3 Ways to Work Remote and Maintain Sobriety

At the time of writing, there’s a pandemic going on in the United States. Cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have seen exponential growth in the country. As a result, you may find yourself having to work remote for the next few weeks, at least.

When cabin fever starts to kick in, you may find yourself struggling to keep up with your regular work routine. And those who struggle with alcohol or drug addiction may find this time particularly challenging. The disruption of a daily routine and the decreased in-person contact can make keeping human connections with your support network difficult.

This is a scary time, but there are ways to keep yourself healthy and connected with people. That why we’re here to provide you with 3 ways to work remote and maintain sobriety during the current pandemic.

1. Keep Your Work Schedule

Sometimes it’s best to keep to the daily routine you have at work. When working remote, it can be tempting to sleep in and work from bed all day. However, this isn’t the best idea, as this can quickly foster an attitude that will lead to less-than-optimal work results. Additionally, remaining mostly sedentary can mess with your natural sleep schedule. Instead, consider applying your daily work schedule to your remote day.

Wake up at a certain time and be sure to be online at the start of the day. Communicate with your supervisor and coworkers to help keep to this schedule. Set goals to meet throughout the day, and make sure that you accomplish them. Don’t forget your regularly scheduled lunch break, either.

This daily schedule can also be helpful during your recovery. Oftentimes work provides those in recovery with a sense of normalcy. When a pandemic disrupted work schedules, recovery may be disrupted as well. But, by creating a new work schedule or transferring the regular schedule into a remote setting, you can maintain that normalcy and the sense of purpose one gets from doing work that is important to them.

2. Avoid Distractions

When you’re at home, it can be easy to get wrapped up in distractions. Maybe you keep a television in the office. Or perhaps you noticed your phone more often now that your boss doesn’t work two desks away. Regardless of what forms they appear in; distractions will become more prevalent when working from home.

This is why it’s important to remove distractions from your remote workplace. There should be no television, video games, or any other sorts of distractions.

Further, if you struggle with substance abuse, removing distractions can help you to focus on your sobriety as well. Instead of slipping into unhelpful distractions like drinking, keeping focus on your work and indirectly help you maintain sobriety.

3. Take Time to Relax

Being productive is good, but you need to remember to take some time for you, as well. It can be easy to get caught up in your work and forget to stand up, stretch, or take a quick brain break. All of this is necessary throughout the day.

Here are options for the next time you are between projects:

• Go for a walk in the park. While public transit and closures could make things difficult, there are several public parks still open. So long as you remember to keep social distancing, it should be fine to get some fresh air.
• Listen to a chapter of an audiobook. Sit back and relax with a cup of tea and listen to somebody tell you a story. There are many free audiobooks available on YouTube and around the web. Your local library might even offer ebooks on loan.
• Go on a virtual tour at The Dallas Museum of Art. Additionally, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens updates their website with photos every week. While these museums may be closed, you can still take time to visit them online.

Finding Substance Abuse Support During Social Isolation

The common theme here is that keeping up connections is important for maintaining mental health in these troubling times. Those in recovery may face unique struggles. Even in a pandemic, there is help available.

Because of social distancing, online options for meetings have opened up:

• AA Intergroup is the hub for Alcoholics Anonymous online presence.
• Narcotics Anonymous also offers a breakdown of its online meetings and offerings.
• If you attended Greenhouse Treatment Center for rehab, you can access our alumni network.
• Our parent company, American Addiction Centers, recently launched virtual meetings that follow the 12-step process.

Remember that social isolation doesn’t have to mean forfeiting social connection. In these troubling times, it’s important to keep connected with those important to you in order to maintain your sobriety.

However, if you feel close to relapse or don’t believe virtual meetings are enough, getting treatment in person is still an option. Call to talk to our Admissions Navigators to learn about how addiction treatment can help you in this difficult time.