Recovery Serenity: Making and Using Lists

Do you feel disorganized? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with everything on your plate?

When I first stopped using, I felt completely disorganized and had no recovery serenity. My short-term memory was basically non-existent and it made my life difficult to navigate. Sometimes I would struggle with late bill payments because I thought I had already paid them or I just didn’t remember that I had a payment due. I needed a way to keep track of my life because trying to remember it on my own just wasn’t working. My solution came in the form of making and using lists.

I learned to organize with grocery lists, task lists and computer applications, purging all that excess stuff out of my head. That helped me focus on more important things and gave me some recovery serenity. I made it a habit and now I have a list on my fridge for groceries and lists on my desk for tasks I need to complete. I just write them on envelopes from junk mail, old business cards, or sticky notes.  Also, I use Google Calendar for my appointments and reminders and Quicken for my finances.

Getting a Natural Boost of Happiness Contributes to Serenity

When I complete a task or purchase a grocery item, I get to cross it off my list! My brain releases a little dopamine which generates feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction and happiness. This means that nature rewards me for doing the things I would end up doing anyway — even without a list. This is much better than “rewarding myself” by putting substances in my body that change the way I feel. And I get a little ”pat on the back” from mother nature. That means more serenity in my recovery.

Another thing to consider — everybody seems to have a smart phone and they all have calendar and contact apps in them. There are tons of free or inexpensive apps that you can install if what came with your phone isn’t working. One of the reasons I started using Google calendar and other apps in their ecosystem is that everything is synced on my computer and my phone. It is basically seamless for me to use whatever tool I have available at the time to do my planning and organization and I have it available wherever I go. Feel free to experiment with any or all of these until you find what is working for you. Then toss the rest of it out.

So now what?

My Free Gift to Help you in your Recovery Serenity

Life easily overwhelmed me at the beginning of my addiction recovery. A counselor in rehab gave me the idea that journaling could help me sort things out. Even though I wasn’t convinced back then, I decided to try out this journaling thing and was surprised with the results. My stress level is minimal today compared to back then. But my stress hasn’t magically gone away just because I stopped using. Journaling is still an invaluable way for me to get some relief. Now I want my readers to experience this way of relieving stress.

There were many times that I wished I had a journal that was more than just a notebook. Something that had guides, prompts, and practical help. That’s why I created this Gratitude & Stress Journal. It’s my free gift to you, to help you get started with your addiction recovery process. I’m really excited to give this journal to you and help you make the most of it! Just CLICK HERE to get your copy now.