Finding work after achieving your initial sobriety can seem like a huge milestone and hurdle at the same time. It’s easy to get excited about your new lease on life, but the stresses that come with work can make maintaining that sobriety a challenge. It takes a careful balancing act to enter the workforce again without putting your recovery in question. So how do you start working again while in recovery?
Understand Where the Stress Comes From
Most of us know the pressure of having a schedule to stick to and others relying on us to get that work completed. This level of stress is commonplace in the workforce, but you’ll likely feel as if you’re going through a more intense version of it. The truth is that you’re actually feeling the emotions without the haze of drug or alcohol abuse. And the longer you abused the substance, the harder it will be to get to know how you function in a sober state.
A huge part of relieving this stress is practicing acceptance which means letting go of trying to control the things in life that are simply out of your hands. When something goes wrong, just consider if you did your best in the situation. If so, then you can move on and learn, a focal point of recovery as a whole.
How To Deal With Work Stress in Recovery
Thankfully, the coping mechanisms you’ll develop during treatment at America’s Rehab Campus will prepare you for any stressful situation. That being said, it’s important to be proactive in reducing the amount of stress you feel and take home with you from work.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Making sure the stress doesn’t pile up means working with your boss or manager on what schedules and hours you can work. If you’re being asked to stay late or come in early constantly, let them know that it’s simply not sustainable for you to be overworked.
Another boundary to set is with your coworkers. Typically this means avoiding any after work parties where rugs and alcohol will be present. It also means letting them know that you’re completely sober, even if you don’t want to share your story of recovery with them.
Take Time for Yourself
Entering recovery is done to better yourself and live the life you always wanted. Don’t let the stress of a job take that away from you! Dedicate some time each day to reading your favorite book, meditating in peace and quiet, or getting out and going for a run to clear the head.
Practicing these routines will also improve your mindfulness and help in figuring out what your mind and body need throughout each day. When you’re taken care of by default, your mind has more energy to help you stave off cravings and enjoy each day again.
If you or a loved one are in need of some extra support in their recovery, we encourage you to reach out to the ARC team today to get started.
