Healthy Addictions: 5 Healthy Living Habits to Support a Successful Recovery
Between 40 and 60 percent of people who receive treatment for addiction end up relapsing in the first year. Addiction recovery is a tough road, and to prevent relapse you need to create a strong support system and recovery plan.
As a part of your recovery plan, you should build in healthy addictions. These are activities and tasks that will help you avoid temptation and repair your body from the damage of addiction.
Curious about what you can add to your recovery plan? We have five suggestions for you.
1. Brush Your Teeth
You are probably learning that extended abuse of drugs and alcohol can wreak havoc on your teeth. So the sooner you start caring for them the better.
If you don’t brush your teeth twice a day and visit a dentist for cleanings you put yourself at risk for some serious diseases. Pancreatic cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s have all been linked to poor dental hygiene and health.
As such, be sure to drop by this Dental Care Team located in Grand Blanc or one near you regularly.
2. Catch the Zzzzs
During sleep is when your body has a chance to repair and restore. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your body isn’t going to function at peak performance.
You will then naturally start to seek fillers to replace the lack of energy feel. This could be overeating or drinking too much coffee.
So to get enough sleep, make sure you have a regular exercise routine. Your body won’t get tired if you aren’t using today’s energy.
Take a look around your bedroom and create the ideal sleeping environment. Remove any lights that might keep you up. Make the room a comfortable sleeping temperature.
3. Be Mindful of Germs
Everyone is concerned about washing their hands when they leave the bathroom. This is great, but it isn’t the only place that you will encounter gross bacteria and germs.
If you wear makeup, wash your hands and face before you apply the makeup. Otherwise, your makeup will become contaminated with any bacteria that is present.
Wash your bathroom once a week to remove bacteria growth buildup up on your tile, shower curtain, and tub. The fungus that grows in there loves the warm and wet environment. But that mildew and fungus can cause allergy symptoms such as coughing and headache.
If you haven’t cleaned your pillow in a few years, you’re sleeping on a bacteria and skin cell ridden sack. For fiberfill and down pillows, you can toss them in the washer and dryer. If you have a foam pillow, you’ll need to vacuum it.
4. Take Care of Your Body
Staying on the path to recovery is about replacing your bad habits with good ones. So incorporate a workout routine into your daily schedule.
Don’t feel obligated to go all out with a hardcore CrossFit routine though, unless that’s your thing. You could choose to incorporate more mindful exercise into your routine.
Consider trying out yoga or getting acupuncture. Both of these practices will address any body ailments you may be feeling. You can discover more here about how acupuncture can aid in your recovery treatment plan.
5. Eat the Right Foods
If you don’t put the right fuel in your body then it doesn’t have the tools it needs to repair and build from the inside out. Addiction puts a toll on your body, so it is more important than ever to eat high nutrient quality food.
Focus on drinking water and not sugary and calorie-laden sodas. Aim to “eat the rainbow” by choosing colorful fruits and vegetables.
Only eat when you are hungry, and then stop when you feel full. If you are unsure of what a balanced diet looks like, consult a dietician who can help you create a meal plan to follow.
Healthy Addictions Aid in Recovery
Don’t try to add all of these habits into your schedule at once. This will disrupt your entire lifestyle and become overwhelming.
Instead, focus on adding one of these healthy addictions. Focus on doing that one new task until it becomes natural and feels normal. Then you can consider adding in another one.
With time and patience, you will eventually have added all of these habits.
Check out our lifestyle section for more tips on living a healthy and mindful lifestyle.
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