Valentine’s Day is often a time when couples and families show each other how much they love and care. You may fuss over finding just the right card, bouquet of flowers, restaurant, gift, or location to make the day perfect. However, this Valentine’s Day make a point to love yourself as well. Support your recovery from addiction by building your self-esteem and self-confidence. After all, before you can help others, you have to care for yourself.
In early recovery, it can be easy to get caught up in blaming or shaming yourself. Moving past these self-destructive thoughts and recognizing that you are worth it and recovery is possible is a big step. Keep these positive vibes going by making yourself and your recovery a priority this Valentine’s Day and the whole year through. It’s not selfish; it’s necessary so that you can be the best version of yourself in sobriety.
Crossroads supports women in rediscovering what is most important in their lives, healing from the impact of active addiction, and building a brighter future. These are just a few ways that you can love yourself this Valentine’s Day:
- Do things on your own
It’s healthy to spend time doing things independently. Pick an activity or place that you enjoy and carve time out of your schedule for it. Roam around your favorite art museum basking in the creativity, go for a run along a nature trail, catch a movie you’ve been wanting to see at the theater, or head out to the driving range. Assert your independence and take some time for yourself. This can be a great opportunity to recharge and reflect too.
- Pamper yourself
Treat yourself to a massage, manicure or pedicure, day at the spa, or even just a few hours relaxing on your own. Pick an activity that makes you feel good about yourself and reminds you to slow down from time to time. Balancing recovery and life can be challenging, so a pick-me-up can be just what you need sometimes.
- Get plenty of sleep and exercise
Physical activity releases endorphins which are natural mood boosters. Staying active helps you to burn off excess energy or stress, enhance your health, and stay in shape. At the same time, you also need to make sure you get adequate sleep each night to allow your body to heal and recharge. Waking up feeling refreshed can give you a better start to your day and help support ongoing recovery.
- Enjoy time with your kids
Your kids are only little for so long. Love yourself by spending time with them and simply enjoying the laughter and memories you’re making. Laundry and cleaning will still be there tomorrow, so make today about doing what makes your heart happy. It can be a wonderful way to remind yourself of what you’re working toward and what keeps you motivated to keep going when things get tough.
Remember that you are worth it and you are deserving of another chance. This Valentine’s Day, take time for yourself and reflect on how far you’ve come. Make your health and well-being a priority so that you can continue progressing in your recovery and maintaining long-term sobriety.
Crossroads can help you to build the strategies you need to turn your life around and reduce risk of relapse. Create healthier routines, work through underlying issues, develop valuable life skills, and explore activities to support recovery in gender-responsive treatment programs. You can learn how to love yourself in recovery and remember who you wanted to be this Valentine’s Day and throughout the year at Crossroads.
[cta] Are you struggling to love yourself and stick with recovery? Contact Crossroads today to find out how we can help. [/cta]
