The term “self-care” gets thrown around a lot, but it’s not just bubble baths and saunas. Self-care is an important part of recovery—but in order to enact it, you need to know what it is.
Put simply, self-care is what you do for yourself to promote well-being. This includes caring for your physical, mental, and emotional health. It can include exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep, and it can also include things like setting boundaries and making time to engage in hobbies.
Self-care can be pleasant in the moment, like eating delicious food, but it can also include momentarily unpleasant things that ultimately benefit you. For example, setting a budget or paying bills might not be fun in the moment, but they are ways of taking care of yourself financially to reduce future anxiety.
Self-care is important for recovery because it leaves you feeling good, rested, and energized. People who are not feeling great are more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs. Self-care also improves your self-worth. It can even help you build structure; some of the things you do to take care of yourself may require setting aside time.
Recovery provides an opportunity for self-care. Often people lose track of their ability to take care of themselves in addiction, because so much of their time and energy is consumed by substances. Often the drugs or alcohol replace a sense of connection, including to yourself. When you are in recovery, you can prioritize your wants and needs, which will improve your quality of life and keep you sober.
If you are struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder, there is help and hope. TruHealing Centers offers high-quality treatment for addiction and mental health disorders in facilities across the country. Our staff—many of whom are in recovery themselves—will help you learn to prioritize yourself and thrive in recovery. Call an admissions specialist at 410-593-0005.