If you’ve struggled with it in the past, then you already know how hard it can be to overcome porn. You may have stopped using only to discover that your life still seems to be out of balance. Many in recovery think that when life gets better they will have the time, energy or motivation to get their life back in order. The opposite is true. A balanced life in recovery does not come from having the time or energy for it. It comes from following through on the healthy behaviors of healthy living.
An unbalanced life frequently drives addicts back to their addiction. That’s why it’s so crucial to replace the unwanted behavior with a new lifestyle. Some people think the only thing you can replace an addiction with is another addiction. That is not what we are talking about when we say “replace the addiction with a new way of life or a new lifestyle.”
In a healthy lifestyle, we encourage behaviors and activities that become a way of life, not to replace the chemicals of addiction. These behaviors and activities should include things like excitement, relaxation, creativity, and time for reflection. Working on living a new lifestyle will help you in the long haul in living a sober life. So whether it’s a personal project, a craft idea you want to try, or just discovering a new passion, to quit porn effectively you’ll need to explore activities and implement the ones that work for you into your new lifestyle.
Here are 7 ideas to help you get started.
Keep a Journal
Writing is good for you on a number of levels. It requires higher thought, planning, and introspection. While any significant writing project will be beneficial (a novel, poetry, etc.), keeping a journal is among the best options because it keeps a record of your feelings and experiences. Journaling helps identify when your life is out of balance, and it helps you recognize the cycle of addiction. Journalling will also chronicle your efforts to change and improve, which will be helpful in moments when you feel like you haven’t made any progress in the fight.
Mindful Meditation
At LifeStar Therapy we witness that those who are successful in recovery do the hard work. The successful client is able to focus on difficult tasks that maintain consistency. Their daily routines lead to sobriety which prepares for healing down the road. These same clients become “mindfully aware” and are able to respond to situations differently than their usual “reactive behaviors.”
A review of 23 different meditation studies found that people who practiced mindful meditation for a few months improved their ability to suppress environmental stimuli, which is critical for maintaining attention. And, another review of 30 different studies on mindfulness and meditation showed that just eight weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction produced results in the brain similar to that of a long-term meditation practice. Studies suggest that meditating regularly reduces mind-wandering and increases our ability to maintain concentration over extended periods of time.
Read Something New
Not everybody reads regularly, but everyone stands to benefit from it when they do. Reading is an adventure, even when it’s nonfiction. Whether it’s taking you somewhere new or teaching you something new, reading has the power to expand your mind and show you new horizons. The key for this piece of advice, though, is to read something new, as there’s excitement in the novelty, and you never know when you’re going to discover something you’ll love.
Be around other people
The advantages of social activities are myriad: you’re spending time away from the computer, you’re bonding with other people (a key aspect to overcoming addictions), and you’re having fun. Join a local organization based around something you’re passionate about, whether that’s improv comedy, medieval martial arts, underwater basket weaving, starting a game night, etc. Pick something and get started.
Learn a new skill
Learning a new skill and developing a new talent is good for your brain. Learning new skills has been shown to improve memory and cognitive abilities in older adults, and to help your brain recover from trauma. Exercising your mind by learning novel skills helps forge new mental pathways and repair the damage done by addiction. It doesn’t matter what skill you pursue, just that’s it’s new to you. Learn to play a musical instrument, get into woodworking, learn to paint—these and many more skills could be the doorway into an exciting lifelong hobby and a healthier mind.
Host a film night with recovery friends
There are a lot of films that hit the issues of recovery that can teach needed points that talk therapy cannot reach. Pick some films that are approved for recovery and gather your friends once a month or every other month to keep the message going.
Attend Performances
When you’re using porn, it can be easy to forget that there are forms of entertainment that don’t happen on a screen. Attending a performance gets you out of the house (and away from your computer), and keeps your attention off of the screen on your phone. You’ve paid good money for the ticket, so you’re more likely to devote your time and focus to the performance, giving you a temporary break from your issue. And it’s another activity you can do with friends. If plays and concerts aren’t your thing, then opt for a sporting event instead. Just get out of your house, and spend time with others.
Other ideas
- Go for a run, Take a walk, or hit the gym, until you work up a sweat
- Make your bed, clean a part of the house or a part of your room
- Create a budget and spent the next 3 months improving it
- Write a thank you letter to someone each week for 2 months
Take the next step towards your recovery and win the fight against your addiction, download our free ebook today.