Recovery is linked to mental health (including addiction), physical health, and emotional health. Whatever the condition, having a variety of tools and techniques that will help you heal, makes all the difference. In this article, we discuss ways you can utilise getting organised in your addiction recovery from addiction.
There are many influences that impact how well recovery goes. Considering these and discussing with people you know, helps…
Firstly, think about your readiness to change. Are you mentally ready?
It takes a lot of work, effort, and time to alter your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Dedication and commitment to consistently changing how you act and respond is paramount. Even if you’re unsure whether you’re ready, talk to someone.
Feeling ready and knowing you need to change are different states of being and a coach or counsellor can be especially helpful around this.
How resilient are you? Are you able to overcome challenges? To move on? To bounce back after with the energy required to keep going?
Recovery often comes hand-in-hand with relapse and finding a space of self-compassion, acceptance, and self-forgiveness. The ability to be resilient and return to recovery after a knock-back, therefore, makes all the difference.
Another important issue is looking after your wellbeing. This includes all sorts, from reducing stress, to ensuring a calm environment.
It might include mindfulness, meditation, journaling, breathwork, cold water exposure, social time with compassionate people, eating nutritious foods, drinking water, having a healthy bedtime routine etc.
Participating in healthy activities makes the world of difference in recovery.
This could be exercise to support your physical health, solo (i.e. running) or as part of a group (i.e. fitness classes).
Alternatively, it might be art classes, going to live music events, travel – anything that lifts your spirit!
The Importance of Organisation
Even the most disorganised amongst us understand that a certain level of organisation is essential to getting anything worth achieving done!
A journey without a plan might be fun at times, might be an unexpected world of marvels, even, but even a spontaneous journey has intent, a goal, an original plan… to take that journey!
What good organisation brings to a journey elevates it. You’ll reach your desired destination, you see sights you’ve always wanted to see, try foods and experienced cultures and events that you’ve always wanted to.
This is because you’ve done the research, have the knowledge and have equipped yourself to get to the destination and experience those things.
When it comes to recovery, organisation is essential.
How to be Organised Using Goal Setting
Below, we outline some ways you can get more organised:
Goal setting is top of the list in being organised and supporting you in your recovery. You need to know where you’re aiming!
“Goals are usually things we want but have difficulty achieving even when we know they are achievable.”(2) There are two aspects of goals. The way you pursue a goal (linked to thought, focus, knowledge, ability, and skill) and the will or motivation to pursue the goal.(2)
What’s useful about having an ultimate goal (i.e. sobriety) is that by building a list of other smaller goals (i.e. starting a new hobby) that lead you in the direction of the main goal, you quickly make small, healthy changes.
In addiction recovery, especially, goal setting and keeping a track of yourself in relation to this helps you reach a healthier life.
A Note on Neurodiversity and Organisation
Three characteristics for people who have ADHD and AuDHD is difficulty in focusing, organising, and completing tasks. (Interestingly, ADHD is quite often comorbid with addiction.)
It’s possible to adapt and find ways of managing these parts of yourself if that’s what you want to do.
Whether you opt for an ADHD and AuDHD coach, or access support through your GP or local/online community groups, you can get tips to becoming more organised.
It takes a bit of work, but there are many neurodivergent people out there (ADHD included) who keep an organised and neat home!
Three Ways Organisation Can Be Used to Reduce Stress
Reducing stress, creating a supportive environment, and being organised are essential, let’s delve into these three more deeply:
Reducing stress is important during recovery. Stress has a negative impact on health leading to mental effects (i.e. insomnia, anxiety, panic, substance addiction) and to physical effects (i.e. more susceptible to colds and illnesses).
Reduced stress levels means you can think clearly and you’re not overwhelmed. This means you’re mentally prepared.
You can minimise stress by taking part in healthy activities, looking after your wellbeing, spending time with people who you’re emotionally regulated around, and organising yourself.
Simple things like getting on top of paperwork and finances, and cleaning and decluttering the house has a knock-on effect to stress levels and helps you feel better about other areas of your life and recovery.
Now below, we list three solid ways you can reduce stress in your life right now:
1. Creating a Supportive Environment
A supportive environment is key to facilitating a comfortable recovery and this includes both socially, at home, and in the work place.
Choose carefully, people you can trust and share with. Let them know you’re in recovery, whether that’s linked to addiction, mental health, or a physical condition, and outline what is and isn’t helpful when you’re in particular places.
For instance, if your condition means you suffer insomnia and early starts at work impact your productivity (due to fatigue), then speak with someone helpful at work (HR, or a line manager). See if there’s the option to work flexibly.
2. Social support
As humans, we’re inherently social creatures. Even introverts require social time! Recovery benefits from surrounding yourself with positive social influence.
Find people who build you up, who you thrive around, who help you feel like you’re a good person who is able.
Struggling to think of anyone? Access social groups online or in-person. Get yourself out there a bit and find your tribe!
Particularly with substance misuse, social support is a key factor in recovery. Where there is social support, there are more “positive health outcomes for individuals in recovery, such as greater quality of life and subjective well-being.” (1)
Years of addiction, however, can sometimes mean that social circles have become skewed by the unhealthy behaviours.
You might spend time with people who enable or who also use the substance. This is the time to develop new social circles. Peer-support groups linked to mental health, addiction, wellbeing, and hobbies are great places to start.
3. Home environment impacts your state of mind
At atidymind.co.uk, we know that your external home environment is a reflection of your internal world. Each affects the other. There’s also a comparison between how to organise the home and how to structure your recovery journey.
Being organised and structured is key to a tidy home, a tidy mind, and in recovery. Identifying tasks, developing a routine, and setting goals are vital to success.
When you’re unwell, however, the condition usually takes over. You might be functioning and holding down a job and looking after a family, but the addiction, mental or physical health issue can feel overwhelming. In this state, home chores take a backseat. Motivation evaporates.
Organising your home environment helps you along the way to recovery. Where to start? One small thing. To declutter your home, choose one room first, then focus on one space, and then one task.
That might be your bedroom, the “floordrobe”, picking up clothes from the floor and putting them away or in the washing machine.
A final thought…
Recovery isn’t easy. Getting on top of organisation can feel insurmountable after years of being unwell. Accessing support at this time is important. If you’re struggling with addiction, mental or physical conditions, then contact your local GP in the first instance, or contact a drug rehabilitation clinic in your local area.
If you’d like some help decluttering and organising your home, contact us today.
References
(1) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10259869/
(2) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5854216/