Self-care includes all the things you do for yourself to keep your body and mind healthy. It’s an indispensable part of addiction recovery. However, it can be challenging to find time for self-care.
Self-care may include things like the following:
- Regular exercise
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Prayer
- Taking time to relax every day
- Getting enough sleep
While most people believe these things are good for you, they often feel like they don’t have enough time, especially if they have hectic lives with kids, demanding jobs, or both. However, regular self-care can mean the difference between a strong recovery and gradually unraveling. Arbor Behavioral Healthcare can help you or a loved one learn how to make time for self-care. Call 844.413.2690 to get started in one of our treatment programs today.
Tips for Finding Time for Self-Care
There are numerous strategies for finding time for self-care. The most important thing is learning how to make time for self-care and then sticking to a plan. Some tips include the following:
Put It on Your Calendar
The best way to make time for self-care is to recognize it as a priority and put it on your schedule. There’s a principle called Parkinson’s Law, which says work will expand to fill the time allotted. It can often work the other way too. If you know you only have so much time to complete a task, you can usually get it done more quickly. As a result, if you actually schedule self-care as part of your day, you will probably find you can still do everything else you need to do. In fact, you will probably do everything else more efficiently. Everything feels a little easier when you feel less stressed, more rested, and more energetic. What you lose in time, you can more than regain in efficiency.
Look for Wasted Time
If you can’t quite get everything done after scheduling self-care time, look for low-priority tasks to eliminate. This will often happen automatically. We often waste more time than we realize with busy work, scrolling through social media, or watching TV. Not only do these activities waste time, but they often make us feel anxious or depressed, so eliminate them if you can. However, some things that seem like a waste of time really aren’t. For example, taking the scenic route home from work may take longer, but it may also provide some much-needed alone time to relax and listen to music or an audiobook.
Do a Little at a Time
Don’t get hung up on the idea that you need a large block of time for self-care. While that’s often preferable, a little self-care is better than none. Take mini-breaks at work and practice some deep breathing. Park a little farther away from the store and carry your bags to get a little extra exercise. Take the stairs. Research has shown that these kinds of exercise “snacks” can be just as good for you as half an hour of sustained daily exercise.
Learn to Say No
Another way to have more time is to guard your time better. You can’t do everything others want, so learn to set boundaries. Politely say no when you feel you have too much on your plate. Having more time to keep yourself healthy will be better for your friends and family in the long run.
Contact The Arbor and Make Time for Self-Care
Arbor Behavioral Healthcare offers an integrative and holistic approach to treating substance abuse and a wide variety of addictions, as well as underlying mental health and psychological issues. All of the addiction recovery programs offered by The Arbor are designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit leading to a lifetime of sobriety, health, and wellness.
If you or a loved one are ready to discover self-care and start towards a lifetime of sobriety, call 844.413.2690 or reach out online.