Simple Steps to Spring Clean Your Mind

Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to be about scrubbing and reorganizing our physical environment – it can also be about clearing the clutter in our mental and emotional worlds. Spring is the perfect time to rejuvenate and reenergize in order to take on any seasonal sobriety goals.

Here are some tips to get started: 

• Unplug for 24 hours. Too much technology can muddle your mind and make you feel anxious, stressed and depressed – and it can also mess with your sleep. Taking a 24-hour detox from technology may be just what you need to un-clutter your mind and unwind this spring.
• Do something creative. You don’t have to be Picasso or Mozart to reap the benefits of creativity. And it doesn’t matter which medium you choose – drawing, painting, coloring, playing music, even cooking – but that you have fun and express yourself.
• Make sure to meditate. This ancient practice has been study-proven to reduce stress and fatigue and help keep you centered, motivated and energized – all traits that can help with your recovery.
• Put on your favorite music. Studies show that music can be a great way to stay energized or wind down – depending on the genre, of course – and results are pretty immediate. Create a spring playlist and start reaping the therapeutic benefits of music.
• Schedule an emotional check-in with yourself. Set the alarm on your smartphone or watch to remind yourself to stop and ask yourself this question: “How am I  feeling – emotionally and physically? Just becoming more aware of your emotions can sometime be enough to keep your mind healthy.

A Healthy 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.

How to Invest in Your Friendships

Friendship is a powerful tool for preventing relapse. In fact, studies show that people with close, personal relationships are less prone to anxiety and depression and have a greater overall life satisfaction. 

Unfortunately, for many of us, it’s pretty easy to take friendships for granted – and that’s not the best way to preserve or enrich them. Cultivating lasting, loving friendships takes time and effort – and it’s a two-way street. When one side is giving significantly more than the other, it’s never a good thing. 

Taking the time to improve your communication skills so you can continue to grow closer, on the other hand, will help ensure lasting, meaningful relationships. Start nurturing your connections today with these exercises.

Reflect and record. What three things do you value most about your friend? What three things could you do to be a better friend? Write down these answers and then have an open, honest dialogue. You may even ask your friend to perform the exercise, too, so the conversation isn’t one-sided. 

Be a good listener. Are you really concentrating when your friend talks or are you just waiting for your turn to speak? Next time you’re having a conversation, give your full attention and pause before responding right away. Think carefully about what your friend needs to hear from you right now.

Be fully present. Good communication is key to a lasting friendship, so make sure you ask questions about the other person’s life and interests and then really listen to the responses. Make eye contact and put down that phone! 

Forming Friendships at HAUS

A fundamental part of the HAUS program is showing you how to enjoy people and have fun. Several 12-step groups meet nearby, and clients are invited to visit and enjoy the support and fellowship of others living in sobriety. To learn more about our sober living services and activities, call today: 888-551-4715.

Will Journaling Work for You?

A few simple tools – namely a pen and a piece of paper – can help keep your mind strong and stress-free as you embrace your new life of sobriety. Journaling is a great outlet for processing emotions and increasing self-awareness and it has a host of other benefits, too. These include:

• Increased mindfulness
• Enhanced emotional intelligence, or the ability to perceive and manage your emotions
• Boosted memory and concentration
• Strengthened self-discipline
• Lower anxiety
• Better sleep
• More self confidence

While you don’t need to be a wordsmith to reap the many benefits, you do need to be patient and possibly test out a few different types of journaling. This way, you can find which one(s) works best for you and your goals -- whether you're looking to establish a schedule, identify relapse triggers, release emotions or gain a few healthy habits. And perhaps the best part: There's really no right or wrong way to keep a journal.

Here are a few journal types to consider: 

• Stream-of-consciousness journal: The goal is to jot down any and all words, images, and ideas that come to mind. Don’t edit yourself (spelling and grammar don’t count) or worry if you’re making sense. Try it. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write continuously until time is up. 
• Diary journal: This type of journal can help you record daily events, including what you did, whom you saw or spoke with, and how you felt. Once you’ve written for the full week, you can go back and identify any healthy or unhealthy patterns. 
• Gratitude journal: This is a great way to improve self-esteem and gain a more positive outlook on life. And all you have to do is jot down three things you’re grateful for each day. 
• Activity/food journal: By now you already know that proper nutrition and exercise are smart habits to help you stay sober, and tracking what you eat and how much you move can help you identify poor choices and keep you on a healthy path. Consider jotting down your sleep habits and stress triggers to see if they influence your food choices. 

Our Philosophy
At Haus Recovery, you’ll learn to recognize emotions in yourself and others; interact with the people and things around you; and develop a capacity for empathy, appreciation, and enthusiasm. To learn more, call: 888-551-4715.

How Dogs Help Your Health

Caring for a dog is a big commitment but it could have big perks as you’re working to pull your life and health back together. 

In fact, these furry friends (along with cats, horses and other creatures) have been long-known to comfort people through rehab and beyond. Many addiction centers and sober living communities are incorporating pets into the treatment environment in a variety of ways.

There’s nothing like a man's best friend to provide companionship and unconditional love. And pets can offer even more: Studies point to numerous mental, emotional, physical, and social benefits of owning a pet. Here are a few:

1. You’ll make more friends. When you’re out walking your dog, your bound to meet people, especially other dog owners. Face it: Without a pet, you’d likely have no reason to engage with one another. 
2. You’ll feel more confident. Studies have found that pet owners have more self-esteem and social reliance. What’s more, having a pet can help you rebound quicker from negativity.
3. You’ll be calmer and happier. Owning a pet has been linked with less tension and better mood, helping you to avoid some of the biggest predictors of relapse: stress and depression.
4. You’ll boost our overall health. Owning a pet has been linked to lower blood pressure, reduced heart rate and less pain. 
5. You’ll fit in fitness. Studies have found that dog owners who regularly walked their dogs were more physically active than those who didn’t own or walk a dog. And not only are dog walkers getting more exercise, they're getting better quality exercise (walking faster and longer), than those who exercise on their own, according to one study. 

Staying Active in Santa Monica

At Haus Recovery, we encourage our clients to get moving to feel better, ward off stress and feed the soul. From a sunset hike to horseback riding, we organize group activities and outings to help residence stay active. To learn more, call today: 888-551-4715.

Why You May Want to Become a Morning Person

What do former first lady Michelle Obama and Apple CEO Tim Cook have in common? They’re both reportedly morning people. Obama told Oprah that she works out at 4:30 a.m. while Cook gets up every morning at 3:45 a.m. to get a head start on email, according to a Time profile.

Indeed, studies show that the early bird really does get the worm. Morning people are study-proven to be healthier, smarter and thinner. Whether you choose to go for a run, meditate, or just peruse the news, getting up early to squeeze in a little "me time" is a smart habit for your new sober lifestyle. 

Here are a few more benefits of becoming a morning person:

Increased happiness. People who get up around 7 a.m. or earlier were shown to have a 25 percent increase in feelings of happiness, cheerfulness and alertness, according to a University of Toronto survey of more than 700 adults. Early exposure to morning light has also been shown to increase energy and decrease the risk for depression.

Better job/school performance. Workers who start the day earlier were perceived to be more conscientious, according to a study in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Early risers also have higher GPA’s – a full pointer higher, according to another study.

Healthier weight. Increased light exposure in the morning hours has been linked with a lower body mass index (BMI), according to researchers at Northwestern University. In addition, a.m. exercisers have been found to have a more consistent workout schedule; they’re less likely to skip a sweat session when an unexpected event or delay arises.

Rise and Shine in Southern California

At Haus Recovery, we’ll give you the tools and support needed to start each day with renewed energy. To learn more about the joys of sober living, call us 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.

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.