There’s no shortage or reasons why fitness is always a good thing to keep on your mind. A healthy weight, your overall health and how you feel about yourself are all some of the most common reasons people take an interest or pick up a hobby that lends itself to fitness. When you’re a person who has struggled with addiction, fitness is especially something that can help you through sobriety, but it may surprise you to realize that one of the best times to start improving how fit are is while you’re in treatment for your addiction. That may sound counterintuitive, but hear me out:
When you’re in treatment, usually for a minimum of 30 days, you’re pretty well isolated from the world and its distractions. There are usually no shortage of activities at treatment to keep your mind and hands busy as you proceed through your addiction counseling and treatment, anything from arts and crafts to hiking in some centers. While distractions and things to do are very beneficial, what may help boost your self esteem right now even more could be to set a goal. One of the easiest goals to set in treatment is a fitness goal, because a vast majority of inpatient treatment centers have an onsite gym or outdoor track area. Even if you only set a goal of walking three laps around that track or riding a bike in the gym for fifteen minutes, when you reach that goal, your self confidence will start to rise.
The physical exertion of fitness can help you learn to balance your emotions in a healthy way, too. Instead of reaching for a drink or even junk food if you’re upset, going outside to play with your kids or run a few laps around the block can help you work out your frustrations, and your body will release it’s own feel-good chemicals to help soothe any imbalances brought on by your emotions.
The Springboard Center has a new round the clock fitness center that’s available to patients at their inpatient facility, with quality equipment and instructors to ensure you’re using them safely. If you’re struggling with an addiction currently, you don’t have to go through it alone. The staff at the Springboard Center is available 24/7. Make the call and get help today, 432-620-0255.
