Time Management for Recovery
Prescriptions for Prevention, Vol. 2:
Time Management Tips
In our decades of combined experience here at Cold Creek Wellness Center, we have seen that certain types of disorganization—and its resulting chaos—are a common thread among most addicts. Thus we recognize the importance of establishing healthy schedules, plans and boundaries, no matter who you are.
Many people who turn to drugs and alcohol do so because they are overwhelmed with their lives. They use and abuse substances in a futile attempt to escape from the chaos that surrounds them.
Often one of the biggest causes of chaos in life is disorganization, for obvious reasons. When our lives become disorganized, we open doors to all sorts of trouble that could have otherwise been avoided, or at the very least, handled better. But it is never too late to start getting organized. And the most important thing we can get a handle on first is our time.
Today we will look at some proven, basic tips to help you and your loved ones manage your time.
First, evaluate what you are currently doing throughout the course of each day. The best way to do this is by carrying a small notebook or electronic device to record your day, one activity at a time, for an entire week. While this is a great first step, it is also a step that you may decide to incorporate for the rest of your life! It gives you a sense of structure, helps clarify your memory, and guides you in your efforts to establish better habits.
Next, define the fundamental areas of your daily life. There are ten basic areas in which most of us spend our time. The following is a list of them, NOT in order of importance:
- personal
- physical needs
- household
- family
- financial support
- extracurricular
- entertainment
- educational
- social
- spirituality
Now, based on what you have been recording about how you currently spend your time, break it all down and categorize it. Use the areas on your list, and designate a home for each activity in your day. An example of this, if you were to use the above list, would be as follows:
- personal – slept, got ready for day
- physical needs – ate, went for walk
- household – did dishes, paid bills
- family – dinnertime, helped kids with homework
- financial support – went to work, submitted applications
- extracurricular – played tennis, wrote poetry
- entertainment – watched TV, read novel
- education – wrote report, read how-to book
- social – Facebook, texted friend
- spirituality – prayed, meditated
Once you have found a place for everything, decide whether you are using your time wisely. Are you focusing way too much on one particular area of your life, disturbing the balance you need to stay healthy and well-rounded? Do you waste time doing too many activities that don’t help you grow?
Formulate a weekly task list, with each day on a large index card. With our busy lives today, it would be next to impossible to achieve a DAILY balance among all the areas on the list. Looking at it from the perspective of week-to-week is a much more accurate way to balance out your life. So, keeping your 10 basic areas in mind, use one index card for each day of the week. Write things in on the days you have to do them, or want to do them. Be sure to add their time frame or quantity (i.e., work – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or study – 2 hours.)
Keep copies your weekly task list card stack in several prominent places – such as on the fridge, in the car, and on your bathroom counter – with the current day on top where you can see it. No matter how habitual your time pattern is or starts to become, having your day’s plan within plain view will greatly increase your chances for maintaining as much balance and order as possible.
Remember to stay flexible as you go along. Don’t be hard on yourself or others when things come up that are out of your control. Relax, take a deep breath, and simply categorize the new task at hand in your mind (or in your little notebook.) For instance, if you get caught in traffic for two hours on your way home from the office, categorize it under “work.” Having a “home” for everything you do will really help you to keep a feeling of inner peace and outward organization, both key ingredients to leading a strong and sober life.
By reading this Prescription for Prevention, you have taken a positive step toward managing yours and your family’s time… and thus, your lives!
Keep coming back for more tools and information on ways to help you or a loved one struggling with addiction.
As always, if you need further assistance, help is only a phone call away. We’re here to help 24 hours a day at 1-877-593-6777.
