Being in recovery is something to be proud of. No matter how well you are doing, experiencing stress is common. Learning ways to clear your mind when stress takes over will be key to keeping your mind free from negative thoughts. Learning how to manage stress is essential to a happy and healthy recovery.
Here are seven easy ways for you to clear your head when you’re feeling stressed.
Talk to your sponsor or a close friend
Keeping what is bothering you in your mind will just drive you crazy. Talking about it out loud is a great way to get out of your own head. When you’re feeling stressed about a situation or surrounding a thought, call or text your sponsor or a close friend. They’ll be able to talk out the situation with you and provide a different perspective. They may give advice or can just act as a sounding board.
Read a good book
The beauty of reading a book is that it allows you to escape without having to actually go anywhere. Choose a book that will put your mind at ease – whether it’s something you’ve been wanting to learn more about, how to address the problem you’re dealing with or a regular story that you can get lost in.
Start journaling
Writing out your thoughts and feelings gets them out of your head and lets you look at them from a different angle. Many times, when something is stuck in our head we can go round and round thinking about it. But when it’s in front of you on paper, it’s easier to come to a solution, one that might have been right in front of you all along.
Go to the gym
Working out is a huge de-stressor. It provides real health benefits by working up a sweat and getting your adrenaline pumping. Whether you’re the type of person that wants to lift weights, do cardio, or a combination of it all, you’re bound to feel better after a good gym session.
Put down your phone and go for a walk
Get yourself outside and get those legs moving. Leave the phone at home and enjoy the scenery of the outdoors around you. When you take a walk without any electronics, you’re able to step away from stressors and focus on the world around you. Being in nature has its own benefits, as does getting your body moving. When you come back inside, you’ll feel relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Meditate
Take some time out of your day to meditate. Meditation gives you the opportunity to slow down and focus on your breath. By doing this, you will be able to think clearly and see the bigger picture at hand, rather than getting wrapped up in the small stuff. Whether it is five minutes or 20 minutes, you’ll end your meditation with a sense of calm and relief.
Find a new hobby that makes you happy
Sometimes when there are a bunch of different thoughts swirling around, you just need to do something to distract yourself. Luckily, that’s what hobbies are great for. Try out different hobbies and find one or a few that are going to be the best fit for you. Some examples are sports, crafts, dancing, playing a musical instrument, etc. Once you find a hobby you like, it will be something you can incorporate into your life, especially when you need to de-stress.
Sober Living at Dignity Hall
At Dignity Hall Sober Living homes in South Jersey, it is our mission to provide you with the best tools to help you during your recovery. If you are looking for a safe space to live, contact us today at 855.347.2452.
