as important may not be the same as someone else. This is why discussing such things with a counselor, such as one at Restoration Recovery, is important. 

Below are four tips to start establishing a healthy routine that will bring out the best in you.

• Sleep: Many people struggle with going to bed at the same time each night and waking up in the morning. Your bedroom should be dark, quiet, and free of distractions. Good sleep allows the body to heal and restore itself.
   
• Personal Hygiene: This will be different for everyone; however, creating a routine to do such things as shower and brush your teeth daily will help you to feel good about yourself. It does not have to stop here. Adding time to take a bubble bath or a manicure occasionally can give you something to look forward to.
   
• Healthy Supports: Surrounding yourself with healthy supports is essential for building a positive recovery. Whether that means you attend a 12-Step program, participate in aftercare, or hang out with sober friends, it is about the connection that matters.
   
• Work: If you work, building your routine around your employment is important. The same applies if you are a student. If your addiction prevented you from work or student life, with a routine, you will be able to find the balance in recovery.

It is hard to establish a new normal. You want to do everything in your power to stay on track. According to a study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, it takes 66 days for a habit to automatically become routine. After two months of creating your new normal, you will begin to see a routine being established. Do not get discouraged; everything takes time, and you are right on track!

Why Is Routine Important in Balancing Life?

You may still wonder, “Why is a routine important in recovery?” Creating healthy habits is hard, and incorporating a new normal is important in recovery. To avoid giving up, you can start small by introducing a new habit you’d like to work on. For example, you may commit to going to bed at the same time each night for two months. Instead of trying to establish a routine in all areas, try one thing at a time. 

Create a routine that promotes flexibility, and remember to be kind to yourself. Anything worth having comes with a few bumps in the road.

What Are the Benefits of Aftercare?

More often than not, you may feel alone in recovery. You have all the tools and know what to do, but you may need more consistency. At Restoration Recovery, we also understand that recovery can be lonely, and our aftercare programs are designed with you in mind. Everyone comes from different walks of life, and only some things will resonate with everybody. That is why we design individual treatment programs to meet you where you are in your recovery. 

Struggling to maintain a balanced state of mind in recovery can be difficult to manage. Sometimes, you may feel alone and lack connection to those around you. At Restoration Recovery, we understand this feeling and know it is hard to establish a routine without support. We have individualized programs to meet you right where you are in your recovery. We value you and will be here for you every step of the way on your journey. We provide unconditional positive regard no matter what your circumstances are. If you or someone you know is struggling and needs support, please do not hesitate to give us a call at (888) 290-0925.