Recovery Tasks

What is recovery? Recovery is about so much more than just getting to a specific number on the scale. I’ve created this list of recovery tasks to help when you aren’t sure of the next step to take. This might give you some ideas.

Ultimate goal:  Be Happy and Healthy. 

Physical (Address behaviors interfering with happiness)

·         Complete 100% of meal plan to meet nutritional needs with wide variety of foods

·         Stop compensatory behaviors including purging and laxatives

·         Incorporate movement that is meant to care for body vs. tearing it down

·         Show ability to plan, purchase, and prepare meals and snacks

·         Show ability to eat at variety of restaurants

·         Show ability to eat with a variety of groups of people

·         Show ability to practice flexibility when schedule changes

·         Maintain good sleep habits

·         Attend regular visits to medical providers and dietitian as needed

·         Take medication as prescribed

·         Stop self-harmful behaviors

·         Find ways to be outside in nature

·         Use caution with substances(alcohol, drugs, caffeine, etc)

·         Practice healthy sexuality

Emotional (Address thinking that interferes with happiness)

·         Recognize strengths and weaknesses.  Use virtues for greater good. 

·         Maintain schedule that allows for balance of work/school/self-care/social/mental health

·         Allow time for self-reflection and evaluation/meditation(being one with universe)/prayer/journaling/art

·         Practice assertive communication skills

·         Commit time to developing and maintaining healthy support system of people you can confide in and hug

·         Recognize and work on changing negative self-talk/negative thinking patterns

·         Work to maintain values in lifestyle

·         Work to build life worth living

·         Practice hobbies/activities that provide pleasure and relaxation to calm self-down

·         Create new good memories

·         Believe in your dream/hope and find purpose in life

·         Commit self to action to improve self and life

·         Develop faith

·         Dedicate time to express authentic gratitude(gratitude journal, support groups)

·         Work on forgiveness to keep brain cells healthy(chronic anger/resentment  increases cortisol)

·         Develop compassion

·         Know when it is time to “give up” on problem….don’t stick with something too long that isn’t good for you. Persistence can backfire at times. 

·         Practice flexibility vs. rigidity

·         Work on looking at self/body in objective/neutral way free from judgment

·         Work on body acceptance and maintenance

·         Resist urge to ask for compulsive reassurance and listen to self

·         Be on the watch for underlying diagnosis(Depression, PTSD, Anxiety, OCD, BDD) and address as needed

·         Learn signs of relapse

·         Understand triggers

·         Practice self-regulation, anger management, and time management

·         Develop crisis/safety plan