Having structure early in recovery can be helpful to ensure you are doing what you need to do to reach your goals, make it to appointments, and create safety in new ways of living.
It is easy to miss appointments, forget what you know about how to help yourself, and set yourself up to “fail” when there is not a supportive structure in place. This is why structure in recovery is so important.
Being Mindful of Structure
Although structure is needed and helpful in recovery, it is important to be mindful that structure and routines can give you a false sense of control. While letting go of control and surrendering is part of recovery and healing, there is a gray area where flexible structures can give you a sense of stability as you are changing.
When creating structures that support you in reaching the goals you have, remember to allow for flexibility within that structure when unexpected things happen. In this way, you can still reach your goals rather than sabotage them with an all-or-nothing mindset.
Planning Your Week
It can be helpful to sit down before the beginning of the week and plan out what your week looks like in terms of appointments and other life obligations you have.
Writing everything out in a planner or calendar app on your phone can help you visualize the week ahead rather than relying on your memory to get you through. Your mind can often be overwhelmed with all of the details and moving pieces of life.
Visualizing the Week Ahead
Something else that can help you prepare for the week or day ahead is visualization practices. Visualization practices allow you to envision what you desire for a given day or week. It can be helpful to run through the day ahead and visualize yourself moving through the day in a way that feels good to you.
Creating To-Do Lists
Another helpful routine to ensure you are getting all necessary tasks done is to make to-do lists. You could make one at the start of the day, or prepare one for tomorrow at the end of the day to minimize worry over what tomorrow entails and how you are going to get it all done. This can help give you structure for the day, rather than getting lost in the anxiety of being unprepared.
Structure, although can be used to deter you from your goals when it becomes too rigid, can be helpful when it allows for flexible thinking, ease, and flow. You can create structure by planning the week, visualizing the day ahead, and creating to-do lists that support you in getting everything done.
Creating a flexible structure for yourself in recovery can help you reach the goals you have and stay on track with new habits, routines, and appointments that support your healing. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize how intimidating it can be to have structure, especially if this is not something you have experienced before. It can feel difficult to know where to begin. Our treatment team is here to support you in creating flexibility balanced with structure. If you are ready to begin your recovery journey, call Avalon Malibu today at (844) 857-5992.
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