How to Find a Healthy Balance in Sobriety

One of the best things about getting sober is that we get to start living our lives however we want. We are no longer tied to our drink or drug, and we can be choosy of where we want to invest our time. Finding a positive balance between work and play is an undervalued key to maintaining a healthy balance in sobriety.

One of the many struggles for newly sober addicts and alcoholics is finding the perfect combination of regular life and recovery. The beautiful thing about this journey is that it’s different for everyone. However, there are some basic steps that every good drunk and druggie should follow.

• Have a morning routine that consists of prayer, and some sort of positive frame for your day (I like to write a gratitude list, read a daily reflection, and write out a to-do list)
• Make a meeting! Self explanatory
• Call your sponsor
• Try to be of service to AT LEAST one person
• Close the day with prayer, and an inventory.

All in all, that list could really only take up a few hours of your day, depending on the service work. Again, everyone is different, but if you are doing at least that small list of things every day, you are pretty much guaranteed to stay sober.

Balance in Sobriety But What About Fun

The next part is where your own creativity comes into play. Now I know most of us will have to work, so be sure to include that into what you need to keep your balance in sobriety, but other than work, the world is your oyster.

Do you like to go to the gym? Cook? Go fishing? Kayak? Read? Play an instrument? Now that we are sober, we have the opportunity to try all the things we never started because we were restricted by our addiction.

I know many people who went back to school or tried their hand at yoga and paddleboarding. I personally picked up an instrument that I had always wanted to learn to play.

WE ARE NO LONGER LIMITED BY OUR ADDICTION. WE CAN BE AND DO WHATEVER WE WANT THAT MAKES US HAPPY.

A Newfound Freedom to Explore

Now obviously if when you read that sentence you immediately think “Well I want to drink or get high” I recommend you call your sponsor and go over the 1st step again. But now is your time to start painting or singing or learning a new language or writing a damn book! Who cares what it is, as long as you enjoy doing it and it adds value to your life.

The key to all of this is balance, how can we do the things we enjoy, while maintaining a healthy sobriety?

This is why I like to make to-do lists. I am able to set aside specific times for myself when I know that I will be able to relax on my own or help the newcomer or meet up with my sponsor.

Some days we may not get around to everything on our list, and that’s okay. Some days I really just need a nap and decide to forego yoga that day. And that’s okay! Because no matter what, I know that for that day, I prayed, I helped a newcomer, and after a while, those things become just if not more enjoyable than my hobby.

But what if you are like many of my friends, and feel that there isn’t enough time in the day for your hobbies?

Balance in Sobriety with Positive Perspective

Well that’s where it gets tricky, but don’t worry, with a little positive perspective, everything will be just fine. For example, say you work full time during the day, have step work and meetings afterwards, and still have to make dinner at the end of the day? First of all, you’re not alone. Second of all, this is why weekends were invented.

I find it to be very helpful to plan my weekends ahead of time. There is nothing better than taking a camping trip with some friends, and being relaxed and rejuvenated for the rest of the week.

Some weekends might involve errands and house cleaning, and that’s okay too. When I have busy weekends like that, I just make sure to set aside at least thirty minutes to an hour to get in some me time. Whether it’s yoga, or reading a good book, or even cooking myself a nice meal.

The key to maintaining a healthy balance in sobriety is all about focusing on the positive and having awareness of the negative. We didn’t get sober so we could attend meeting after meeting, and we definitely didn’t get sober to be slaves to our jobs. With our newfound sobriety comes newfound happiness. So be diligent about your daily sober routine, and be diligent about having fun. This is your time to discover WHO you are and WHAT you love. So go out there and do it, just bring a little bit of God in your heart wherever you go, and you will be just fine.

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