9-Tips for Maintaining Recovery During the Covid-19 Pandemic, What is Your Number 10?

Most people who are in recovery have a routine they follow to help them maintain their sobriety.  Many attend support meetings for fellowship and to offer and receive words of wisdom from others who have chosen an addiction-free lifestyle. Regular camaraderie with others in recovery can help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

But social distancing guidelines put into place to help slow the spread of the coronavirus have stopped or greatly limited, the availability of support meetings along with most recreational activities.

Remember what you know.  Now is the most important time ever to not allow negative or fearful thinking to pull you back toward the rabbit-hole of addiction.  Thoughts are not reality unless you allow them the power to become a reality.  Thoughts, in and of themselves, are harmless. It’s the action that can create the harm and consequences.

1. Even if you cannot make in-person support meetings, consider checking out support groups that are offered remotely.  Find the one that is the best fit for you and take advantage of it.
2. Reach out to others you know who are in recovery.  Help each other stay strong and sober.
3. Make self-care a priority.  Exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet, get enough sleep each night.  If it is possible, get some fresh air every day.
4. Allow yourself quiet time each day.  Meditate, pray or use your way to connect with the God, Universe, or simply your own inner peace and wisdom.  Stay in that quiet spot for a while and enjoy the calm and tranquility that you find there.
5. Television and podcasts can be your friend.  Instead of mindlessly flipping channels, make the effort to watch programs that will lift you up.  If you are in a low mood, aim for a comedy or an action flick that will offer some distraction.
6. Think back to books that helped you when you were new to recovery.  Reread them.  If they inspired you once, chances are they will inspire you again, and help you to stay strong now.
7. Another great option is to learn something new.  YouTube offers videos that can help you learn lots of new skills.  With a little exploration, you can learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube, how to grow an avocado from seed, how to play a guitar, or how to do most anything else you have an interest in.  Use this opportunity to learn something that you didn’t have time to learn before.
8. Now is a perfect time to reach out to an old friend you haven’t talked to in a while.  Schedule a time when you can both sit down, relax and have a real person-to-person conversation via Zoom, Facetime, or a phone call.
9. Remind yourself each day that this ordeal will not last forever.  With the coronavirus, recovery and life in general, live one day at a time.

Hopefully, some of these tips will be helpful as you maintain your recovery.  What is your “Number 10 Tip” that has helped you and might help others continue their recovery journey through these unusual times?  Please add your tip in the comments below.

Gulf Breeze Recovery has a history of helping people achieve freedom from addiction and regain their health.  Not only offering all levels of care including residential, intensive outpatient and outpatient care, they also have follow-up services.   The overall goal for every participant is long-term sobriety.

Gulf Breeze Recovery strives to offer the best and most comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse treatment options in the country, with plans of treatment tailored to fit your individual needs.  Our professional staff and medical team are available to meet all your needs for high-quality substance abuse treatment.

If you or someone you care about, has an ongoing history of alcohol or substance use and/or relapse, contact Gulf Breeze Recovery or call: 833.551.2356 to speak to an addiction expert to learn more about their residential program, out-patient program, and intensive out-patient program, and which of these can best fit your individual needs.  These programs have helped many people overcome their addiction and embrace their new happy, healthy, substance-free lifestyle.

We help people not just to survive, but to THRIVE!