Addiction can be a challenge for so many reasons, not least of which is enjoying recovery after removing substance abuse habits. Many people worry that life after drugs or alcohol will just be boring, and they can’t imagine having fun without substance abuse.
However, the opposite is true. Drugs and alcohol take away from your ability to have fun and to truly experience things for what they are. When you have more time and money on your hands, you’ll find that there are several ways you can go about enjoying recovery.
Water Gap Wellness Center is a Pennsylvania substance abuse treatment center that can help.
How to Enjoy Sobriety
The key to learning how to enjoy your sobriety is to find several activities that are most rewarding for you. This can include activities you pick up while in recovery, like community yoga classes, hikes in nature, or new hobbies you acquire after you complete treatment.
Time with Friends and Family
One of the ways you can enjoy sobriety is to spend more time with friends and family. You might find that after getting clean, your group of friends changes. Previous friends may have only stuck around because of drugs, leaving you worried about ulterior motives.
But as you transition into a sober community, you’ll notice an improved ability to communicate with loved ones, feel comfortable with one another, and participate in activities together without feelings of shame, guilt, or arguments.
Tip: Several recovery organizations like SMART Recovery, NA, and AA provide an opportunity to meet other people who might become friends and support your sobriety rather than encourage a relapse or enable addictive lifestyles or habits.
Exercise
Exercise is not an enjoyable activity if you are struggling with addiction. Side effects from drug and alcohol use, like poor coordination, dehydration, and muscle soreness, can significantly interfere with exercise attempts.
But once you have received treatment and you’re ready to enjoy sobriety, you’ll find that exercise is not nearly as painful as it might have been, brings with it plenty of rewards, and can be fun.
Hobbies
New hobbies can be time-consuming, so you’ll certainly never be bored with so many opportunities. Some examples include:
- Learning a new language
- Learning to play an instrument
- Singing lessons
- Participating in sports
- Gardening
- Woodworking
- Crafts
- Art classes
Your hobbies can be outdoor sports like rock climbing or kayaking, more straightforward volunteer activities like reading new books or working at a library in your spare time, or any activity you’ve always wanted to try but never had a chance to.
Travel
Another way to enjoy sobriety is to travel. Travel can be dangerous and illegal if you are struggling with addiction, but there are so many new places and cultures that you can experience, whether it’s a trip overseas, rock climbing or camping in another state, or skydiving just a few hours from home, you’ll find so many rewarding activities that are more feasible now than ever before.
Volunteer
Volunteerism can be especially rewarding for people in recovery. You can share your story of sobriety with other people who might need a new perspective on life or extra support, knowing that achieving sobriety is possible.
There are so many ways that you can volunteer your time, such as becoming a sponsor or providing help for mental health education. Of course, volunteer efforts don’t have to be limited to things having to do with substance abuse. You can always volunteer at:
- Local animal shelters
- Churches
- Food banks
- Salvation Army centers
- Nursing homes
Enjoying Recovery with Water Gap Wellness Center
Water Gap Wellness Center helps clients enjoy sobriety with psycho-therapeutic interventions that transform their lifestyle into something healthy and happy.
At our mental health treatment center in PA, we work hard to address the psychological causes of addiction, but we also want clients to enjoy recovery long after they leave our treatment center. Learning how to enjoy sobriety starts during treatment, with exposure to alternative medicine like:
- Golfing
- Hiking
- Aquatic therapy
- Yoga
- Exercise
- Meditation
Each of these activities offers a chance to convert unhealthy habits into healthy habits.
Clients can also learn more about enjoying recovery by participating in recovery support groups like:
These programs provide support groups for clients and their families to better prepare for sober living and a transition back to normalcy.
Reach out to our team at (877) 414-3281 to learn more about enjoying recovery.
