Recovery During The Holidays: Ways To Stay On Track

Ways To Stay On Track

1. Plan ahead – The first tip is to plan ahead. Being prepared can make all of the difference. You won’t feel as overwhelmed if you have prepared.
2. Evaluate every situation – Evaluate every situation to determine the risks and triggers that could result in a relapse so that you can be prepared or avoid situations that will make it incredibly difficult for you.
3. Lean on your support system – Tell your friends and family about how hard the upcoming holidays are going to be for you. It can be very hard to do everything on your own, and your loved ones will want to help you. So, if you are worried about a potential relapse, tell them that you are going to need your help. 
4. Make self-care a priority – Next, make sure that you put self-care high on your list of priorities. Looking after yourself and putting your own well-being first can make a massive difference. 
5. Eat well – Next, you need to make sure that you eat well during this period. Bad eating habits can make you more likely to relapse. A recovering addict should typically consume meals that are low in fat yet have high amounts of dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, and protein.
6. Avoid relapse triggers – Everyone has different triggers that can result in them consuming the substance that they have been abusing. We are sure you will have identified your own triggers and you know what could cause you to relapse. Staying away from these triggers is critical in ensuring you do not end up going down a bad path.
7. Create new traditions – Look for new traditions that do not involve alcohol or situations that may cause you to take your previous substance of choice again. There are lots of great ways to have fun that don’t involve alcohol!
8. Rehearse responses – Finally, rehearsing responses is a good trick to try. If someone tries to tempt you into doing something you do not want to do, have your responses ready to go.