I like to keep things simple, sobriety is hard enough itself. This blog post contains 5 simple tips that will help you to own your daily life in sobriety. These are the basics of which it is scientifically proven that will help you manage your day better.

5 Simple Tips

1. Drink Your Water! 💦
   While sleeping, our body releases moisture to the environment. This occurs through breathing and perspiration through the skin. Per night, this fluid loss can amount to more than one liter – sometimes even 2.5 liters (another reason to change your bedding frequently!) Therefore it is essential to hydrate yourself when you wake up. Take a big glass, fill it with water, and drink up. Are you not a big fan of water? Squeeze some lemon in it. Another reason to keep yourself hydrated is to keep your brain happy. The brain is approximately 75% water, and maintaining hydration is crucial for mental function. Dehydration can impair cognitive abilities, including concentration, alertness, and short-term memory. Even mild dehydration has been shown to negatively impact mood and cognitive performance. Ensuring consistent water intake helps keep the brain sharp and functioning optimally.
2. Physical Activity 🏋️
   Are you feeling like a full workout? Go for it! Are you just feeling like a 10-minute walk? Also fine. Physical activity is known to have many effects on mental health, which is crucial for you being in sobriety as you may be dealing with anxiety, depression, or other emotional challenges. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. It also helps reduce the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. Regular physical activity can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, promoting a more positive and stable mood.
3. Stay Connected 📞
   What I learned in rehab is that the opposite of addiction is connection. I didn’t understand this until I realized how isolated I was actually living in my active addiction. Even when I was around people, I was very lonely. I was not sharing my feelings and thoughts with others. I still sometimes catch myself slipping into isolation. I am working from home so I have little social contact on a weekday. For me, it is therefore good to get out the door and visit a meeting, for example. But calling a good friend or family is also fine.
4. Get Enough Sleep 💤
   First of all, reserve your bedroom for what it’s supposed to be for sleep (and that other thing of course). I am not a fan of having a TV in the bedroom. It’s too tempting to put on another Netflix series at night before you go to sleep. Make your bedroom a sacred space meant for relaxing. This will help you wind down as soon as you hit your bed at night. Being well-rested means less irritation, a better mood and more energy to own your day.
5. Eat Regularly 🥦
   Eat sufficient and regularly during your day to keep your blood sugars in balance. This means the amount of sugar circulating in our blood at any given moment, is ready to provide energy. Ideally, we aim to maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, with only slight natural fluctuations. Bigger fluctuations in blood sugar can lead to mood swings, irritability, and cravings, which can be particularly challenging during recovery. The norm on ‘eating regularly’ is having 3 main meals and some snacks in between. However, see what works best for you, just make sure you are not hungry during the day so you can maintain your energy level.

Before you go to bed, remind yourself of the fact that you have endured another day of sobriety! It can sometimes start to feel normal, but remember that this in itself is a great accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Love, B.