6 Tips for a Healthy, Sober Thanksgiving

Whether this is your first Thanksgiving post-rehab or you have several years under your belt, sticking to a few healthy habits will ensure that you have a fun and sober holiday. 

Start with these helpful tips: 

1. Count your blessings. Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to reflect on your recovery and new sober life. Take time this holiday to express gratitude to the friends and family who have helped with your journey. 
2. Think out-of-the box. If you’re not ready to spend time with family or attend a celebration that may include alcohol, then it's okay to create a new sober tradition with a few supportive friends or family members. Some ideas: Have a baking party, go on a nature hike, see a movie, or volunteer at a local soup kitchen.
3. Keep stress at bay. Make an effort on Thanksgiving to make time for self-care, whether you go for a jog, write in your journal or meditate in the morning before the festivities. And don’t forget to focus on sleep. Sticking to a regular bedtime routine is more important than ever during the busy holiday season ahead. 
4. Indulge wisely. Try not to completely undue the healthy eating habits you’ve learned to support your recovery. Load up on the veggies and enjoy moderate portions of your favorite sides, entrees and desserts.  
5. Bring your own beverage. Why not bring the host a bottle of flavored water or sparkling cider that you and the guests can all enjoy. 
6. Have an emergency plan. Ask a sponsor or trusted friend to be on-call in case you begin to feel overwhelmed. If you’re traveling, it’s also wise to looking up 12-step meetings in the area. 

Preventing Relapse All Season 

A relapse only requires a moment of weakness; when the stresses of life overwhelm you, it’s easy to turn to your drug of choice in order to escape. Keeping relapse at bay is about cementing new habits and remaining accountable to the recovery support system – and we’re here to help. To learn more about our recovery residences, call today: 888-551-4725.

6 Benefits of Music for Your Recovery

Music therapy is offered at many rehabs – and listening, singing along or playing songs may even have helped you cope with early sobriety. 

Don’t turn off those tunes just yet, however. Even after rehab, the right notes can help you eat and sleep better, stress less, move more and have greater self-awareness – all important habits for overall health and lasting sobriety. 

And these are just a few of the many incredible health benefits of music; here’s a closer look at these and a few others.

• Less fatigue. Whether rock, hip hop or jazz, upbeat music has been study-proven to boost your energy. On the flip side, calming music has been found to help a person fall asleep. 
• Better mood. Music has been shown to lower cortisol levels and reduce stress and it can even minimize the effects of depression.
• Healthier eating habits. Diners ate about 18 percent less and reported enjoying their food more when participants dined with jazz music playing, according to a Cornell study.
• Anger management. The next time you feel your blood boiling after a driver cuts you off, switch on some mellow music. This will help you stay calmer and make fewer mistakes according to research published in the journal Ergonomics.
• Increased self-awareness. One study found that listening to music helped study participants to think about themselves, who they wanted to be and give them an escape from the present. 
• More motivation to move. Music with high-groove qualities induces movement in the listener. In other words, the right playlist can help you move no matter how much you’re dreading that workout. 

More Sober Living Activities
At Haus Recovery, we whole-heartedly believe that sustained recovery should incorporate daily fun. To this end, we offer bikes, surfboards and paddleboards for residents and organize group activities and outings every week. To learn more, call today: 888-551-4715.