I don't give you permission to JUST not use drugs or alcohol

I have a belief that people in early recovery should get busy working on all areas of their lives that need attention. Yes, 100%, make sure you don't overwhelm yourself with to much, but also DO start being active in working on those key areas that need attention and it will help you sustain recovery for the long term. 

When I give lectures in treatment centers I talk about this from the perspective of living a holistic life in recovery.  I believe people in early recovery should take a look at those key areas of their lives that need attention and start work on them right out of the gate.  Common areas are physical/mental health, finances, and job/career. There are others and these vary depending on individual circumstances for each person. When we get busy in recovery right out of the gate, what at first may seem daunting, by not ignoring key areas we are truly setting ourselves up for success in sustained recovery for the long-term. 

I see some who get into recovery and they pour themselves into one area to support their recovery. This can be beneficial at first, but, if they don't also work on other key areas of their lives, they can become stuck in recovery.  This can be detrimental to having a whole life in recovery.  You might ask....what does this look like?  Someone getting "stuck" in recovery.  I see people who pour their entire being into one support system...whether it be church or AA/NA. They find a benefit from this and this is ALL they do.  They forget about the other areas of their lives that also need attention and get stuck in that one area. I hear people who say they are stuck in their lives and I always ask the same questions.

What are you doing to pay attention to your life as whole? Your family life? Your career path? Your physical and mental health? I ask them to take a look at all the areas their lives that also need attention and to truly ask themselves if these areas are also getting the same attention as any other area. 

I advise people in early recovery who have significant financial issues to get a job, any job. A job gets you active, it brings in income, and gives you purpose to get going each day.  That first job in recovery may not be your dream job, but it is a start. By doing this it can motivate you to work toward a career you really want. It for sure can help you start becoming independent and paving your own way financially. 

I advise people to seek counseling from a professional to heal from past issues and to learn coping skills for any mental health issue they may have. I advise people to engage with professionals to discuss long term care for mental health issues that may have never truly been cared for in the past. Learning skills from professionals can have huge benefits for peoples long-term sustained recovery.

I advise people to pay attention to the amount of caffeine and sugar they put in their body on a daily basis. If when you wake up and until your first meal you only ingest caffeine and sugar it might be a good idea to make changes in that area. You don't have to make drastic changes to see positive changes here. I believe balance is the key in all areas of our lives and this is for sure one of them.

I advise people to get physically active in some way, shape or form.  Join a gym if you can or simply get your feet moving everyday by going for walks. This is another area that can result in huge benefits in mental health by doing simple physical activities that gets your body moving.  

All of the above, when one chooses to do them, tie together and have mutual benefits. If I am working and gaining independence that will have a positive effect on my mental health. If I am paying attention to sugar/caffeine intake this supports my recovery and it has positive effects on stress management. If I am seeing a professional for healing from my past it supports my long term recovery by allowing me to move on from that past. It all ties together in helping one sustain recovery for the duration of our lives.

I am not one who says "just do recovery"...meaning just focus on not using or drinking. I am one who says focus on all areas of your life so that recovery will be sustained for the long run. 

Recovery works, lives change.