Using one’s time wisely can be a significant challenge for just about anyone, life is full of distractions and opportunities to waste available hours. Staying productive is a critical element of a healthy existence and those who lead sedentary lifestyles risk never meeting their real potential. The same reality applies to people who are working programs of addiction recovery, those who put in the work exponentially increase their chances of attaining long-term sobriety.
People who seek the assistance of addiction treatment centers discover reasonably quickly the value of occupying one’s time. Rehab centers have carefully designed schedules to maximize a client’s ability to learn the skills necessary for a life in recovery. Merely put, a day in treatment is regimented in such a way as to ensure that those new in recovery learn the importance of developing a routine; individuals who stick to a schedule outside of treatment are far better off than people who decide what they are going to do on the fly.
If you are working a program of recovery, hopefully, you place a significant emphasis on time management. It is not a coincidence that the schedules of people in long-term recovery look similar. For many recovering addicts and alcoholics, Monday through Friday consists of waking up, prayer and meditation, eating healthy and exercising, going to work or school, attending meetings in the morning or evening, a little relaxation, another round of prayer or meditation, and then going to bed. Everyone’s day may involve doing the above tasks in a unique order, but by and large, most individual’s days look the same. While such a schedule accounts for the weekdays, one’s weekend may be a little different; and, for some people, Saturday and Sunday may be a challenge.
Recovery Over The Weekend
After doing everything that you can for your recovery during the week, some find the temptation to kick back on the weekend. There isn’t anything wrong with taking it a little easier when you don’t have to worry about getting to work or class, but it is vital to prioritize your sobriety at the week’s end. The fact of the matter is that addiction doesn’t ever let up! Even when a person feels strong, there remains the risk of acting in ways that are not conducive to recovery.
Those who went through treatment may remember the workload being lighter on weekends, although it is likely that their facility required such individuals to do things for recovery. It shouldn’t be any different outside of treatment. In fact, you can use the weekend and the free-time it provides to strengthen your program. Many people in recovery have a “home group” they attend throughout the week; with that in mind, the weekend offers the opportunity to check out different meetings and meet new people who share your goals. Saturday and Sunday also afford people the ability to socialize with your support network outside of meeting houses; watching a movie, grabbing a coffee, or going for a hike are excellent ways to bond with your peers.
The end of the week can also be used to catch up on recovery work, i.e., step work; procrastination is a real problem for some people, a behavior that can impact one’s progress. How you use your time over the weekend is up to you, and there is not just one way to prioritize your recovery. If you continue to put your recovery first 7-days a week, you position yourself for the better.
Addiction Recovery
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol and are ready to make changes in your life, Pacific Shores can help. Our centers in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, CA, are the perfect setting to begin a journey of recovery. Here at Pacific Shores, we provide safe and sober transitional housing and sober living.