If you struggle with addiction, leap year gives you an extra opportunity to be grateful for all your blessings and enjoy your sobriety. It is also a good chance to reflect on the journey you have taken, as well as your plans for the future.
Thinking About The Day-To-Day Challenges Of Sobriety
Staying sober is the best thing you can do to protect your health and ensure a happy future. However, it also requires consistent effort on a daily basis. Even after you have completed an addiction treatment program and are on the right path, you’ll still continue to face triggers. For this reason, it’s important to take your sobriety one day at a time. Examples of common triggers faced by people in recovery include:
- stress
- relationship issues
- spending time in locations once associated with drugs or alcohol
- a major life event
- an expected loss
[middle-callout] Leap year’s extra day gives you the perfect opportunity to reflect on your day-to-day strategies for maintaining your sobriety and dealing with triggers. Some of these strategies may include:
Avoiding Unsafe Environments
One of the ways to deal with the everyday challenges of staying sober is to avoid triggers. For most people in recovery, this involves avoiding places, activities or events that are strongly associated with alcohol or drug use. For example, if you used to drink alcohol every time you visited a certain restaurant, it may be best to avoid that establishment in the future.
Staying Connected To The Recovery Community
Staying connected to other people in the recovery community ensures that you have the support you need to overcome triggers when they arise. Peers who are also recovering from addiction understand what you’re going through and are able to relate to you in ways other people cannot.
Taking Care Of Your Body
Maintaining good physical health is also important for those recovering from addiction. Eating a balanced, healthy diet and exercising on a regular basis will keep you feeling your best, making it easier for you to focus on your goals and build a healthy future.
Participating In Ongoing Treatment
For some people who have completed their primary addiction treatment program, ongoing outpatient therapy and peer support are necessary. The purpose of therapy and peer support groups is to help you maintain your commitment to sobriety and deal with any obstacles that may arise.
Reaching Out To A Sponsor In Times Of Need
When facing a trigger or a difficult situation that may put your sobriety at risk, reaching out to a sponsor or another resource can help you to stay on the right path. Your sponsor can also help you deal with relapse should it occur.
Celebrating Your Life And Sobriety On Leap Year
This Leap Year’s extra day falls on a Saturday. If you aren’t working or already planning other activities, this extra day is an ideal opportunity to celebrate your sobriety and your life in general. Just as Leap Year gives you an extra day of life to enjoy, your recovery from addiction has given you another chance to build a productive and satisfying future. Take this day to reflect on your journey so far, as well as to think about your goals for the future. Remember to share the love with those around you, especially the friends and family members who have supported you in your recovery. This extra day is also an opportunity to think about how you can give back to the recovery community, such as by mentoring others. However, you decide to spend your extra day this year, remember to take a moment to be thankful for your recovery and your second chance at life.
