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.

5 Ways to Stay Organized

Piles of unopened mail, overflowing closets and drawers, cluttered kitchen countertops – disorganization may seem harmless but it can drain on your time, energy and confidence if you’re not careful. Plus, constantly searching for your bills, keys, or even clothing can make you run late and reinforce habits of disorganization in other areas of your new sober life. 

To the rescue: Some simple steps to help you de-clutter and stay organized.

• Minimize morning chaos. Make lunches, pack briefcases or bags and pick out your clothes the night before. You may also consider placing any must-take items, like your keys, wallet, cell phone charger or umbrella near the front door. 
• Stop paper before it starts. Another bill? Don’t toss it aside and end up with a mountain of paperwork. Open your mail immediately and decide whether to toss it, act on it or file it. 
• Make a plan. Before you start de-cluttering, it’s important to take a few minutes to create a plan or to-do list. Just be sure it’s realistic; try setting small, achievable goals to boost your confidence. 
• Set a time limit. Cleaning an entire closet or desk area can be daunting; just thinking about it may make you stressed out. To feel less overwhelmed, organizational experts recommend setting a time limit and working in increments. For example, start with one small section of your desk area and give yourself 15 minutes. When time is up, just leave it for another day. 
• Keep it simple and easy. Organization doesn’t have to be complicated – and what works for someone else might not work for you. Experiment to find simple strategies and tools that help keep you organized and stress-free.

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.

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.

How to Spot Toxic Relationships

A toxic or abusive relationship is detrimental to your mental and physical health as well as your lasting sobriety. That’s why experts almost universally advise against dating and/or jumping into a new relationship in the first year of sobriety.  

Once you’re ready to date, however, it’s important to be discerning. Taking a good, honest look at your dating history is often the first step. This will help you determine any unhealthy past romantic trends so you can make better judgment calls when it comes to future dating prospects. Ultimately, the goal is for you to learn to recognize a healthy relationship and a person who can potentially become a positive part of your new sober life. 

Some red flags to watch out for while dating include: 

Your partner… 

• Is emotionally or physical abusive
• Doesn’t offer his/her emotional support 
• Makes you feel inferior or ignorant
• Frequently lies to you (both big and small fibs) 
• Makes you feel unhappy or sad
• Is always in control and you’ve become frightened to speak up
• Never compromises or gives in
• Wants you for sex and nothing else
• Pressures you to drink or do drugs or participate in unethical or illegal behavior
• Tends to disappear for periods of time without any explanation
• Never says thank you or shows appreciation for you and all that you do
• Always criticizes or belittles you
• Tries to make you feel jealous

Let Our Mentors Guide You

Even with the recovery skills you’ve gained, you may feel uneasy when it comes to relationships. One of the advantages of sober living at HAUS is having fellow residents and a wonderful support team to help you stay clean and respect yourself while you transition from treatment to “normal life.” To learn more about our mentoring services, call today: 888-551-4715.

3 Ways to Cut Back on Caffeine

Caffeine addiction is a hard habit to break; just cutting out 100 milligrams per day (five to eight ounces of coffee, two cans of soda, or two or three cups of tea) may even cause such withdrawal symptoms as headache, irritability, nausea, and depressed mood. 

In fact, caffeine withdrawal is recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the handbook of psychiatric disorders used by mental health professionals.

In addition, drinking too much can cause side effects that are bad for your health and your long-term sobriety. These include: 

• Jitters
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Disrupted heart rhythm 

Caffeine isn’t always bad for you. In moderation, it can have a host of physical and mental benefits, including: 

• Improved cognitive function
• Better mood
• Less fatigue
• Greater athletic performance

If you can’t seem to function without it and find yourself drinking, for instance, three (or more) cups of coffee to just get through your morning, it may be time to consider scaling back. Try these tips to get started: 

Find a replacement ritual. Do you wake up and automatically make yourself a cup of coffee or tea? Try finding a healthier habit. A morning mediation routine, for instance, can help alleviate some of the caffeine withdrawal symptoms and also put you in a positive mindset for the rest of the day. 

Wake up with water. Put down the coffee and pick up some H20. Whether you drink it hot or cold, water can do wonders for your body and mind, including: 

• You’ll feel more refreshed and alert.
• You’ll flush unwanted toxins from your body.
• You’ll wake up your metabolism.
• You’ll fuel your brain. (Fun fact: Your brain is 75 percent water).

Get up and get moving. A few jumping jacks can rev up your energy as much (if not more) than a cup of Joe. And, perhaps the best part, study shows that exercising in the morning will help keep you in a good mood all day long. You don’t need an hour-long sweat session, either. Stretch, do a few yoga poses, go for a walk, perform a plank or some push-ups – just get moving! 

Start Your Day in Southern California

At Haus Recovery, we help you approach each day with renewed energy and a fresh perspective. Let us show you the joys of sober living. To find out more, call today: 888-551-4715.

4 Benefits of Sharing Your Sobriety Story

In a recent article for The Fix, sober journalist, blogger, and graphic designer Beth Leipholtz writes: 

“Coming out of the sobriety closet was something I didn’t think I’d ever do in the beginning. I was ashamed of myself for even being in a situation where I had to get sober, and sharing that with the world was the last thing I wanted to do. But as time progressed, I realized how weighed down I felt by my secret.” 

Whether or not you tell people about your addiction and sobriety, of course, is a personal choice. Some may feel comfortable just telling a few close friends or family members while others may come out to everyone, like Leipholtz who posted it on Facebook. 

For Leipholtz, being honest about her sobriety was a positive experience. People were surprisingly compassionate, understanding and supportive. And sharing her experience actually helped her to remain steadfast in her recovery. Some of the benefits she talks about in the article include:

• Less pressure to drink. “When I went out with friends, no one asked if I wanted a drink or tried to get me to partake in the night’s festivities in that sense. People knew about the choice I had made and were respectful of my decision to remain sober.”

• Lifted burden from hiding the truth: “Carrying a secret is draining. It starts to weigh on you…but once you tell people about your sobriety, it feels as if you can breathe again.”

• Fewer feelings of loneliness: “Once I was open about my sobriety, I found that more people than I would have ever thought had gone through something similar.”

• Ability to give back to others. “Being able to use my own experiences for good and to give back to others has been one of the most rewarding aspects of sobriety. It is also what keeps me sober.”

Ongoing Sobriety Support at Haus Recovery
Leaving the guilt and isolation of addiction behind can open your world up to new experiences, fellowship, and empowerment. At Haus Recovery, we believe sobriety is the beginning of a fun, fulfilling, and lifelong adventure. To learn more about our sober living program, call 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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