Recovering from addiction does not stop when you leave your rehab center. You might even say that finishing your treatment is just the first step to permanent sobriety. The fact of the matter is that you need something else to keep you on the right track. This is where hobbies come in. There are many hobbies to help you stay sober after rehab in West Virginia, from exercising, reading, and gardening to yoga, volunteering, and board games. You can find most of these activities available from any rehab in Point Pleasant WV, for example. Having a hobby or three is extremely important when trying to achieve long-lasting sobriety. In this article, we will explain exactly why hobbies are so important and provide you with some of the best hobbies for people in recovery.
Why are hobbies so important?
First of all, hobbies provide you with something to do. Many people do not know what to do with their lives after they get sober, and this all drives them to return to substance abuse. By taking up a hobby, you will get to fill a large part of your day with something fun and/or relaxing. There are good reasons why most, if not all, rehab near Marietta OH programs, feature extensive hobby programs as a part of their treatment. Taking up a hobby can provide you with the following benefits:
- Activity
- Relaxation
- Mental stimulation
- Going outdoors
However, to get the most out of any hobby, the hobby needs to be fun to you, specifically. There’s no point taking up gardening if you do not enjoy being around plants, for example. That being said, it may be possible that you don’t find any hobby to be enjoyable. If that happens to be the case, do not stop trying to find something fun. There are hundreds of hobbies out there, you are bound to find something that you enjoy if you keep looking.
What if you don’t have time for a hobby?
It may also happen that your job and daily chores do not leave enough room for hobbies. This is often the case with many people attending rehab Fairmont WV programs, and it can influence your recovery in a big way. The answer is to try and squeeze in an activity that does not take that much time but still allows you to get the benefit. For example, you can try to work on a piece of art in small time increments. That will provide you with a sense of progression and will fill the time between your work and chores.
Now that you know why hobbies are so important for your recovery, let’s see what the best hobbies you might want to consider are.
The ideas for hobbies to help you stay sober after rehab in West Virginia
Again, there is no hobby that is ideal for everyone. The list below is comprised of hobbies that have the best chance to help, on average. That means that most people in recovery choose one of these hobbies to focus on. What it does not mean is that one of these hobbies is ideal for you, specifically.
Furthermore, some of the hobbies on the list can be somewhat expensive. What you may want to do is look at a rehab center around Clarksburg WV that accepts Medicaid and allows you to apply it to one of their hobby programs. If you happen to be living near the rehab center, all the better, as it will be extremely convenient to attend to your hobbies. Your choice of hobby might be somewhat limited in that case, but you are bound to find a rehab center that will provide you with an activity that you can enjoy.
That being said, the following hobbies can all provide you with something unique that no other hobby can:
- Exercise
- Cooking
- Reading
- Writing
- Creating art
- Gardening
- Yoga
- Fishing
- Volunteering
- Board games
Each of these hobbies is excellent for helping you stay sober in its own right. The best thing to do, however, is to combine as many hobbies as you have interests. That way, your time will always be filled with something fun to do.
Now, let’s take a look at what exactly makes these hobbies so suited for people in recovery, starting with:
Exercise
Exercising is pretty much the best hobby for people in recovery. This is due to the fact that regular exercise will help reduce cravings, considerably improve your mood and energy levels, and it will also improve your mental and physical health at the same time. Furthermore, if you have trouble sleeping, exercising will allow you to fall asleep more easily. This is why every single one of the rehab centers near Athens OH features ample opportunities for their patients to exercise. Regular physical activity will also reduce your stress levels and allow you to focus on what you want to do in life instead of focusing on the substance of your choice.
Cooking
The reason why cooking is one of the best hobbies to help you stay sober after rehab in West Virginia is the fact that it will teach you new skills and have you eating delicious food all the time. You get to be in control of your nutrition as you can design your meals to be exactly what you need or want. If you have recently undergone dialectical behavior therapy for addiction, you might find that your body and mind require all sorts of nutrients that you can’t easily get from pre-packaged foodstuffs. By preparing your own meals, you will be able to create dishes that are both nutritious and to your own liking.
Last but not least, cooking can be extremely fun. You might not think of cooking as anything special, but it is an extremely fulfilling hobby, one that may help you stay sober all on its own.
Reading
Reading is another great hobby to adopt. There are literally millions of unique books out there that are just waiting for you to pick them up and read them. Taking up reading will help you learn new things, get a new perspective on things, or allow you to escape from reality for a time. The beauty of this hobby is that you can do it anytime and anywhere. You don’t need to learn any particular skill, either, you can just pick up a book, and you’re good to go.
There’s no need to “stick” to books, either. You can start reading skill manuals and grow your skillset at the same time. There is always something to learn, after all. If you are someone who thinks reading is “wasting time”, you can always find a way to improve yourself by reading. In fact, many of the benzodiazepine rehab centers highly recommend reading to improve your skills. Lastly, audiobooks are huge these days, so you can combine reading (listening, in this case) with other healthy activities.
The best part about audiobooks is that you can have them on your phone, readily available whenever you want to listen to them. They are excellent for commuting to work or waiting in any sort of line. There are so many times in our lives when we simply don’t do anything due to one reason or another. By having an audiobook, or even a regular book, handy, you will never be without something to do!
Writing
During your therapy, you have most likely heard of journaling. This is a very therapeutic activity that can help you track your progress, lay out your concerns, share your story with someone else, etc. A lot of the journaling benefits have to do with the simple act of writing.
Creative writing is extremely therapeutic in its own right, as it can allow you to express yourself in a different way. Furthermore, you will be able to easily share your story with others that might be going through a similar recovery process and help them (and you) feel less alone. In fact, creative writing is one of the most recommended hobbies for people that have gone through holistic therapy for addiction due to the fact that it promotes creative thinking. You don’t need to be the best writer in the world to make the most out of writing, after all.
Creating art
There’s a common misconception that only artists can create art. Needless to say, this is entirely false. Art is something that everyone can create. What is more important, however, is that the process of art therapy rehabilitation will help you express yourself in a way you might not have thought of before. The reason why art is one of the best hobbies to help you stay sober after rehab in West Virginia is the fact that art can be pretty much anything. You don’t need to paint a picture, you can simply arrange everyday things and take photos of them. What is important is that you are engrossed in the process and that you enjoy the journey. The final product is the least of your concerns.
Gardening
Many people do not even think of gardening when they think of hobbies. That is a big mistake, however, as gardening is something that can provide you with both structure and routine. This is the primary reason why we think so highly about this hobby at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center. Not to mention that it will teach you some of the necessary life skills in the process. By taking up gardening as your hobby, you will learn all about responsibility, patience, and planning. As you might imagine, these skills are all but essential for maintaining your sobriety.
On its own, gardening will help ease your anxiety, promote relaxation, and provide you with a very therapeutic activity. Even though you might think you will not enjoy gardening, we advise that you at least “give it a shot”.
Yoga is one of the best hobbies to help you stay sober after rehab in West Virginia
Most of the difficulty in staying sober has to do with finding a way to quiet your negative feelings, intrusive memories, and racing thoughts. Taking up yoga will allow you to keep all those in check, increase your flexibility, reduce your stress levels, and generally enhance your well-being. Yoga is all about calm and serenity through slow, deliberate movements. It will allow you to focus on the present and will help quiet negative emotions.
Fishing
Fishing is one of those hobbies that combine being outdoors with a fun activity. While it may be a bit more expensive than some of the other hobbies on the list (you do need a fishing rod, after all), it is an activity that can provide you with countless hours of fun and relaxation. If you happen to combine fishing with cooking, all the better. That way, you will learn how to be completely self-sufficient and will know that no matter what happens, you will never go hungry. This, in turn, will boost your self-confidence and allow you to focus on your recovery. You may even find out that starting a fish farm is something that you’ve always wanted to do!
Volunteering
If you happen to feel isolated after your recovery, you might want to consider volunteering. The reason why volunteering is one of the top hobbies to help you stay sober after rehab in West Virginia is the fact that it will allow you to connect with others in your community in the best possible way. Volunteering will also provide you with a sense of purpose and a sense of truly being a part of the community. Through volunteering, you can learn new skills, have a lot of fun, and meet new friends.
Furthermore, volunteering is an activity that almost every employer looks favorably upon. You can be almost certain that volunteering as part of your rehab will be looked at in favorable light. In fact, some employers may even provide you with additional rehab days just simply because you choose to volunteer in your spare time!
Board games
These days, board games are much more than simple checkers. There are literally thousands of different games to try out, some of which are incredibly popular. The reason why board games count as one of the best hobbies to help you stay sober after rehab in West Virginia is the fact that they combine mental exercise with socialization and fun. Furthermore, people that enjoy playing board games are usually carefree, fun to hang around, and quite emphatic. If you are looking to make some new friends, stay sober, and have loads of fun, try out a board game or two!
