Connected is protected

My personal recovery must be maintained outside of my working hours. Awareness that assisting others with their recovery is not part of my own recovery is crucial, and by maintaining my own recovery, I ensure that my wellbeing and spirit are topped up, allowing me to give my best to others.

My morning routine is simple, I use one of several meditation techniques, taking personal inventory, assessing current progress and interactions with others. Reflecting with gratitude on how far I have come and all I have achieved.

Reading an inspirational passage or simply breathing and trying to be present in the moment, this all takes place in 5-10 minutes before turning on digital media.

Then I connect with friends and family by message, some a simple “Good morning”, others we share an inspirational quote and close friends perhaps a meme. This is an important part of my day, plugging in and connecting with my close support network.

People often ask how I enforce my boundaries and turn off from work at the end of a workday. Again, this is a simple technique in the form of distraction therapy. I enjoy loud music on my car journey home, which helps me decompress and leave my work at the door.

Maintaining my recovery in the evenings outside of work consists of facilitating/participating in a men’s mental health group weekly, attending a peer support group weekly, and occasionally visiting a Buddhist monastery for the Sunday evening meditation with friends.

These are the techniques that work for me and have served me well in my four and a half years of recovery.

A typical day for me involves client work such as phone calls, video calls, face to face meetings, a walk in the park, a drink in a coffee shop or similar link with training supervision and attending locality meetings.