Combating boredom in a healthy manner is an integral component of overcoming addiction. For many people, boredom acts as a trigger, and abusing drugs or alcohol is an easy to way to get rid of this frustrating feeling, albeit temporarily. That’s why finding constructive ways to alleviate boredom is so important during recovery.
Imagine What’s in Store for Your Sober Life
Your sober life will be vastly different than what you experienced while abusing substances. During down times when boredom sets in, imagine all the things you’d like to accomplish now that you’re making strides towards sobriety. Maybe you’d like to travel to a different country or go back to school to pursue your degree. Allow yourself time to daydream about what you wish to achieve now that you’re sober and use these dreams to motivate you throughout the process.
Develop New Hobbies
Hobbies and personal interests often fall by the wayside during active addiction. When you’re lacking things to do, think about some of the pursuits you could take up. Focus on those that will engage you both physically and mentally. For instance, you could:
- Look for a scenic area around your home to go hiking and jogging
- Take instrument or voice lessons
- Devote time to arts and crafts, such as painting or sculpting
- Volunteer at a nursing home or animal shelter
- Begin writing in a journal
- Go to the movies at least once a week
- Join an amateur sports league
Managing free time in a constructive and creative manner is the best way to prevent boredom from taking a toll on your mind. It’s also a good way to forge new social connections, which is crucial when recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.
Seek Support From People Who Understand
While no two recoveries are alike, many people who’ve experienced problems with addiction and substance abuse understand how damaging boredom can be psychologically. That’s why it’s a good idea to forge relationships with people who’ve had similar experiences and have deeper insight into how to cope with boredom in a healthy manner. Peer support is crucial to when in addiction treatment, as you can rest assured these people understand what you’re going through on a deeper level.
Make Peace With Feeling Uncomfortable
Boredom is a part of life, and no matter what strides you make, there are times when you’re going to feel unfulfilled. This is perfectly fine. Part of your recovery will involve relearning essential life skills, such as dealing with boredom, and each time you successfully overcome negative feelings take a moment to commend yourself for how far you’ve come. Recovery isn’t easy, but with the right mindset you can heal from your past and forge a bright new future.
Duke City Recovery Toolbox understands the challenges of successful addiction recovery. That’s why this Albuquerque, NM treatment center provides the necessary tools to help you on your way. We can assist you with detox to ensure all substances leave your system in a safe, controlled environment. We’ll also help you arrange counseling services, for both you and your family.
Call (505) 224-9777 for more information on arranging an intake appointment to assess your needs. You can also read more about the steps to ensure a successful recovery.
