Hobbies enrich our lives. Most everyone can name at least one thing they like to do in their spare time, or that they are passionate about. Hobbies provide an escape from the stress and expectations of our daily lives, which is especially important in the life of a recovering addict. Unfortunately, when a person develops an addiction, they tend to almost completely lose their sense of self. They also begin losing interest in the things they once loved as their mind becomes consumed with thoughts of their addiction. Not only that, but the majority of addicts spend most of their time chasing after their substance or activity of choice, which leaves them little room for healthy activities in their schedule.
However, once a person enters recovery, they may begin to realize just how much free time and energy they have without their substance or harmful activity of choice in their life. This time should not be wasted idling, as the boredom can be especially dangerous for recovering addicts. Instead, it is a wonderful time for those in recovery to begin find themselves and what kinds of things they enjoy. Picking up a hobby or two is a great way to stay on track with recovery. You can choose any hobby that brings you joy and interests you as an individual, but here are some ideas to get you started on finding one that suits your lifestyle.
Benefits of Hobbies
Hobbies have plenty of other benefits in addition to offering a source of entertainment, especially for people in addiction recovery. Here are some of the benefits:
- Hobbies can have a social aspect to them, which can open up a lot of opportunities to make new friends. Connecting with other people in the area who share a common interest can do wonders for building your support system and improving your mental health.
- Trying new hobbies can lead you to discover skills and talents that you didn’t know you had!
- Hobbies can help you acquire valuable skills that can serve you in other areas of life.
- Not many people take the time to explore their creative side. In fact, many people don’t even realize that they actually enjoy exercising their creativity, so trying out a hobby that allows for this can open your mind to new possibilities.
- Most importantly, they’re fun!
One of my own favorite hobbies is getting out on the water, This photo was taken last summer on lake rays town in Pennsylvania. We took a weeks vacation and spent 3 days on the lake. Whether its fishing, skiing, tubing or just a boat ride, I love being on the water.
From Redpoint to Recovery; The road less traveled 