As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, many people find themselves feeling more tired and less motivated to continue with healthy habits they established during the summer. For people in addiction recovery, this can be especially problematic. Maintaining a routine and continuing to engage in healthy sober activities are essential for carrying one’s recovery into the fall months.
Maintain Your Sleep Schedule
To maintain a regular sleep schedule, it is important to wake up around the same time every day. However, waking up when it’s still dark out can make doing so difficult. Many people tend to sleep in or nap throughout the day, which makes getting to sleep at a reasonable hour problematic. To avoid oversleeping it can be helpful to establish a morning routine to wake up your mind and body. Aside from eating breakfast, showering and brushing your teeth, some things to try as part of your morning wake-up routine include taking a walk around the neighborhood, setting aside some time to stretch or going to the gym for a class or independent workout.
Identify New Healthy Hobbies
Many people struggle to identify hobbies to engage in as the weather gets colder. This often contributes to boredom, which is a trigger for most people in addiction recovery. It is important to recognize that there are still many options for activities that can be done through the fall season. Some examples include apple or pumpkin picking, hay rides, haunted houses and cooking a new or favorite fall recipe.
Ask for Help
Speak with your support system about any struggles you are having regarding transitioning into the fall months. Ask your family, friends, 12-step fellowship, counselor and group to hold you accountable to following through with the healthy habits you established over the summer.
— Shaylyn Forte, M.Ed., CAADC
Young Adult IOP Clinician
