In order to have a meaningful and lasting sobriety, an individual must ensure that they are looking after their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. These three aspects make up the totality of a person, and when all three are in harmony it allows an individual to not only be healthy in sobriety but also healthy in their overall life. It allows them to feel good physically and mentally and experience the peace that comes from enjoying a healthy spiritual life— one filled with prayer, meditation, and honesty.
However, it is not always easy to experience health is all three of these aspects of life. In fact, many times individuals in recovery will focus squarely on their mental and physical well-being while allowing their physical health to fall by the wayside. They may find themselves inundated with newfound responsibilities or stresses and as a result, they may eat poorly and on the run, neglect their exercise routine, and not sleep as much as they should.
This is in part to be expected, especially when attempting to completely alter your lifestyle and routines, but it is essential, especially the longer you stay sober, that you keep up with your physical well-being, so that you do not experience health issues later on in life. Once the initial luster and joy that having straightened out mentally and spiritually brings begins to fade, it is time to focus on getting physically healthy in sobriety, and that is exactly what we are going to be taking a look at today.
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5 Ways to Get Healthy in Sobriety
Stop Using Drugs and Alcohol
There are numerous ways to become healthy in sobriety, and the first step in this process is stopping the usage of all mood and mind altering substances. Drugs and alcohol slowly destroy the body because they are essentially poisons that take their toll on everything from the respiratory system and circulatory system to the skin, brain functions, and eating habits. They greatly alter the way that your mind and body work, and due to this alteration, and due to the preoccupation that every addict has with using substances, many times self-care becomes non-existent during active addiction. This is why simply stopping using drugs and alcohol is one of the most important things you can do to become healthy in sobriety, not to mention that without total abstinence, sobriety is not achievable, rendering the rest of the items on this list mute.
Exercise
Exercising at least 3 times a week will go a long way in helping you be healthy in sobriety. It will help lower your risk for heart disease, lower your stress levels, give you natural energy, and it will help you stay positive about your physical appearance, which is important for your mental wellbeing. Also, exercise doesn’t just benefit the body it also benefits the brain. By staying active, it will increase blood and oxygen flow to the brain, which in turn will stimulate healing and regeneration on both a physical and mental level. Vigorous exercise also elevates mood and will help you enjoy the benefits of higher energy level.
- Yoga
Yoga can be done in just about any household with 40 sq. ft. of space. It has been proven to help with both physical and mental health and the great thing is that you don’t need to be a pro-yoga instructor to benefit from it. Even the most basic yoga practices will be beneficial in helping you get healthy in sobriety. It will help with increasing strength, balance, flexibility, stamina, and can help burn fat and build muscle. Yoga has also been shown to minimize stress and anxiety, allowing you to relax easier and sleep better.
- Find an Active Hobby
Finding a hobby that involves physical activity is fairly easy to do, but the interesting thing about it is that if you asked someone to come up with an example, they may very well draw a blank. So we have done the work for you and below are some examples of hobbies that involve physical activity that can allow you to get healthy in sobriety.
- Beach Volleyball
If you live in sunny South Florida chances are you live near a beach and a gaggle of people who are always game to go sit in the sun. Many of the beaches down here come equipped with go volleyball nets, so the only thing this hobby requires is the purchase of a volleyball. This sport is not only fun, but it really gets you moving, encourages teamwork, and even gets you that nice tan you’ve been wanting. Just don’t forget the sunscreen and the water!
- Running
If you’re into this sort of thing then more power to ya! However, running and walking are two forms of serious meditation, just you, your feet, some good music, and a solid workout. What could be better? Cardio gets your blood pumping, increases oxygen flow in the body, gets that brain working, and can definitely help to release any frustration, anger, or sadness.
- Basketball
Talk about a great way to meet up with friends, get a workout in, and probably have some laughs, all while fueling that competitive spirit that so many of us have. Not to mention that there are usually basketball courts at just about every public part across the country.
- Eating Healthy
Having a good diet, consisting of nutritious foods will affect your health on a day to day basis. It will change how you feel today, tomorrow and in the future. Just because you are at a healthy weight doesn’t mean that you are healthy. People at a healthy weight who practice a poor diet can be at risk for major health issues, even if they appear to look healthy. It is important that you maintain a proper diet if you wish to experience all that sobriety has to offer.
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Freedom From Addiction
If you have found yourself or a loved one suffering from alcoholism or addiction, you are not alone! If you are ready to change your life and live free from addiction, then FindAddictionRehabs.com can help. We give you the jumpstart that recovery needs and our holistic program is unique in that it doesn’t just treat the addiction, it treats the whole person. For more information on our program, call 1-(877) 633-0053 today.
Anna M. joined Find Addiction Rehabs with extensive experience in the field of addiction treatment. As a former Nurse Practitioner in Miami, she found her passion for addiction treatment when a family member was lost to his disease. With each article and resource, she hopes to save other families from experiencing the anguish of a loved one’s passing due to drinking or drugs.
