Self-Care in Recovery

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care isn’t a cure, and it isn’t a fix all- it includes acts that you do on purpose to better care for your mental, physical, and emotional health. Self-care has become a popular word in our society in recent years, and the influx in the use of the word has conflated self-care with aftercare- taking care of yourself after working hard or doing a tough thing. Self-care is different. Self-care acts include proactive, on-purpose things you do throughout your day to better care for your overall health, not just after a tough situation. The use of the term has also led to the idea that self-care can only include things like getting your nails done or doing a face mask. While that may count as self-care to some, there are so many different things individuals can choose for themselves. Self-care is unique to each individual and their needs and interests.Tips For Practicing Self-Care in Recovery

Substance use disorders and the harmful thought patterns and behaviors that often come along with them instill routines of self-harm. The opposite of this is self-care, which is why it is so important for those in recovery to practice this. Try to pay attention to your body with acronyms like HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired)- ask yourself if you are feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. Pay attention to the environments you typically feel those ways in, who you are with, and question your recent self-care habits. You don’t have to wait till you start to feel these things building up. Practicing self-care allows you to proactively care for yourself in these ways so that you can give yourself the best chance of being able to regulate when these emotions do arise.

Start by giving yourself basic self-care routines, such as waking up at a certain time, brushing your teeth every morning, drinking enough water daily, and attending weekly support groups. As these routines become easier, it will become more natural to add in little ways to take care of yourself throughout the day. Exam week is a good time to try out some new, less time-consuming self-care habits. Look for little moments of joy throughout your day. Take the time to smell a flower, practice deep breathing, listen to your favorite song before an exam, set an alarm that’s an encouraging note to yourself, wear your favorite perfume or cologne, put on your favorite socks, get yourself a little snack, hydrate, and fit in time for the things that make you happy. There are so many different ways to make our days a little bit lighter if we allow ourselves to see the joy in the everyday.

The Collegiate Recovery Community is here to help you on your recovery journey. We provide support, sober events, and community resources to all IU students. Feel free to reach out to us or stop by for a one-on-one chat anytime!

Contact us at:

Phone: 812-856-3898

Email: crcs@indiana.edu

508 N. Fess Bloomington, IN 47408