Whether the pandemic or recovery has thrown your lifestyle for a loop, finding healthy ways to cope with significant life changes is essential for success. Lifestyle changes can cause anxiety and depression, among other issues. Keeping up a schedule as much as possible while maintaining a healthy diet are two of the easiest ways to deal with changes in your life. Â
Maintaining a Routine
It is not uncommon for our schedules to get off track, leading us to give up on them. However, this is counterproductive; maintaining as much of your schedule as possible during significant life changes helps keep feelings of anxiety at bay. For some, it is easy to deal with change, while others need a bit of help. Journaling has become increasingly popular in recovery models because it helps us understand ourselves and our habits. This can be beneficial when dealing with life changes – when we keep track of our practices and feelings, we start to see where any issues lie. Not all adjustments to your lifestyle will be negative.Â
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is vital in all steps of recovery. When dealing with significant lifestyle changes, we may be inclined to change our diets and reach less healthy alternatives. It’s essential to keep up with your nutrition to help prevent stress or depression. It’s helpful to keep a diet journal to see when your eating habits changed and what events were influencing them. Your brain needs amino acids to produce chemicals like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine properly.Â
Keeping a meal schedule is helpful in this process. Not only does it help establish a routine, but it also helps make sure your dietary needs are met. Meal schedules can be part of your diet journal. In your journal, you can plan meals and create grocery lists that can help maintain a healthy diet.Â
Many people’s lives have been changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be an incredibly hard time for those dealing with substance use disorder or mental health disorders. Keeping a schedule and maintaining a healthy diet are reasonable steps at preventing relapse or relieving stress. It may be tough to make changes on your own, but it is possible to receive outside help. At Avalon Malibu, we have a dedicated staff with experience in nutrition guidance and relapse prevention, among other treatment models. We combine evidence-based mental health therapies and effective addiction treatments to provide you with comprehensive care supported by an integration of mind, body, and spirit. Avalon Malibu has also taken extra steps during COVID to ensure our clients’ and staff’s health and safety. If you or someone you love is struggling to deal with life changes or substance use during COVID, call us today at (844) 857-5992.Â
