14 Apr Spring Cleaning for Your Recovery Journey

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

 

Spring is the time when many of us yearn to declutter our homes, organize and start fresh. After the doldrums of winter, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, a little spring-cleaning seems good for the body and the soul.

For the recovering addict, this is a perfect time to renew your energy and spend a little time decluttering your life. Just like spring-cleaning your house, this process can help you prioritize, get rid of what you don’t need in your life — and focus on what matters.

Here are a few things you can do:

Purge any triggers: Don’t test your willpower. If you have things around your home that are associated with drugs or alcohol, toss them out. Then go through the home to get rid of anything that reminds you of your addiction, even if it’s something like an old CD or photos on the wall.

Change a bad habit: You probably have a list of bad habits you want to cut out. That will most certainly overwhelm you. Make your list but start with only one habit, then take small steps toward this one habit.

Reconnect with others: If you haven’t stayed in touch with people you met during treatment, make an effort to reach out. You need a support network that goes beyond your family. The monthly birthday meetings at Olalla are a great place to start.

Start a new hobby: Now that you’re giving your life a clean slate, you can start that hobby you’ve always wanted to try. Think of it as reinvesting your time, energy and money into something that will build you up instead of bringing you down. You may even find new friends who share this pastime.

Practice forgiveness and gratefulness: Letting go of the past also means making peace with the people you still want in your life, like close family. For as long as you hang on to resentments, you’ll be putting up barriers on this road to recovery. Forgive, forget and focus on everything you’re grateful for.

Ready for a little more sunshine in your life?