Positive changes can be a hard thing to accomplish. We are often so busy, having so many things on our plate, that we can’t make room for change. It’s important, especially during your recovery, to adapt your thoughts and behaviors accordingly. If you notice yourself struggling, you must see what you’ve been doing differently and make changes to get back to a good place. Recovery is about adapting to your surroundings while also staying on the right track. Continue reading to learn more about how you can make positive changes during your recovery, with the help of Sarah Harvey, for In The Moment magazine.
“The Inventory”
To start, take an inventory of your life at the moment. Include sections for health, career, and relationships. Break your life down into these sections, and include your priorities for each category. Try to get a good amount of the big, obvious things, but also take note of the small things you can put in each category. Here are some questions from Harvey to ponder that will help you break down your life:
- Health: “What is your relationship with your body, your mental health, diet, exercise routine, sleep patterns? Which areas are you happy with and where is there room for improvement?”
- Career: “Are you happy in your job? Do you feel fulfilled in your working life? How do you get on with your colleagues? A key thing to address here might be work-life balance.”
- Relationships: “How do you feel about your partner, your friends and members of your family? What are the relationships that boost you? Are there any relationships that drain you?”
“Things You Want to Change”
“Now is the time to look at your inventory and really interrogate yourself,” says Harvey. She says to be “brutally honest and ask yourself whether you are happy” with each previous section. The answer might not come to you all at once, so take time to ponder what brings you joy and what doesn’t.
“New Challenges and Hobbies”
Now is the time to brainstorm what new challenges and hobbies you would like to implement during this stage of your recovery. Some things may come to mind immediately but, again, take some time to think deeply about other things that may take a little longer to come to mind. Once you have a list of things you’d like to implement, go do some research. Ask trusted friends and family for advice, or do a bit of research online. Harvey then says to ask yourself how you can get started:
- “What will the challenge involve?
- Why do I want to do it?
- What small things can I do to get started?”
“Next steps”
Now it’s time to prioritize. Make sense of your list and see what you would like to do first. “Write down the smallest thing you can do to work towards your main goal,” says Harvey. “It should be something that will barely impact your routine.”
“What Is Your Time Frame?”
When would you like to complete your goal? Think about creating a measurable time frame so that you can track your progress and there is a deadline to work toward. “Once you have started to incorporate one small new step into your routine — and things start to develop — you will have more energy to tackle other things too.”
“Reward Yourself”
Rewarding yourself during this time is a must. This helps keep you motivated so that you can reach your goal. A good way to reward yourself is to involve your friends and family. This way, they will help keep you accountable.
“Keep Track of Your Progress”
Make sure to keep track of your progress during your recovery. This is how you will reward yourself and plan for the future. Seeing how you’ve made changes can help keep you pushing toward your goal. This can be extremely motivating.
Arbor Behavioral Healthcare is here to help you reach your goals in your recovery! Call us today at 844-413-2690. We can’t wait to speak with you and help you change your life today!