Many people forget the importance of this statement: “Treat yourself like someone you love.” The reality is that we are often the hardest on the one person who we are closest to – ourselves. Yes, we often say things to ourselves that we wouldn’t say to our worst enemy in a million years. This is why self-care is so important, especially in recovery. Yes, making a self-care tactical plan can be critical for long-term success.
Making a Self-Care Tactical Plan
So, what exactly is self-care? Ultimately, it is exactly what it sounds like – how we take care of ourselves for our greater well-being. Of course, it is much more complex than that. Self-care (and a self-care tactical plan) must focus on all aspects of the capital “S” self, the physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. This is the holistic approach that is critical for a self-care tactical plan.
Many people get confused when they hear the term “holistic.” This is because they often solely associate holistic healing with Eastern medicine. Now, while it is true that there are many holistic healing methods that originated in the East, holistic simply refers to the “whole.” So, holistic healing simply means “whole mind-body healing.” This is what a self-care tactical plan has to address.
What Exactly Is a Self-Care Tactical Plan?
So, what exactly is a self-care tactical plan? The answer is that it differs for each individual. Just as no two recovery plans should be the same, no two self-care plans should be either. However, it must address those four components that were previously mentioned (the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual).
A self-care tactical plan can start with physical well-being and nutrition. Many people don’t realize the importance of physical care when it comes to recovery. According to The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, “Epidemiological studies reveal that individuals who report risky substance use are generally less likely to meet physical activity guidelines (with the exception of certain population segments, such as adolescents and athletes). A growing body of evidence suggests that individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are interested in exercising and that they may derive benefits from regular exercise, in terms of both general health/fitness and SUD recovery.”
A self-care tactical plan must also focus on the mental and emotional aspects of addiction recovery. This often means connecting to some type of evidence-based treatment modality. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These therapies can help to alleviate some of the emotional and mental turmoil that we often struggle with in recovery. When these feelings are lessened, then we can focus more on self-care and positive growth.
Sticking To a Self-Care Tactical Plan
Now, creating a tactical self-care plan is one thing, but sticking to it is something else altogether. The key to sticking to self-care is to make it manageable and make a plan that you can share with someone else.
Regarding manageability, many people in early recovery often make their self-care plans too ambitious. For example, losing an excessive amount of weight right off the bat. This is often both unrealistic and unhealthy. Also, it may take away from critical focus on the other aspects of recovery.
Connecting other people to our tactical self-care plan is critical because it creates essential accountability. These people may be recovery professionals and recovery peers. It should be a combination of both. A great place to make these connections is in treatment, as well as engaging in post-treatment aftercare programs. Another ideal place to connect with others and work on self-care is 12-Step recovery.
Self-Care Tactical Plans and 12-Step Recovery
A 12-Step recovery program is a great place to practice self-care while also realizing that recovery is about being selfless. It is a great paradox – to take care of ourselves, we must learn to take care of others.
The Twelve Steps of 12-Step recovery also focus on self-care. This happens when it focuses on clearing our heads and unburdening our hearts. It also asks us to create a morning and evening plan of self-care that can be used as a check-in to ensure that we are truly taking care of ourselves (and others).
12-Step recovery also greatly reduces the chances of a potential relapse, which is one of the greatest forms of self-care in recovery. It does this by ensuring that we are thinking of others more than we our thinking of ourselves. Yes, we care for ourselves best by getting out of our own way and caring for others.
Our Primary Purpose at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, our primary purpose is to help our clients recover by any means necessary. This includes ensuring that all of our clients have individualized tactical self-care plans.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
Self-care is essential for long-term recovery. This is why it can be so critical to know how to make an effective self-care tactical plan, as well as how to stick to it. The good news is that there are many different types of self-care, and you don’t have to stick to just one. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more details about the self-care process, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
