After a lot of work and dedication, you’ve completed your addiction treatment program. Your journey to recovery hasn’t always been easy, but you’re looking forward to returning to some of the normal aspects of your life.
But almost like an amplified version of the feeling so many of us get on Sunday nights, you’re nervous about going back to work. The added stress and anxiety that can come from this transition can have an impact on your recovery. The good news is there are steps you can take to help manage your return to the workforce.
Keep reading to discover helpful tips to make your return to work after addiction treatment easier.
5 Tips for Returning to Work After Addiction Rehab
1. Work Your Way Back to Full-Time
Jumping right back into a full-time position after addiction recovery can be challenging. If you have the opportunity, try starting with part-time work or volunteering to ease yourself back into the professional world.
The stress created by the transition to full-time work and the pressures of the job can trigger a relapse. After a long day at work, you might think that one drink is okay to take the edge off. Unfortunately, that behavior often leads to relapse. Working part-time lets you work on building your new coping skills in a less demanding environment.
But don’t forget about volunteering. When you volunteer, the pressure of making deadlines, hitting goals and office politics fade away. Plus, you can make valuable connections while volunteering that can help your job search.
2. Maintain a Work Life Balance
How many of us have found ourselves checking work emails on the weekend? When you’re in recovery, it’s important to maintain a healthy work life balance. You need time to decompress and relax outside of work. But when you bring your work home with you, the stress tends to follow.
When you’re first returning to work after addiction treatment, minimizing stress is important. An easy way to get started is to set up some simple rules for yourself. For example, set an alarm on your phone for 6pm that marks when you need to set aside work for the day. Guidelines like this can help prevent your work from following you home and causing more stress.
3. Build a Routine
There’s a reason why many addiction treatment programs are based on routine. Routine gives us a sense of consistency and can lower your stress levels throughout the day. When you return to work after addiction treatment, do your best to build a consistent schedule.
We know that not every job can operate on a perfect schedule, but there are some things you can do to make your days more consistent. One of the easiest tips you can use is to start your day with the same activity. Maybe you take the first 15 minutes to check your email or greet your co-workers. This consistency acts as an anchor to keep you grounded and help block out any negativity.
Even if your job is different every day, you can still build a routine outside of work. You can exercise or head to gym after work and even get into the habit of cooking dinner each night.
4. Remember that You’re Not Alone
When you return to work after addiction treatment, it’s natural to feel isolated. Unlike the people who you went through rehab with, you might think that your co-workers don’t have the same understanding of what you’re going through.
While your co-workers might not know what you journey through recovery has been like, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Even though you’ve completed an addiction treatment program, you can still reach out to others in recovery for support. Rehab centers like Footprints Beachside Recovery offer relapse prevention services.
Remind yourself that everyone at your job has faced personal challenges in their lives. Even though those struggles might be different than yours, you’ll be surprised at how understanding people can be.
5. Additional Support is Out There if You Need It
If you need some extra support when you return to work, you have options. Many addiction treatment centers like Footprints Beachside Recovery offer outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment gives you the flexibility to keep up with work responsibilities while getting treatment for your addiction.
One of the main goals of outpatient treatment is to help you develop relapse prevention skills. Plus, you’ll get a stronger focus on your personal therapy progress and recovery. If you’re working and attending outpatient therapy, you’ll be able to work through any issues as they come up.
Recovery is Within Your Reach
Whether you need some extra support or have recently relapsed, Footprints Beachside Recovery is here to help. We’ve been through addiction ourselves and know how it can make you feel lost. But there’s hope for you to reach lasting recovery.
At our family-run Florida addiction treatment center, we can help you reclaim everything that addiction has stolen from you. Our personalized approach to addiction treatment identifies and addresses the underlying causes of addiction.
If you’re interested in affordable and effective addiction treatment, we’re here for you. Contact Footprints Beachside Recovery today. We’re happy to hear your story and talk you through how we can help.
