Overcoming an addiction is never easy, but there are things that you can do to help you stay clean and sober. For instance, you could join support groups, both online and in-person, to create a strong support network. They would help you stay away from the things that trigger you to use or drink.
Professionals, like those at Newport Beach Rehab, teach people that a hobby can help recovering addicts refrain from giving in to the desire to use again. New activities help you fill the time and build a new life as well.
Check out some of the hobbies you can do to keep your mind off of your addiction.
Volunteer
Volunteering your time to help those less fortunate is a good thing for a recovering addict. It’s a positive way to give your time and feel as though you’re making a difference. It’s a way to make you feel good about yourself, but it also helps you to shift your mind off your problems and onto helping someone else with theirs.
You can also volunteer at a pet shelter, where you can help pets and have no judgements made, the choice is up to you.
Take Up Biking
Biking is a great hobby for someone who is battling addiction. You’ll get the exercise you need to be healthy, while also getting you out in the sunshine and fresh air, something you need for a healthy recovery and lifestyle. Not only does biking keep you physically healthy, it’s good for you emotionally and mentally also.
Take Up Reading
Reading is one of the most relaxing hobbies and can take you to places you’ve never been. They are also the most accessible form of entertainment. You can get them in stores, download them online, or browse the stacks of your local library until your heart’s content.
Books are a great way to learn new things and you can never run out of things to read. Whether you’re reading non-fiction or a good old-fashioned mystery, there’s plenty to keep you occupied and your mind at ease in a book.
Start Writing
For many recovering addicts, writing has been known to be a great form of therapy. Just keeping a journal of your thoughts and struggles could help you get through the day-to-day hardships that come with recovery.
You don’t have to be published and you don’t have to write the next Great American Novel, unless you want to, of course, but writing can take you to other worlds just like reading can, only these are worlds of your own creation. If you want to take a dip into the creative writing pool, why not find a few creative writing groups in your area, and stop in for a meeting or two?
Take Up Photography
One of the best things about being a recovering addict is that you start to see the beauty of the world and life around you. What better way to see that beauty than through the lenses of a camera?
While photography equipment can be quite expensive, you don’t have to start out with the most expensive equipment. Instead, buy an inexpensive digital camera and experiment with picture taking. If you find that it calms you and becomes a passion, you can work your way up to more expensive equipment as you are able to afford it.
These are just a few hobbies to help you when you’re struggling as a recovering addict. Not only do these hobbies help you physically and mentally, they help you see the beauty in the world that you’ve been waiting to explore.