If you’re struggling with addiction, it can be challenging to stay present. Mindfulness practices are an effective way to combat the mind’s natural tendency to wander. Here are five mindfulness practices that have helped people in recovery step up their game.
1. Acknowledge Your Emotions
Mindfulness is the practice of acknowledging and accepting all of your emotions. It’s time to start noticing how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking, and building someone that isn’t afraid to feel his or her feelings. When we aren’t capable of managing our emotional pain, it manifests into counterproductive habits like addiction and self-harm. A great way to work on acknowledging your emotions is by writing; Let yourself go wild at the moment, allowing it to be whatever you’re feeling. Accept all emotions and don’t judge them.
2. Recognize and Replace Negative Beliefs
Every thought that you have produces a physical reaction in your body. This can be related to stress and worsen your mood. For example: if you’re thinking “I’m not good enough” and the thought is followed by a sense of anger, you’ll tense up because of it. This can be fixed by recognizing this negative thought pattern and replacing it with “I am strong” for instant calm. To improve your positivity try practicing gratitude and think about what you’re grateful for.
You may also like: What Are the Best Exercises for Addiction Recovery.
3. Live in the Present
Each day try to bring yourself back into the moment by practicing meditation or yoga (or both!), as they’ve been proven to reduce stress levels and improve mental health. This will not only bring you back into the present but also improve your mindfulness.
4. Get Support and Spend Time with People You Trust
Talking to someone who cares about you increases your mood, boosts your self-esteem, and reduces stress levels. Reach out to a friend or family member that you trust because if not, they could exacerbate negative thoughts and make yourself feel worse than before. If you’re having trouble finding anyone to talk to that understand, there are always counselors and therapists nearby. Try out podcasts on recovery or support groups in your area.
5. Take Care of Yourself
It’s time to work on self-care by taking care of yourself! When you feel good, it’s easier to manage emotional pain and stressful thoughts. Try making a schedule for your day that includes eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and spending time with people who care about you. By doing all of these, you will be able to manage your thoughts and focus on what’s most important.
It may seem like a lot of work to develop these mindfulness practices, but it’s worth the time and effort. If you want to start recovering from your addiction with more success than before, then try incorporating one or more of these five practices into your life today! You can beat addiction if you take care of yourself first.
