Sober Hobbies to Help You De-stress

Finding a healthy way to deal with stress – both during college and as you embark on your sober future  – is a key component of recovery. Here are a number of sober hobbies that have been scientifically backed to help relieve tension and help you relax. Try one (or a few) and see what works for you. 

• Yoga: Sure, this might be an obvious choice, but it’s a proven one. Yoga teaches us to use the power of breath to stay calm. This ancient practice has also been linked do a reduction of levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. 
• Coloring and drawing: Whether you invest in an adult coloring book and fancy pencils or spend a few dollars on some white paper and crayons, coloring and drawing is a great relaxation technique that can help you stay in the moment and stay calm. 
• Writing: Journaling or expressing your thoughts and emotions via writing is a proven way to identify any stressors and then let them go. Try it: Take 15 minutes each day and write freely without censoring yourself. 
• Reading: Getting lost in a good book is a great way to escape from the stressors of daily life. Studies show that reading can help to lower your heart rate and ease tension in your muscles.
• Gardening: Digging in the dirt can lower your stress hormones, improve your mood and keep you in the moment. What’s more, being outside in the fresh air and sunshine can boost these effects even more.
• Hiking: Similarly, enjoying the great outdoors and nature via hiking can help reduce stress and help reduce rumination, or obsessing over negative thoughts. And since hiking is an aerobic exercise, you’ll also benefit from the feel-good endorphins released in your body. 

Finding Emotional Support at Hope Academy

A host of emotions inevitably arise as you begin working toward your sobriety goals. The professionals at Hope Academy can teach you to manage these feelings without resorting to substance abuse. To learn more, call 866-930-4673.

How to Keep Calm and Carry On

Learning how to keep stress in check is an important tool for long-term sobriety. Unchecked stress is a slippery slope into using again. So what can you do the next time you’re feeling frazzled, overwhelmed or freaked out – by recovery, by an upcoming test or impending job interview – or by, um, everything? 

Take a deep, long breath – and then try one of these five simple stress busters:

1. Talk on the phone. Skip the text message and give a friend a quick call instead. Hearing a friend’s voice has been found to reduce stress, according to a study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2. Escape on Instagram. Checking out for 10 minutes by checking out Instagram, YouTube or some other favorite site, for example, can help give your mind the mental break in needs before tackling a stressful assignment or overwhelming to-do list. 
3. Pamper yourself. A little self-pampering can go a long way in controlling those frazzled feelings. The repetitive motion of painting your nails or toenails, for example, can be soothing and the end result will make you feel great. Or head to the barber for a clean shave and hair cut. 
4. Take a stretch break. Perhaps the best way to relax your mind is to relax your body. You don’t need to take an entire yoga class, either, just a few quick, simple stretches will do the trick.
5. Exercise it out. Lace up your sneakers, pop your headphones in and go for a long walk or jog. Physical activity can help you clear your mind and fend off a freak out. 

Ask About Our One-on-One Coaching

At Hope Academy, we understand that stressors inevitably arise as you begin working toward your academic and career goals. Our experienced sobriety coaches can help you learn how to manage these pressures without resorting to substance abuse. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.

7 Steps to Better Stress Management

We don’t have to tell you that stress is a normal part of life — family conflicts, financial woes, job worries, and health concerns are just a few of the many stressors you’ll likely encounter during your recovery journey. But stress is also the leading cause of relapse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. 

Unfortunately, you can’t avoid it, but you can find healthier ways to lower tension so it’s no longer a tipping point into using again. 

How to Manage Stress

Start with these tips to tame daily stressors:

• Take a walk. Sounds simple enough, right? Exercise can increase those feel-good endorphins, leaving you in a calmer, more positive state of mind.
• Streamline your day. Taking on too much too soon can quickly lead to stress, especially during the first 90 days of recovery, when you’re most likely to relapse. Try to hone in on the recovery essentials, like 12-step meetings or counseling, and strive to complete one or two tasks per day. It’s also important to go easy on yourself on those inevitable days when nothing goes as planned.
• Get some shut-eye. A good night’s sleep — aim for seven to eight hours — can improve your mood and ability to cope with stress. That’s because solid slumber helps to restore your body and mind.
• Write it out. Journaling is a great way to identify the cause of your stress — and then release it by writing down your thoughts and feelings.
• Hang with others who “get” you. Surrounding yourself with people who are also battling addiction can be a powerful stress reliever. Start by finding a support group in which you feel comfortable talking through your tensions.
• Find your mantra. A mantra can be nothing more complicated than a saying or expression that gets you through. For example, “I am in control of my life,” or “I am making progress,” or whatever phrase helps you stay calm and focused on your recovery.
  
• Escape with entertainment. When you feel tension creeping, take a time-out from daily life and push your stressors aside. Let it all go, and lose yourself and your worries by reading a good book, playing music, baking, or watching TV.

Finding Support at Hope Academy

Stressors inevitably arise as you begin working toward your academic and career goals.  The professionals at Hope Academy sobriety college can teach you to manage these pressures without resorting to substance abuse. In addition to providing a therapeutic environment for recovery, college attendance, and career planning, Hope Academy offers one-on-one coaching opportunities for residents. Call 866-930-4673 now to learn more.