Structure in sobriety is a crucial part of addiction recovery. When you do not have structure, you are more likely to fall back into your former bad habits and addictive tendencies. Furthermore, the risks of relapse are significantly higher when you lack any structure to your recovery.
What to Expect in Early Sobriety
Taking the first steps to seek help for your substance abuse is a major accomplishment. However, after you begin rehab, it is easy to get overwhelmed quickly by all the emotional, physical, and social changes in your life.
You can feel out of sorts and not have an idea of what you should do next. Establishing structure to your daily routines can create stability and predictability because you will know exactly what to do and when to do it.
In the early stages of sobriety, you should expect a structure that follows your treatment plan. For example, you will have an established time to get up in the morning followed by a list of activities, therapy, meetings, and other things at specific times. As you progress with your recovery, you will learn how to establish new routines at various stages.
The Importance of Routine and Structure In Sobriety
Creating routine and structure as part of your addiction treatment and recovery program is vital for your success. Why you need structure is primarily to help you create stability in your recovery and become accountable for yourself and your actions as you learn more about yourself, your addiction, and improve yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Other benefits of establishing structure and routines include:
You Learn How to Develop Self-control
During your addiction, you lacked any self-control when it came to your substance of choice. After undergoing detox, it is essential that you learn how to develop self-control to resist cravings and the urge to drink and use drugs.
You Provide Structure to Your New Sober Life
Maintaining sobriety requires a lot of energy and focus, whether you are first starting out or have been sober for years. Structure helps create a sense of comfort because you know exactly what you will do and when. In the early stages of recovery, structure also provides a sense of security when everything else in your life seems out of control.
Structure Helps You Break Your Old Habits
Old habits can be difficult to break unless there is structure. Structure forces you to follow new routines that do not include using drugs or drinking alcohol. Additionally, there are opportunities for you to develop new healthy habits as you establish new routines.
Your New Routines Can Help You Take Your Sobriety One Moment At A Time
If you start thinking about the future when you are just starting rehab, you can experience fear and become scared of the unknown. However, with structure, you can focus on one activity or event at a time. Before you know it, you will have remained sober for a week, then a month, then several months, then a year and longer.
Structure helps you improve your physical and mental health.
Learning how to eat healthy meals and incorporate exercise into your daily routines helps you strengthen your body and mind. When your body and mind are stronger, you are less likely to relapse.
Structure keeps you from getting bored.
One reason people relapse is out of boredom. By establishing and sticking to a structure, you will have little time to feel bored. Plus, the temptations of drinking and using drugs will not have as much time to fill your thoughts.
How to Establish New Routines
As you progress through recovery, you will want to establish new routines and make changes to your structure. Early on, your routines will include:
- Group Meetings
- Individual Counseling
- Peer Support
- Sponsor Calls
- Meal Planning
- Exercising
- Set Bedtimes and Waking Times
- Personal Hygiene
Doing the same thing day in and day out can become monotonous, so you will want to consider other things you could add to your routines as you become more confident in your sobriety, such as:
- Arts
- Crafts
- Hobbies
- Adventure Therapy
- Social Gatherings
- Work or School
- Pursuing New Interests
- Taking a Vacation
How Routines At Each Stage of Recovery Strengthens Sobriety
Creating routines that can help you achieve your short-term and long-term goals creates stability and balance in your life. Furthermore, when you feel a sense of accomplishment in reaching your goals, it makes your mind, body, and spirit stronger. As a result, your sobriety is also strengthened.
Develop Structure with Our Rehab Treatment in Beverly Hills, CA
Developing structure as part of your rehab treatment is not difficult when you get help from MD Home Detox in Beverly Hills, CA. We offer concierge-level treatment programs that begin with detoxing safely from the comfort of your home.
Our extensive network allows us to work with you to develop a personalized treatment program with a structured routine to help you achieve long-term sobriety. To learn more about our at-home treatment plans and to create structured routines as part of your recovery, please feel free to contact us at 1 (888) 592-8541 today!