Recovery is a vital aspect of self-care that can help boost your self-esteem and overall well-being. You have worked hard to get where you are, but there is a long road ahead of you. Because recovery is an ongoing process, it is something that requires daily focus. There may be times when things become overwhelming, potentially influencing you to resort to undesirable coping mechanisms.
Recovery days are days that are fully dedicated to giving your body and mind a rest. These days are crucial for success in recovery from addiction, as allowing time for ourselves to rest is necessary for true growth. To truly do your best in recovery, you need to allow yourself days to recover from the mental and physical stress that comes along with the recovery process.
Listen to Your Body
Listening to your body is a great way to determine when a recovery day is needed. When your physical and mental health begins to decline due to everyday stress, it is time to take a recovery break. Listening to your body’s responses to stress and desire for rest can help you to avoid burnout and continue along with your success in overcoming your addiction.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Although stress cannot be entirely avoided, as it is an inevitable part of our daily lives, we can change how it manifests itself physically and mentally.
Recognizing Symptoms of Burnout
Common signs you are experiencing burnout include:
- Exhaustion
- Feeling emotionally distant
- Poor work performance
- Unable to focus on tasks
If you find yourself experiencing one or more of these symptoms, we recommend taking a recovery day. This can help reset your emotions so you can dive back into your recovery goals with a clear state of mind.
Beginning Your Recovery Day
Taking a recovery day may sound like a great idea; however, many people have no idea where to begin. Taking a full day away from the stress of your responsibilities and fully caring for yourself may be stressful to plan for some individuals.
When preparing for a recovery day, think of a few simple things you would like to do that would help you relax. This may mean writing or listening to music outside. You may desire to stretch and go for a run. You may wish to take a bath and meditate. The possibilities for recovery days are endless. The only requirement is that the activities you engage in help you healthily alleviate stress.
With a few simple ideas in mind, you can then start your day out fresh. Wake up, drink some water, and do something that brings you joy. Throughout the day, appreciate the beauty surrounding you. Put down your phone and disconnect from the stress around you, having a day of freedom to enjoy the beauty of the world. Going into a recovery day with this mindset will help you make the most out of this day.
Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries is an essential act of self-care and a good way to ensure you are engaging in a healthy recovery day. Knowing your limits and boundaries can allow you to set your expectations when interacting with others. Using your boundary-setting skills, you can ensure you engage in healthy social interactions during your recovery day and not add to your overall stress.
Understanding Your Needs
In a world that moves at such a fast pace, it is essential to slow down every once in a while to assess your needs. Understanding what your mind, body, and spirit need can help you set yourself on the right path to fully overcoming your addiction. By doing this and understanding what you need for success, you can align your recovery day to support those needs. Once you have had a good rest and time to recharge, you can come back with a fresh perspective.
Rest and Recharge
There are many different ways you can use a recovery day to rest, recharge, and get back to recovery. The opportunity may open up for you to put some of your positive coping skills to use in a stress-free manner using these ideas:
- Get out in nature
- Exercise
- Take a nap
- Turn your phone off/disconnect from social media
- Lean on your support group
- Engage in something creative
Many tools assist you in having a successful recovery day. Recognizing when your mental or physical health is declining can help you implement a recovery day when needed. The ultimate goal is to prevent the chances of relapse and ease your levels of stress as you continue your journey.
Taking a recovery day is an incredible act of self-care. Returning to your daily responsibilities after your treatment will bring new stressors. You are no longer in a controlled setting and are expected to adjust to the outside world. Allow yourself to let go of these fears and negative emotions with a recovery day.
It is essential to slow down every once in a while and assess your needs to be successful and productive in your recovery and day-to-day life. As you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, it’s easy to reach the point of giving up. By taking a recovery day to rest and recharge, you can continue your success with a fresh state of mind. Recovery days are essential for everyone to maintain a positive mentality. Here at Renaissance Ranch, we understand that recovery is an ongoing process. To prevent relapse, we encourage you to take advantage of your support system here at Renaissance Ranch and give yourself a recovery day when needed. Even as alumni, you may need to take a recovery day. To learn more about how to take a recovery day, reach out to Renaissance Ranch at (801) 308-8898.