AA is Effective and Safeguarding Your Recovery Despite COVID-19

HAUS Recovery clients attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous on a regular basis. 12 Step groups help men and women sustain their addiction recovery. Working with others keeps clients on track to achieving long-term recovery.

Perhaps you heard the news about a new systematic review that found Alcoholics Anonymous the most effective method for abstinence for people struggling with alcohol use disorder. The findings were published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review.

"These results demonstrate A.A.'s effectiveness in helping people not only initiate but sustain abstinence and remission over the long term," said the review's lead author, John F. Kelly, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The researchers found that A.A. and treatments that facilitate TSF involvement (Twelve‐Step Facilitation interventions) usually produced higher rates of continuous abstinence than the other established therapies for addiction.

Now that there is some evidence of the efficacy of 12 Step programs, people attending meetings will likely want to continue doing so. However, there is a new problem that the recovery community must address: The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have attended 12 Step meetings, then you know that there is a lot of person to person interaction. People who go to meetings shake hands, hug, and sit close to one another. Since public health agencies recommend avoiding such behaviors, including gathering in large groups, the Coronavirus is more than problematic for those in recovery.

Guidance for the 12 Step Community

It's vital that you take every precaution to avoid coming into contact with COVID-19. Disease transmission is escalating every day in the United States. Hopefully, you will take the time to follow the CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. Visit CDC.gov for more information.

As it stands today, meetings are still being held across the country. However, the General Service Office (G.S.O.) of Alcoholics Anonymous has published a statement regarding COVID-19. They write about what many groups country wide are doing to safeguard the health of their members. 

Naturally, thousands of people in recovery have reached out to the G.S.O. regarding COVID-19 concerns. The resource center for A.A. members and groups states that each group has the right to hold meetings as they please, but each member is responsible for their own health decisions, regardless of their homegroup's decisions. The G.S.O. writes:

"Some groups have discussed making changes to customs at their meetings. Some examples have included: avoiding shaking hands and handholding; making sure meeting hospitality tables are sanitary; or suspending food hospitality for the time being...Some groups have considered contingency plans in case the group is temporarily unable to meet in person. Plans have included: creating contact lists and keeping in touch by phone, email or social media; meeting by phone or online. Providing members information for the A.A. Online Intergroup (www.aa-intergroup.org) may serve as an additional helpful resource. If a group isn't holding its regular meetings, they may want to communicate this to local A.A. resources, such as the district, area and intergroup or central office."

At HAUS Recovery, we hope that you take steps to protect your sobriety even if you decide not to attend meetings for the time being. Make sure that you stay in constant contact with your support network and sponsor to safeguard your progress. Moreover, your health and safety are of the utmost importance. Please take every measure possible to prevent coming into contact with the virus.

Structured Sober Living in Southern California

HAUS Recovery will also be following the CDC guidelines on the COVID-19 virus to ensure our clients are protected. If you are in need of assistance for alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder, we invite you to contact HAUS to learn more about our programs and services. We want to welcome you to the HAUS, where you'll feel safe, grounded, and accepted.

Sponsors Walk You Through the 12 Steps

If you have been in recovery for even a brief moment, then you may have heard the saying: "Stay in the middle of the herd, so you don't get picked off." This means attending 12-step meetings regularly will help you protect against relapse.

In sober living or transitional living homes like HAUS Recovery, our clients are instructed to attend 12 Step meetings on a regular basis. Each client also attends house meetings and weekly beach meetings (one of the benefits of being situated on the California coast).

The goal is simple. One must firmly establish him or herself in a recovery community following residential or outpatient treatment. We have written about the benefits of 90 meetings in 90 days in the past; hopefully, you read the post, especially if you are in early recovery.

“Meeting-makers make it” as the saying goes. If you attend mutual-help groups for addiction recovery, then you are acutely aware that healing depends on more than just meetings. You know that working the steps is instrumental to your ability to stay the course, and you cannot work the 12 Steps alone.

A sponsor is a man or woman who has worked all 12 Steps and is able to walk others through them as well. Such people usually have more than a year of sobriety, although 365 days sober is not a mandate. Each case is different. Either way, it's vital to make a connection with another individual in the program and allow them to walk you through the process.

One day, you will pay what you learn from your sponsor forward and become part of a decades-old chain of recovery. You cannot keep what you have unless you give it away.

Choosing the Right Sponsor in Recovery

Sponsors come in all shapes and sizes, and from a myriad of backgrounds. No two sponsors guide newcomers in the same way. Once you are out of treatment and hopefully residing in a structured sober living home, it's time to seek out an individual who can help you with step work.

It's alright to be discerning about who you choose to serve as your guide. After attending several meetings, you will have heard several people share. At least one individual's words likely resonated with you. Approach said member of the group and ask them if they are taking on new sponsees after the meeting comes to a close.

If they agree to take you on, then you are on your way to unlocking the secret to achieving long-term recovery. It's also possible that the person you ask to sponsor you already has too many people under their guidance; a sponsor needs to be able to provide each sponsee with the attention required. Taking on too many sponsees is a disservice to each individual. If that is the case, then please do not dismay or become discouraged. There is always another in the program that you can relate with, so ask them for guidance.

While there aren't strict guidelines for choosing a sponsor, there are few suggestions worth heeding. Search for an individual of the same sex; members of the opposite sex can be a distraction for people in early recovery. A sponsor's age, in relation to you, is not as important, but you may find it easier to talk to someone older, or maybe you will find it more comfortable working the steps with a contemporary.

Always look for the similarities and not the differences when choosing a sponsor. Some newcomers benefit from picking a sponsor who is nothing like themselves. Again, you have to decide what works best for you. What's more, choose one who you think can hold you accountable.

Attending meetings and working with a sponsor is the best way to stay in the middle and keep recovery a priority. In time, your sponsor will become more than just a guide; he or she will likely turn into both friend and trusted ally. Please also keep in mind that you are helping your sponsor stay sober by working the steps with them—nobody can keep what they have unless they give it away.

Southern California Structured Sober Living

Those who choose HAUS Recovery will receive guidance on sponsorship and how to work the steps effectively. Sober living is a protective coating for men and women in early recovery. If you or a loved one is about to be discharged from treatment, then we invite you to reach out to HAUS to learn more about our program.

We can significantly help you maintain your abstinence while you reside in the company of active, inspired, and grateful people. Our caring, supportive team is committed to aiding you in reaching your full potential.

Coping with Cravings in Recovery

Cravings are part of early recovery; learning to cope with them in healthy ways is instrumental. If you are in your first year of sobriety, then you are fully aware of what it feels like to crave drugs and alcohol. The temptation to use is a common occurrence that is challenging to escape at times. However, there are many things you can do to lessen their frequency and manage them when they arise. 

Many of our readers have undergone detox and treatment, but are still on shaky ground. Some of you have gone into sober living for extra support to strengthen your program. Perhaps you are residing in a transitional living home now? If so, then you made a sound choice and one that could make all the difference.

Relapse is most common in the first year of recovery. The mind and body are still healing, and working a program is still relatively foreign to you. In treatment, you experienced cravings, but you were in a safe environment amongst supportive counselors and peers. Now that you are out of treatment, you have to put what you learned in practice.

Undoubtedly, you learned some tools for avoiding triggers and coping with cravings while in treatment. You know that they can pop up out of nowhere seemingly, but they tend to dissipate relatively quickly. Still, it's essential to take action to protect your program when unwanted urges come up.

Dealing with Cravings in Recovery

There are several healthy things you can do when you experience a desire to drink or drug. First, call someone in your support network or speak to peer in your sober living. Second, get yourself to a meeting as soon as possible; it will place you in a safe space and give you a forum to share how you are feeling.

Naturally, you may not always be able to get to a meeting for support, and if you do not live in a sober living home, then you may not have a close ally nearby. It's uncommon, but let's imagine that you can't reach anyone over the phone (remember there are 24-hour support lines for people in recovery). Fortunately, there are several methods of abating your cravings on your own such as meditation.

Meditation is a simple technique for clearing your mind and grounding yourself. There isn't one way to meditate, so find what works for you; there are many resources online that can help guide you in the practice. Anything you can do to ground yourself, such as breathing exercises, will counter a craving.

The critical thing to remember when dealing with cravings is that they are temporary. With that in mind, it's best to prioritize distracting yourself when facing the urge to use. Reading your Big Book or any piece of literature can help take your mind off of drugs and alcohol. Turn on the television or, better yet, take a walk. Nature has a cleansing effect on one's psyche.

As long as your choice of distraction is healthy, you are heading in the right direction. Lastly, one of the most effective ways to combat a craving is by playing the tape forward. Think about what will happen if you act on the urge to use, and you will quickly realize that it's hardly worth jeopardizing all your hard work.

Structured Sober Living in Southern California

HAUS Recovery is a co-ed sober living facility located in beautiful Santa Monica, California. Our team of dedicated counselors and addiction specialists can help you or a loved one maintain a program of recovery and acquire the skills needed to make positive changes last.

We are committed to making our clients feel safe, grounded, and accepted. Please contact us today to learn more about our structured sober living.

Benzodiazepines are Prescribed at Alarming Rates

Each day in America, some 130 people lose their lives to an overdose. As most of our readers know, the United States has long been amid an opioid scourge. While opioids are the driving force of fatal overdoses, other drugs are playing a significant role too.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that there were about 13,000 deaths involving methamphetamine nationwide in 2018. What's more, meth-related overdoses surpassed prescription painkillers since late last year.

While stimulant use is a growing concern in the U.S., and Congressional lawmakers are taking steps to tackle the problem, there is another drug that is stealing the lives of Americans. Prescription sedatives such as benzodiazepines or "benzos" are often involved in overdose deaths. 

Benzodiazepines are a class of central nervous system depressants. Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (Lorazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam) are all part of this family of highly addictive drugs. The medications listed above are the most commonly prescribed, but there are many others as well.

Benzos are dangerous when used alone, and regular use and abuse leads to addiction. When too many of these types of drugs are taken, an overdose can result. However, when opioids and benzodiazepines are used in conjunction, the risk of overdose increases significantly.

While there are some indications that doctors are now less willing to prescribe opioids than before, the same is not the case for drugs like Xanax and Klonopin. Alarming new data shows a dramatic rise in benzodiazepine prescriptions in recent years.

A Multifaceted Overdose Epidemic

The CDC has released data on benzodiazepine prescriptions that are cause for significant concern. Researchers found that between 2014 and 2016, doctors prescribed these hazardous drugs at about 65.9 million office-based doctor visits, CNN reports. That figure breaks down to 27 annual visits per 100 adults.

When benzodiazepines are taken as prescribed, they can alleviate people's anxiety and help people who struggle with sleeping. However, when this class of drug is misused or mixed with alcohol or opioids, then overdose risk increases exponentially.

The study found that one-third of doctor's visits where benzos were prescribed also involved an overlapping opioid prescription from 2014 to 2016, according to the article. Many patients are not aware that an admixture of both drugs can lead to an overdose.

As mentioned above, benzodiazepine abuse is hazardous on its own. They are incredibly addictive, and detoxification often requires medical supervision. Unlike opioid withdrawal, benzos detoxification can be fatal; heavy users can experience seizures that can be deadly.

"This is a really undercovered story," said Keith Humphreys, a psychologist and Esther Ting Memorial Professor at Stanford University. "I think of it as the hidden element of our overdose epidemic that does need attention."

Other study findings include that women sought benzodiazepine prescriptions more than men, and a primary care provider wrote almost half of all prescriptions, the article reports. The researchers also found that the number of doctor visits for benzos increased with age.

"The most alarming finding in this study are the numbers about the elderly, this is the population that face the most danger from the drugs," said Dr. Joanna Starrels, an associate professor in the department of medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Post-Treatment Support for Benzodiazepine Addiction

If you recently completed an addiction treatment program for a sedative or opioid use disorder, then you can significantly benefit from a structured sober living. At HAUS Recovery, we can help you strengthen your program and mitigate the risk of

Addiction Recovery: Progress, Not Perfection

At HAUS Recovery, we believe that progress is a pillar of addiction recovery. Those who succeed in achieving long-term sobriety are the men and women who are willing to do whatever it takes for continued self-growth. Working a program is a life-long process, which means a daily commitment to enhancing and strengthening your program.

The longer you are in recovery, the more you will see your life improve in a myriad of ways. From reuniting with family to finishing your education and landing a good job, anything is possible for men and women who stay on the path.

Naturally, working a daily, year-round program of recovery requires tremendous effort. One can never become complacent or rest on their laurels, regardless of the amount of clean and sober time you have.

Early recovery is when your program is at the most significant risk of coming apart. The brain is still healing, and it takes time to learn effective ways of coping with the stressors of life. It’s vital that you stick as close to the circle of recovery as best you can, and avoid people, places, and things that can compromise your hard work.

If you are on the verge of leaving rehab, then we strongly advise you to reach out for post-treatment support services in the form of sober living. Those who opt for continued structured support following treatment set themselves up for achieving continued progress.

Prioritizing Progress in Addiction Recovery

Progress in recovery can be measured in several ways, and you mustn’t stress over how quickly you reach milestones. In the first year of recovery, setting and meeting objectives is made more accessible by living in the company of people working toward similar goals.

Those who opt for sober living after treatment benefit enormously from having a strong support network close by as they make the transition from rehab to everyday life. It’s equivalent to walking into a dark lake slowly versus diving headfirst; you do not know what lies beneath the surface.

Being able to access emotional support and having role models to look to will help you make progress. The people you live with will also aid you in problem-solving should issues arise. Residing in sober living will help you practice honesty, which is essential to achieving long-term recovery. 

Years of and drug and alcohol misuse and abuse leave the mind and body malnourished. In treatment, you probably learned how to adopt more healthy eating habits and about the benefits of exercise. Once in sober living, your mentors will encourage you to stay on the path of a healthy life. Nourishing the body will help your mind heal from the ravages of addiction, which will help you make better decisions because you think more clearly.

In recovery, it’s about progress, not perfection. Attending meetings, volunteering your time, working with others, doing the steps with a sponsor, eating right, and exercising will all position you for making progress in recovery. All of the above will help you keep your mind off the past and stay focused on the present so that you can have a bright and productive future in recovery.

Santa Monica Structured Sober Living

Those who seek the assistance of HAUS Recovery will have access to all the helpful things mentioned above. You will receive emotional support and guidance from your peers and staff; our chef prepares fresh and delicious organic meals, a complimentary gym membership, and more are available to residents.

At HAUS, you will grow in strength as you form healthy relationships with men and women who share similar paths and collective goals for the future. Having a fellowship will also help you gauge your progress; it’s not always easy to tell when you are improving, your peers can share valuable insights and instruct you in many ways.

Please contact us today to learn how HAUS can help you continue making progress in recovery. 888-551-4715

Relapse Prevention: 90 Meetings in 90 Days

At HAUS Recovery, we hope that you had a safe and sober Christmas and are making preparations for keeping your recovery intact into the New Year. Relapse prevention is a staple of early recovery and beyond, and significant holidays often derail people’s programs. Those who manage to maintain their sobriety during the holiday season have to double their efforts to avoid risky situations.

Still, preventing relapse can be challenging regardless of what time of the year it is; the disease of addiction is continually trying to elbow its way back into your life. In order to safeguard your recovery, you must continue utilizing the relapse prevention tools you learned in treatment. Moreover, you must always put your recovery ahead of everything else; people who put their recovery first make it last.

Lasting recovery is the goal for anyone who has a history of alcohol or substance use disorder. Those who achieve long-term recovery following treatment quite often seek the assistance of a structured sober living home. Changing your way of life depends heavily on having safety nets in place to help prevent getting off track. What’s more, having a strong support group – such as those attending 12 Step meetings – is vital.

In treatment, you probably learned about the value of joining a fellowship like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. It’s likely that you were also encouraged to enter sober living immediately following your discharge. As we mentioned in a previous post, returning to your home after treatment can be hazardous to recovery. Hopefully, you followed your aftercare guidance. Perhaps you are living in a sober or transitional living home currently?

In any event, sober living or not, your goal of achieving long-term recovery depends on attending meetings daily. Repetition is essential to people in early recovery.

Meeting Makers Make It

If you are in sober living, then you are probably instructed to attend a meeting of recovery every day of the week. Finding a homegroup and a sponsor will help you adopt the principles needed for leading a life in recovery. You may have to attend several different groups before you find one that will be your homegroup. Be on the lookout for a sponsor once you’ve established a daily meeting of choice. It’s incredibly beneficial to share the same homegroup as your sponsor.

A sponsor will walk you through the Steps, and he or she will be your go-to person for support, but they will not be the only individual you turn to for help. When you attend the same meeting seven days a week, you begin to develop relationships with individual members of the group. Such people will not just be lifelines in times of crisis, and they will also become your friends.

Leading a life in recovery means letting go of past acquaintances, primarily the people who used drugs and alcohol with you. Attending meetings is an opportunity to foster healthy and supportive relationships with men and women who share your goal of lasting sobriety. Such people, like your sponsor, are also a source of accountability.

Bonds are formed when your recovery peers see you day after day. If for some reason you miss a meeting, such individuals will reach out to you and see if you need assistance. However, it will be difficult to form lasting bonds with members of your homegroup if you are regularly absent. Even though there will be days that you do not feel like attending a meeting, it’s beneficial to set the goal of attending 90 meetings in 90 days following treatment.

90 Meetings In 90 Days Prevents Relapse

When attending meetings becomes a routine, you may start looking at them differently than you did initially. Going to your homegroup will not seem like a quotidian chore; instead, you will see them as a chance to charge your spiritual battery. What’s more, daily meetings will help you get in the practice of speaking in front of others without fear or trepidation.

Sharing at meetings lets your support network know how you are doing; it’s a means of checking in. If you are struggling with some aspect of the program, then another member will likely reach out to offer guidance after the meeting. Their advice could help you prevent making a decision that could lead to a relapse.

Conversely, your daily attendance will help you get in the necessary practice of extending your hand to newcomers with less time than you. Recovery is maintained by paying it forward; you are responsible for passing on what you have learned to those who are new to the program.

Structured Sober Living in Early Recovery

If you or a loved one is on the verge of being discharged from an addiction treatment center, then please contact HAUS Recovery. We also invite people who are new to the program but did not attend rehab to contact us as well. Our team of dedicated professionals can help you strengthen your program. We are available at any time to provide you with more information about our program. (888) 551-4715

Sober Living Following Addiction Treatment

The road to lasting recovery often begins at an addiction treatment center. Those who opt for the treatment route will benefit in several ways, from safely detoxing to learning tools for maintaining long-term recovery. Moreover, such individuals also find it advantageous to spend time in a safe, supportive environment away from influences that could jeopardize their ability to heal.

The importance of the last feature of addiction treatment mentioned above cannot be discounted. Maintaining a program of addiction recovery is exceptionally challenging even under the best of circumstances (i.e., family support and financial resources).

Attempting to adopt a program of abstinence in one's usual environs is next to impossible for many individuals, which is why people seek treatment given the option. Being able to be free of people, places, and things that might compromise the goal of recovery is especially beneficial. A 30, 60, or 90-day program gives people the time needed to establish new routines away from the common pitfalls of early recovery.

Still, addiction treatment is a finite experience; one cannot stay away from the outside world interminably. Each person needs to return to the world at large eventually. Hopefully, one will have a set of recovery tools and coping mechanisms in place to prevent relapse upon discharge. However, the prospect of returning home following treatment is often problematic, even with the above skills at one's disposal.

With that in mind, treatment centers almost always recommend sober living to clients who are about to be discharged. There is a myriad of advantages to opting for a structured, sober living home following a stay in residential treatment.

Maintain Your Recovery Following Treatment

If you or a loved one is about to exit an inpatient treatment program, then we strongly advise that you consider sober living. Returning home right after rehab places individuals back into harm's way when one's recovery is still fragile. The stresses of everyday life can prove to be daunting in early recovery; anything you can do to safeguard your sobriety should be done.

While it is possible to succeed by immediately starting to attend 12-step meetings, getting a sponsor, and working the steps, many people find it challenging to steer clear of things that can derail their program. Old ways of thinking may come back, along with selfish and self-centered behaviors. 

Choosing sober living will shield people from that which might compromise their program. Transitional living homes also provide men and women with an extra level of accountability in the nascent stage of recovery. If you choose this route, then you will find yourself living amongst other men and women who share your goals. You will form bonds and lasting friendships with others in the recovery community.

Long-term sobriety is achieved together with others, not alone. Your peers will prove to be vital lifelines that you can turn to when extra support is required. As you tackle new experiences with a clear and sober mind, you will find that sober living helps you continue working toward the goals you set for yourself while in treatment.

To that end, HAUS Recovery's certified counselors coordinate with the addiction professionals you worked with while in treatment. With our support and structured schedule, your self-esteem will strengthen, and you will be able to be more independent in recovery at a safe and gradual pace.

Structured Sober Living in Santa Monica

Please reach out to HAUS Recovery to learn more about our programs and the benefits of choosing sober living. Members of our team are available at any time to field the questions or concerns that you may have. We look forward to helping you embark on a journey to wellness and wholeness and showing you that a life of recovery can be both healing and fun.

Mindsets That Interfere With Happiness

As we begin the New Year, there’s been a lot of talk about resolutions or attainable goals that can help make you a healthier, happier you. Yet to meet your goals and achieve true happiness, many experts say you must first focus on your mindset.

If you’ve already been through rehab, you likely already understand the power of positive thinking – and how framing your mindset in the right way can help your recovery.

Along these same lines, the wrong mindset can hinder your recovery and your happiness. In fact, according to experts at Psychology Today, some common beliefs can make you feel bad, even when good things are happening to you. Here are a few:

If you wait for something bad to follow: This type of mindset can be anxiety-provoking and prevent you from fully enjoying the moment. It is possible for good things to happen without something bad happening, too.

If you often think, “I don’t deserve this:" Feeling unworthy of your achievements can make it near impossible to enjoy your successes. Recovery is hard work and you deserve to be happy and celebrate each small victory.

If you're worried that your happiness won’t last: Of course, the more you have, the more you have to lose. But this type of thinking can make it hard to stay in the moment and enjoy the present.

If you expect too much: When you place unrealistic expectations about how good you'll feel when something good happens, you can easily become unhappy. Recovery is hard work and meeting small goals won’t necessarily make you happy or sober – but it will eventually add up to something big!

Finding Happiness at Haus Recovery
At Haus Recovery, we believe sobriety is the beginning of a fun, fulfilling and lifelong adventure. To learn more about the joys of sober living in Santa Monica, call today: 888-551-4715.

Winter Sober Fun in Santa Monica

There’s so much to experience in Santa Monica during the holiday season – and being sober is just part of the fun. Here are just a few fun activities to add to your winter to-do list. 

• Go to the beach. While you won’t want to venture into the freezing water, you certainly can dive into a good book. Throw on a sweatshirt, pack a blanket and pick a spot to relax on the beach with an inspirational read.  
• Lace up your ice skates. Every holiday season, Santa Monica transforms the corner of 5^th Street and Arizona Avenue into a 8,000 square foot ice rink – perfect for getting a taste of winter without the frostbite. In fact, there are a handful of outdoor rinks in the LA-area that stay frozen through January and February. 
• Take a hike. It’s the perfect season to climb into the hills – with no crowds and clear crystal skies. Just remember to dress in layers and be sure to take into account the fleeting daylight before setting out on your hike. 
• Get your soup on. There’s nothing better than a bowl of ramen – or udon or miso or pho – to warm your bones on those 50 degree days. Call up a friend and head to Little Tokyo or Sawtelle. 
• Visit Santa. You’re never too old for a photo with Saint Nick. Head to Center Plaza at Santa Monica Place and feel like a kid again as you visit his winter home. 
• Schedule a spa day. The holidays are filled with stress and a little relaxation and rejuvenation is likely in order. Check your local area for any holiday spa specials and give yourself the gift of self-care this season.

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

Happy-Hour Alternatives for Connecting With Coworkers

For those in recovery, happy hour with work friends is more like horror hour – and a major threat to your hard-won sobriety. While you want to stay social, you also need to do what’s best for your recovery – so what’s your option? 

Why not get a little creative: You connect with your coworkers and shake off stress by participating in one (or more) of the following sober activities: 

• Join an adult sports league. From soccer to softball to bowling, a social sports league is the perfect way to bond with colleagues, work on team-building skills and squeeze in a workout. 
• Start a meditation group. Talk to your employer about using the conference room after-hours or search for a local yoga or meditation studio. Many studios offer “happy hour” classes as an alternative to heading to the bar. 
• Get artistic. Gather a group of coworkers and head to your local art gallery or museum. Many venues are open late at least one evening during the week. Or, meet up and make your own art. A bit of creativity is the perfect antidote to a stressful day at work. 
• Host a book club. We’ve talked before about the many health benefits of reading – stress management, improved sleep, enhanced concentration, for example – and forming a book club is a great way to help you read more. Just think: If you meet with coworkers once a month, that’s 12 books you can check off your list each year.

Employment Help at HAUS
Finding and keeping a job, and making a contribution to society, is a pillar of recovery. After all, accountability and being self-supporting are vital steps to the reintegration process. Our staff will assist you with resume building and more. To learn about our sober living services, call today: 888-551-4715.

Are You Living With Intention?

Chances are you woke up this morning with a mental to-do list – pick up the dry cleaning, go grocery shopping, schedule a work meeting, pay the utility bill – but have you thought about what’s important to you or how you want to feel, think and live? 

One of the many benefits of pursuing a life free of addiction is that you have more time, energy and emotional resources to start living your life with intention. 

What Does Living With Intention Mean?

Living with intention means different things to different people. In general, however, it can mean being an active participant in your life and seizing each day to the fullest. 

By living with intention, you’ll:

• Break free of the thoughts from our past.
• Be open to change.
• Be mindful and kind and present. 
• Learn what’s important to you. 
• Be connected to your intuition. 
• Live by your own values and needs.
• Be authentic.

Here are a few ways to start using those life skills learned in rehab to live a new sober life with intention: 

• Uncover your values. Take time to really think about what’s important to you and what values you want to instill in your daily life. Living your life with self-acceptance, health and gratitude, for instance, will make it a lot easier to make smart, sober daily decisions.
• Consider how you’d like to improve your health. Would you like to eat more vegetables or build more muscle? Or, maybe you need to work on how you handle stress? Especially for those in recovery, taking care of your physical and emotional self is an essential part of living life with intention.
• Visualize your life in 5, 10 and 20 years. Take a few minutes to think about how you want to live or what type of person you’d like to become. Write it down so you can add to it or adjust it as your goals develop and change. 
• Take a small step forward. What can you do today to prepare yourself for the person you want to be a year from now? What’s one action that will move you closer to your career of family goals? Consider working with an addiction recovery specialist to map out these steps. 

A Healthier Lifestyle With Deeper Purpose

At Haus Recovery, we help our clients stay focused and confident as they master their full recovery potential. To learn more about our services and activities, call us today: 888-551-4715.

Sober Fun in Santa Monica This Summer

“Summertime and the sober living is easy!” Well, you can certainly be sober and have tons of fun while living in the Santa Monica area. After all, you’re right in the heart of things — with beachside activities, mountain sports, an active arts community, entertainment, and thriving small businesses all around you. W

Here, we take a look at a few activities – beyond going to the beach – to add to your summer fun list: 

• Take a surfside stroll: With the beach on one side and mountains on another, Santa Monica is the perfect setting to distress and soak up the sun. Stick around and have an early dinner prepared straight from one of the local farmers’ market. 
• Head to Santa Monica Pier: A favorite of locals and tourists alike, this landmark destination is home to endless retail, food and entertainment options. You can also rent a bike and take a riding tour. 
• Listen to free music: Free music shows are everywhere during the summer months – from the Getty to the Santa Monica Pier. If you love jazz, you might want to check out Jazz at LACMA, which has featured some of L.A.’s finest jazz musicians over the last 20 years.
• Get a free outdoor workout: Circuit training parks are located across L.A. —from beaches to mountain tops – so you can easily get fit this summer without spending a dime. 
• Watch an outdoor movie: From now until September, you can unwind under the stars as you watch many of the al fresco movies offered during the summer months. Whether you’re looking for a classic film or new blockbuster, there’s a movie and location that’s right for everyone.
• Hit the park: There are tons of parks and beautiful waterfalls that can fit your lifestyle – whether you’re a hiking devotee, dog owner, art lover, or just looking to relax and enjoy nature. A few to check out: Palisades Park, Tongva Park, Grand Park, Echo Park Lake, Lake Balboa, and Rustic Canyon Park. 

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.

5 Key Components of Lasting Sobriety

To maintain lasting recovery and to find meaning and joy in life requires more than just steering clear of your drug of choice. Healing from addiction is a long-term process – and something that you have to work hard at daily to be successful. These five key components of sober living, which we support and encourage at Haus Recovery, can help you stay focused, care for yourself and reach full recovery potential.

1. Self-honor: Repeat after us: “You are a good person intended to do beautiful things.” Believing in and caring for yourself is a big part of relapse prevention. To this end, it's important to eat nutritious meals, exercise regularly and get enough sleep so your mind and body are rested and refreshed each day. Taking good care of yourself in recovery also means making time for relaxation, having fun, connecting with family and friends, creating goals and discovering your passions.
2. Community: No one expects you to stay sober without support. Now more than ever it’s important to build the types of relationships and friendships that will offer hope, support and encouragement as you work toward lasting sobriety. 
3. Employment: Finding and keeping a job, and making a contribution to society, is a pillar of recovery. After all, accountability and being self-supporting are vital steps to the reintegration process. Plus, working can help you build self-confidence, self-esteem, self-efficiency and a sense of wholeness.
4. Gratitude: Learning to have gratitude, or to focus on what’s good in your life, is a crucial recovery and life skill. Gratitude can help increase your self-esteem, boost your outlook and serve as a constant reminder of why you are working so hard for a sober life. 
5. Mindfulness: We all need a reminder to slow down, focus on the present and quiet the mind chatter – and mindfulness can help you do just that. This is a great tool to use in your every day. Try it the next time you are taking a shower. Tune out the world around you and direct your attention to the experience at hand, without judgment or words. Think about what you smell, taste, feel, hear and see. 

Sober Living at Its Best

At Haus Recovery, we offer the support needed to maintain abstinence, embrace the fun in a life of recovery and acquire the skills needed to make these changes last. To learn more, call today: 888-551-4715.

4 Steps for Sober Living

Congrats! If you’re reading this, you’ve likely reached the point where you’re ready to embrace a new life of sobriety. Though it might sounds silly, an important step in supporting your new healthy lifestyle is making a schedule and organizing your environment. This way, you’ll have more time and energy to devote to your overall health and long-term recovery goals. Get started with these steps:

1. Make organization a priority. Look around your home and begin to slowly clear the clutter. This is your sanctuary, where you rest, rejuvenate and enjoy solitude. You can’t do that if the place is a mess.
2. Do the “trash-bag tango.” Take 10 minutes each day to walk around your home and fill one bag with trash and one bag with items to donate. Try it every day for a month, and you’ll likely be pleased with the results.
3. Make a schedule and to-do list. A weekly schedule can help you to restore or establish a normal routine, which is incredibly helpful in the early stages of recovery. On your to-do list could be items like doing the laundry on Monday after work or changing the bedding each Sunday morning, or even getting the car washed. Make sure to prioritize the list so it’s easier to tackle.
4. Use that positive momentum. It may seem simple but tasks like making your bed every morning can help you harness the power of momentum. Each time you cross things off your daily to-do list, you’ll boost your self-confidence and take one step closer to your long-term sobriety goals.

Our Amenities Support Your Recovery

At HAUS Recovery, you’ll acquire the skills needed to live independently, re-enter your family relationships, thrive in the workplace, and find your purpose without relying on drugs, alcohol, and other addictions. To learn more about our sober living amenities, call today: 888-551-4715.

Why Reading Is Good for You

A big part of sober living is enriching your life with activities that keep your mind strong. And immersing yourself in a good book can do just that! 

In fact, a love of reading can provide a host of benefits, from improved memory and empathy to a lower risk of developing depression and Alzheimer’s disease. For best results, however, choose a traditional book over an e-reader or tablet. 

Some more reasons to become an avid reader: 

• Better stress management. Some research says that reading can reduce stress by as much as 68 percent. And you likely know by now that it never hurts to have yet another tool to help you tamp down those tensions. 
• Improved sleep. Reading can be a relaxing nighttime ritual – and a great way to signal to your body that it’s time to shut down and catch some ZZZ’s. Again, avoid e-readers or tablets as the bright screens can interfere with your sleep. 
• More motivation. Whether fictional or nonfictional, a story about an inspirational character that met a challenging goal or overcame adversity, for example, can push you to do the same in your own life. 
• Longer workouts. A good tome can transform a tedious workout into an exciting experience. Note: Watch your posture to prevent any injuries to your neck or shoulders, warn experts.
• Enhanced concentration. Focusing for prolonged periods on reading a book is a great exercise to enhance your powers of concentration – and this discipline can have far-reaching effects in school or at work. 

More Recovery Tools at HAUS Recovery
At Haus Recovery, we help our clients stay focused, maintain a positive attitude and care for themselves in order to attain their full recovery potential. To learn more about our services and sober living activities, call us today: 888-551-4715.

Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Care

It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow — the perfect time to show yourself a little love and focus on a few self-care strategies.

If you’re done with rehab, you already know the crucial role self-care plays in your recovery. And, by now, you also likely know that self-care is about much more than healthy hygiene and eating habits. It's about nurturing your whole self — body, mind and spirit. 

Carve out some “me-time” and put these self-care tips into action today: 

• Warm up some soothing tea and enjoy some quiet time.
• Snuggle up with an inspirational book that makes you want to be a better you.
• Put on your favorite music and sink into a bubble bath.
• Tap into your creative side – color, draw, paint, write poetry, etc. 
• Go for a long hike or stroll and soak up the sun.
• Light a scented candle and meditate with your favorite mantra.
• Set the alarm early so you can see the sunrise.
• Take time out to paint your nails or give yourself a pedicure.
• Come up with a new recipe incorporating your favorite healthy foods, herbs and spices.
• Get a fancy glass and treat yourself to water infused with cucumbers, lemons or raspberries.
• Pop some popcorn and watch a funny movie with a loved one.
• Take a nap.
• Break out your journal and jot down five things you’re grateful for – or five things you love about the new sober you!
• Try something new – whether a new fitness class or new recipe.
• Volunteer or cook a meal for a friend – giving back will make you feel great about you.

A Healthier Lifestyle With Deeper Purpose

At Haus Recovery, we help our clients stay focused, maintain a positive attitude and care for themselves in order to attain their full recovery potential. To learn more about our services and activities, call us today: 888-551-4715.

Making Yoga Part of Your Sober Living Plan

Improved posture. Stronger bones. Better immune function. Greater focus. Seems like every day there’s a new study about the numerous health benefits of yoga. Below we’ve highlighted a few ways this ancient practice can strengthen your mind, body, and spirit and help you better sustain recovery. 

Your body: Yoga is a great workout and can help you burn calories, ward off stress and even become a more conscious eater. This ancient practice has also been shown to promote better sleep — which means you’ll have more energy and be less stressed.

Your emotions: Internal resiliency and mindfulness are two skills cultivated by yoga — and they can both be useful in helping you stay steadfast in your recovery. Yoga can change the area of the brain responsible for self-awareness, compassion, and memory — and it can make you happier, too. One study found that a consistent yoga practice improved depression and led to a significant increase in “feel good” serotonin levels.

Your spirit: Even if you’re not religious, yoga can help you connect to a higher power and find inner strength and peace. And these skills can become invaluable in helping you stay on the sober path.

Your social skills: Especially if you practice yoga in a group or class setting, it can help you meet new people and develop new friendships with those who share similar values. Research shows that group yoga can keep stress at bay, too, by slowing down the mental loops of frustration, regret, anger, and fear.

Recovery Activities at HAUS Recovery

Yoga is ideal for all ages, all exercise levels and all stages of recovery. At HAUS, we organize group activities and outings every week, including yoga. To learn more about the joys of sober living in Santa Monica, call 888-551-4715.

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