Why You Should Start Volunteering

Volunteering can certainly boost your mood – think about how great it feels to help someone else – and now new research shows that it can decrease your risk of addiction. College female student-athletes who volunteer in their communities and engage in helping behaviors are less likely to partake in dangerous alcohol and marijuana use, according to a social scientist from the University of Missouri.

“Female student-athletes experience increased demands while in college from coaches and professors to family and friends," said Alexandra Davis, one of the study leads. "Because student-athletes occupy multiple roles simultaneously, they could be at an increased risk substance abuse to cope with stress. Our findings suggest that community service might be a tool to reduce substance abuse among female student-athletes.”

3 More Reasons to Volunteer
If you’re already on the path toward sobriety, volunteering can be good for your recovery, too. Here’s how:

• You’ll boost your self-worth. Many people in recovery struggle with self-confidence as they reconcile any past behaviors or decisions that occurred during active addiction. Volunteering can help you move past these feelings so you can start feeling good about you again.
• You’ll boost your social circle. Finding like-minded, positive friends who will support you is more important than ever right now – and volunteering can help you do just that.
• You’ll boost your resume. Future employees will be impressed by your willingness to make a commitment and help others. In addition, volunteering can help you develop project management (organizing events or fundraisers) or sales (soliciting people for donations) skills.

Job Prep at Hope Academy
It’s pretty common to feel overwhelmed when it comes to finding or beginning a new job – and we’re here to help. At Hope Academy, we provide practical, real-world guidance for clients who have completed college or are already pursuing a professional or vocational career. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.

Recovery: A Lesson in Patience

You’ve likely heard the quote, “patience is a virtue.” Well, in our world of instant gratification – where you can click on a button to get almost anything delivered to your door – it’s likely lost much of its meaning. You might even go so far to say that smartphones and social media have made many of us even less patient in our daily lives. 

What is patience anyway? Some define it as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.” For those in recovery, patience may mean the capacity to stick with the process. After all, sobriety is a lifelong journey that requires time – to fully heal the mind, body and spirit, as well as any relationship damage caused by active addiction. 

We all need to slow ourselves down sometimes and make an effort to be more patient. Start with these steps:

Make patience a habit: Becoming a patient person takes practice, so there’s nothing wrong with taking a few minutes each day to intentionally make yourself wait. Some ideas: Count to 20 before responding to a text message or intentionally hold out before having that second cup of coffee. 

Remember to breathe. This may seem too simple, but breathing really works wonders when it comes to quelling the stress and anxiety caused by impatience. The next time you’re losing your patience, give it a try: Inhale slowly and count to 10. Now exhale and repeat this three times. You’ll be surprised how much it helps. 

Enjoy the process: While it’s normal to want to get to the finish line as quickly as possible, it’s also important to embrace the time it takes to get there. Try to enjoy the lessons, friendships and different emotions the recovery process has caused you to feel. 

Remember: All good things take time. If you expect things to happen instantly, you’re more likely to get impatient. In the words of author Susan Gale: “The longer you have to wait for something, the more you will appreciate it when it finally arrives. The harder you have to fight for something, the more priceless it will become once you achieve it. And the more pain you have to endure on your journey, the sweeter the arrival at your destination. All good things are worth waiting for and worth fighting for”.  

Don't Wait to Get Addiction Help

Our treatment model prepares young adults with the skills needed to succeed in sobriety and in life after rehab. To learn more about how you can start on your journey toward sobriety, call us today: 866-930-4673. 

Advantages of Being A Morning Person

Do you tend to stay up late and then struggle to wake up in the morning? Do you hit the snooze button multiple times and then scramble to shower, dress and run out the door (likely without eating!). 

For most people, especially college students, getting up early is a daily struggle. But making an effort to rise and shine can have some pretty big perks. For one, morning people take a lot of pressure off of themselves by getting a head start over late sleepers. Still not convinced? Read on:

• You’ll get to enjoy a morning meal: Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, giving your body the fuel it needs to boost brain activity and stave off cravings. Plus, it just tastes good! 
• You’ll stick with exercise: People who are morning exercisers are less likely to skip out on their workout routine. After all, you’ll likely have better things to do at the end of the day.
• You’ll have more “me” time: Whether you choose to squeeze in some schoolwork, meditate, call your grandparents or catch up on your favorite show, an early start to the day allows for more free time. 
• You’ll be prepared for life after college: Chances are you’ll have to tend to various different obligations that require you to get up bright and early one day!

Start Fresh This Spring With Hope Academy 
Spring is a time for fresh starts. If you are struggling with a dual diagnosis or a substance abuse disorder, embrace a new beginning at Hope Academy Rehab. We offer vocational training, college prep, and sobriety college options that allow you to pursue your dreams while you get clean. Call today: 866-930-4673. 

Caffeine: Is It Harming Your Health?

In moderation, caffeine can offer a big boost to your physical and mental health. Better mood, higher cognitive function, improved athletic performance and less fatigue are just a few of the many study-proven benefits. 

There is too much of a good thing, however. If you find yourself downing three or more cups of java before noon, for example, you’ll likely need to curtail the habit. This is because it’s fairly easy to get hooked – and cutting back can even lead to withdrawal symptoms like headache, irritability, nausea, and depressed mood. 

Caffeine withdrawal is recognized as a syndrome in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Plus, excessive caffeine consumption has been linked to some serious side effects that can make staying sober even harder than it already is. These include: 

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Jitters
• Headaches

Wake Up Without Caffeine 

Luckily, a few fairly simple tweaks to your morning routine can help you cut back on caffeine. Start with these three. 

• Reach for H20. Whether you drink it hot or cold, waking up and drinking water will help fuel your brain and make you feel refreshed and alert. 
• Begin the day with meditation. Instead of bouncing out of bed and heading to the coffee maker, make meditation your new morning ritual. This powerful yet simple relaxation technique will put you in a positive state of mind and minimize any caffeine withdrawal symptoms you’re experiencing. 
• Get up and get moving. Exercise is the perfect way to rev your energy – and it may even make you feel more alert than that cup of coffee. Do some jumping jacks, go for a walk or just stretch – the idea is to just get your body moving. 

Ask About Our One-on-One Coaching

Our experienced sobriety coaches can help you learn how to manage the pressures of life after rehab without resorting to substance abuse. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.