Going through addiction recovery is incredibly challenging. One of the best things that you can do for yourself during this very difficult process is to implement daily exercise into your routine. There are several ways that exercise can help you through addiction recovery and lead you on the path to a much happier and healthier lifestyle.
Benefits to Your Physical Health
Improving your muscle health, your bone health, and your overall weight is a critical part of the addiction recovery process. Exercise, in particular, can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to taking control of the physical aspects of your health
While going through addiction recovery, many people experience an increase in appetite. Exercising as little as 30 minutes a day can significantly reduce your urge to overeat and help you reach a healthy weight goal and maintain it.
Benefits to Your Mental Health
In addition to the physical benefits that exercise during addiction recovery provide, there are also an array of mental health benefits. Regular exercise can dramatically improve your overall mental health. fortunately, people in recovery who exercise have been shown to have a more positive outlook on their life. This is a positive trait that is definitely beneficial during the recovery process.
Exercise during recovery can also help to improve your level of optimism and help you form good mental health habits. All of these mental health benefits are truly helpful when it comes to navigating addiction recovery.
How Does Exercise Help During Addiction Recovery?
Studies have shown that committing at least 150 minutes per week toward exercise can provide an array of benefits during the addiction recovery process. There are several benefits by committing to an exercise routine can provide for you during addiction recovery.
Curbing Your Cravings
One of the biggest benefits that patients experience is that it helps them to curb cravings. This is particularly true for people who suffer from substance abuse disorders relating to:
Routine moderate aerobic exercise for a period of 12 weeks or more can dramatically cut back any cravings that you have. Due to the fact that working out moves the blood through your heart quicker, regular exercise can improve the amount of oxygen and nutrition passing through your muscles, helping them grow strong and release more energy. Increased energy can make performing daily tasks easier for you and can also dramatically increase the urge to resist use during addiction recovery.
Gives You Structure
Setting an exercise routine during addiction recovery can help to create more structure in your life. Joining another person or an exercise class can help to hold yourself accountable and encourage you to stick to your exercise.
Working out can dramatically structure your day by enabling you to schedule different exercise sessions. Getting into the routine of sticking to your schedule can help to reduce temptations that many people in addiction recovery deal with.
Exercise Can Help Relieve Stress
It is no secret that addiction recovery is an incredibly stressful process. Exercising a little every day can help reduce some of the stress that you feel and dramatically help to improve your sense of well-being.
Exercise Improves Your Mood
Exercising is an exceptional way to boost your mood. Along with the release of serotonin, exercising frequently causes the release of dopamine and endorphins. These all play a critical role when it comes to regulating your mood and keeping you happy. The unfortunate truth is that mood swings are incredibly common during addiction recovery. Remaining committed to exercising can dramatically improve your mood and help you focus on the road ahead.
Exercise Helps to Improve Your Self-Image
Exercising during the recovery process can provide you with the self-esteem and confidence that you need to move forward. Taking good care of your body can help you feel better about yourself overall. This is definitely something that you need to motivate you while dealing with the challenges associated with addiction recovery.
Helps to Strengthen Relationships with Others
No one can deny that dealing with an addiction can take its toll on your relationships with your friends and family. Unfortunately, the impact of addiction is generally detrimental. Thankfully, implementing an exercise routine, whether with friends or family, can help you build and strengthen your relationships.
Exercise Can Improve Your Sleep
It is incredibly common for people going through addiction recovery to have problems sleeping. Sleep is critically important when it comes to moving forward through the recovery process. Thankfully, exercising frequently improves a person’s ability to sleep better and longer. Even a short amount of exercise before bed can dramatically impact your body’s ability to cool faster and make it easier to fall asleep.
Exercises That Are Beneficial for Addiction Recovery
There are several types of exercise that you can implement into your daily schedule in order to benefit you during the recovery process. Some of the most popular types of exercise include:
- Hiking: Hiking across Pulaski, TN, provides you with the ability to overcome mountains, both physically and metaphorically. Connecting with nature can provide you with a boost of self-confidence, improve your mental health, and help you combat addiction.
- Running: Running frequently can help you to become more self-disciplined. It can help you achieve personal goals and burn off stress. Running with others can be a great way to get to know other people. However, running alone provides you with the opportunity to listen to music or sort through your thoughts.
- Swimming: this low-impact cardio activity is the perfect way for any person who suffers from physical restraints, such as joint or muscle limitations, to get the exercise they need to improve their mental and physical health and well-being.
See How Our Pulaski, TN Detox Facility Can Help You
Our team at Genesis Medical Detox in Pulaski, TN, is committed to providing you with all of the resources that you need to overcome addiction. Our team will provide you with invaluable resources that can help to improve your mental, physical, and emotional health and well-being throughout the addiction recovery process. Contact our team now to see what services are available to help you.
