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Every day you spend sober is another opportunity to grow, learn and get closer to your goals. Whether you want to develop a business, write a book, or get a promotion, you have to become the person capable of achieving such things. In both personal and professional endeavors, self-improvement is the root of all achievement. Much like your success in overcoming addiction, your recovery exists because you chose to get motivated and find a better lifestyle for yourself. Your success level seldom exceeds your personal development because success is something you attract with the person you become.
Let's take a closer look at practical ways to begin to accelerate your growth and move toward achieving your greatest goals.
GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT
You have likely heard many people lament that there is never enough time in the day to get things done. The truth is, there is plenty of time in the day to explore new growth opportunities while managing the necessary obligations you have to your recovery, relationships, and family. When you take a moment to analyze how you spent the last few days, you are sure to find areas where you were either unproductive or mismanaging your time.
To begin assessing your time management, write down everything you do on an average day to the last detail. Part of this exercise will help you get an idea of the bigger picture and open your eyes to where you might be wasting time. Once you have enough data, begin analysis.
Look at each item on the list. Do you mindlessly browse apps, or are you doing something seemingly productive? If you are unsure, ask yourself if this task brings you closer to your goals. Does it make you feel better, or does it have you indulging in a negative habit? Depending on how you answer, this activity should either stay or go away. You will find just how hard it is to stop doing these activities, but you will also see that you have a lot more free time by removing them.
Most of what you think you should do is unnecessary, so don't be shy, make cuts where needed, and you might even save some money in the process. Once you have more time, organize your schedule and plan things. You can begin each day by creating a to-do list; however, try not to move forward until completing the essential tasks first.
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY NETWORK
Having other motivated individuals around you breeds motivation and confidence from within. Networking through healthy relationships, friends, family, peers from support groups, and co-workers can branch out and lead you into other opportunities. If there are negative people in your life, determine who they are and pull them out of your network. Positive friends influence positive thinking.
When you find people you trust who have your best interest at heart, share your goals with them. Use them as a soundboard for healthy feedback and create plans to help them hold you accountable. Such plans might consist of a weekly catch-up where you each discuss your progress. A network can achieve what is much harder to accomplish when doing things alone because you can learn from others' mistakes and ask for feedback when you doubt yourself.
EXERCISE AND SLEEP
Accelerating your growth is as much physical as it is mental. If you don't move a little each day, you risk falling into a sedentary lifestyle. Such a lifestyle takes its toll on your body, diet, and in turn, your mental health. Engaging in activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, or lifting not only helps you steer clear of becoming sedentary and unmotivated but also helps you release tension and better your mood. Exercising for just 25-30 minutes a day boosts dopamine levels, supports creativity, and helps instill energy and confidence.
It might be hard to build an exercise habit, but it will pay off in the long run. You will be healthier, more energetic, and productive. You will also feel revitalized when returning to other goals and priorities in your life.
Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is also essential to replenish your mind, body, and spirit. The truth is, most people do not get enough sleep. It might be hard to let your brain and body relax, especially with distractions from televisions, tablets, and phones. However, if you use a half hour before bed to meditate or take a hot bath, you will begin to train your brain when it is time to unwind and start its sleep cycle. When you sleep through the night, your days become noticeably filled with more energy and focus.
TRY NEW EXPERIENCES
To continue to find new opportunities, you need to keep trying new experiences. Trying new experiences can help you from falling into your “comfort zone,” where you generally feel safe and secure. Over time, your comfort zone can hinder your ability to move forward. You will also miss out on all the beautiful things you can accomplish when you don't take any chances.
You can begin to incorporate a hunger for trying new things by simply embarking on a new venture. You might choose to learn a new language, an instrument, or start a podcast; the more you can get comfortable in the uncomfortable, the more resilient and adventurous you will become. Some chances you take might not work out or even lead to mistakes, but remember, mistakes are just as crucial for learning as triumphs are.
If you are worried or uncertain about accelerating your growth, it is time to seek professional help. At START UP RECOVERY, we will help you along your journey. We can assist you in becoming more advantageous, courageous, and optimistic. We are motivated to help you attain the skills needed to skyrocket your recovery and success, including your enthusiasm, creativity, and relationships. START UP provides a network of other motivated and energetic individuals; you can be confident that their charisma and zest for life and recovery will infuse you and your story with the same verve and ambition. You never have to settle for just getting by; your recovery and your successes are your stories to tell, just as it is your life to live. However you want to live your life is up to you. To find the inspiration and spark to get you started, reach or visit START UP RECOVERY at our sunny SoCal location. To learn more, call us today at 310-773-3809.