How To Stay Sober And Still Have Fun After Rehab

Addiction recovery in South Florida does not end once you are out of rehab. Nevertheless, if you have completed your program, we applaud your hard work and dedication in getting this far. Not everyone reaches this step, but you have. Now that your program is over, it’s time to apply what you have learned at The Sands Treatment Center (or another rehab facility) in the real world.

Your sobriety is important, but it is also important to have fun and enjoy life. This may be difficult in the beginning, so to help you get started, we have listed these four tips for a fun, sober life.

Join A Support Group

A support group is designed to help you throughout your recovery, but it can be especially beneficial during the early days. After rehab, you may not know how to have fun because you can’t do the activities you once enjoyed, like partying, bar hopping, and going to clubs. This can be an especially vulnerable moment and a support group can help you make a smooth transition back to life.

Not only is a support group a way to connect with other people who have the same struggles as you, but many groups host activities, such as weekend hiking, bowling, cooking classes, and other fun, sober activities. We recommend having an open mind because there will be a lot of useful information to learn from seasoned attendees. This way, it will be less likely to forget the numerous coping skills you learned in rehab, as variants of these skills will be reinforced on a weekly basis.

Make New Friends

You cannot return to your old way of life, or the friends you used to drink or do drugs with. Completely remove the people who will negatively influence your life and consider getting a new phone number so those old friends cannot contact you. This does not mean you shouldn’t have any friends. Isolating yourself can lead to boredom and boredom is one of the first ingredients to abusing substances.

Now is the time to meet new people and establish friendships with sober individuals. A group of sober, like-minded people won’t coerce you into making bad choices. Instead, you will look forward to finding new activities and hobbies to pursue, such as exercising, yoga, paddle boarding, painting, and more. There are unlimited possibilities. Additionally, this new group will become the support system that will encourage you throughout your life of sobriety.

Keep Busy

People who have just left a drug treatment center in South Florida must learn how to fill up their free time with activities. Boredom is an enemy you want to avoid. Even if you have a full-time job, it is important to know what you will do the rest of the time. Otherwise, you may return to your old thoughts, which will soon morph into old behaviors. Some activities to consider are:

• School – a great way to pursue your hobbies and passions and turn them into a career.
• Volunteer – very little is more rewarding than spending your free time helping others.
• Hobbies – if you plan on continuing your sober life in South Florida, the sunshine state has plenty to offer by way of hobbies.
• Part-time job

While it’s important to stay active, just be careful not to run yourself ragged. If your extracurricular activities start to get stressful, cut them loose. Their purpose is to help you remain sober, not trigger old behaviors.

Focus On Your Health

Even if you are no longer at The Sands Treatment Center, that does not mean you should completely stop going to therapy. You are encouraged to go to therapy and join our 12-step program after rehab. By continuing therapy, you will continue to grow and learn more skills to manage unique and difficult situations. With each session, you will learn how to take back control until your life is completely yours again.

In addition to therapy, there are other ways to be proactive about your mental health. Boredom may drive you back to old habits, but so can feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by your situation, take a moment for yourself. Look into therapeutic activities, like meditation and exercise. Exercise, good sleep, and a healthy diet make up the three pillars of mental health. You should also schedule monthly check-ups with your general practitioner to stay on track.

Again, you are not alone even if you have left our program. For addiction recovery in South Florida, contact The Sands Treatment Center. Call (844)200-2509 today.