Self-Care isn't a Luxury: It's Vital

Let’s be honest: staying sober is no walk in the park. It’s a full-on 10,000 mile hike up the steepest, rockiest mountain you can imagine. Seriously, early recovery can feel like juggling flaming swords while walking a tightrope 30,000 feet in the air. But we’ve made it through the chaos of addiction and started the journey of sobriety, but now comes the hard part—actually living in recovery. And here’s the thing: it’s impossible to do that if we’re running on empty.

Early recovery is about learning to navigate a world without our trusty old go-to coping mechanisms, and that requires some serious self-love and introspection. But how do you stay on track when life feels like a whirlwind?

TWO WORDS: SELF-CARE AND REFLECTION.

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These aren’t just buzzwords—they’re lifelines. Whether it’s jotting down a gratitude list, checking in with how we’re feeling, or setting small goals, these little practices can transform our recovery. And I’ve got tools to make it easier: the Free Self-Care Checklist PDF download and the 90-Day Sobriety Tracker & Journal for the Bold & Brave. Ya, that was a plug ;-).

Recovery isn’t just about not drinking or using—it’s about building a life worth living. And that starts with the basics. We can’t climb Recovery Mountain if we’re running on fumes, skipping meals, and pretending “stillness” is something only yogis do.

When we first get sober, a lot of us don’t exactly have our act together. (Understatement of the year, right?) Brushing our teeth, eating an actual meal, drinking water instead of caffeinated sludge—it’s not that we don’t know we should do these things, it’s just that…well...we don’t. We’re so focused on staying sober, getting through the next minute, and wondering if we can ever untangle the mess we’ve made that basic self-care often takes a backseat.

But here’s the thing: self-care isn’t some fluffy, feel-good nonsense. It’s vital to our recovery and sanity.

Think about it: if we’re not eating, sleeping, or taking care of our basic needs, how are we supposed to show up for the hard stuff—like working the steps, showing up to meetings, or somehow facing life without our old crutch? We can’t pour from an empty cup, and let’s face it, most of us in early recovery don’t even know where the cup is.

When Self-Care Feels Like Bullshit Work

I remember the transformation. At first, taking care of myself felt like complete bullshit work. I mean, it’s just me—why bother making a nutritious meal for one? I’d get hungry, but by the time I found something I wanted to eat, I wasn’t hungry anymore. And the idea of the work involved—even if it was just making a sandwich—seemed like too much time and effort.

I’d go for days eating nothing but a few chips or a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream because that involved exactly zero effort. Even brushing my teeth some days seemed like a chore. Again, why bother?

But then a member of my recovery team got on my case about it. She didn’t sugarcoat it and gave me a serious reality check. Then she challenged me: do these basic self-care things for 30 days. She handed me a list, told me to follow it, and had me check in with her every week.

So, I broke down and did it.

At first, it felt pointless—like one more thing I had to do. But I stuck with it, even though I didn’t see how it would help me...at first. But by the end of those 30 days, something shifted. I felt better—not just physically, but about me. I started to feel like I was worth the work.

Then came the next challenge: bigger self-care tasks like journaling and spending time with healthy people. That’s when the real transformation really began to take hold. I went from feeling like I wasn’t worth the effort to believing I was worth ANY effort. I began to feel worthy. Not worthy for someone else—just worthy. Worthy of a good life. Worthy of real love. Worthy of having healthy people in my life and worthy of getting the toxic ones out. I was just as important as anyone else.

It was amazing!

Self-care gives us the energy, focus, and strength to tackle the emotional and spiritual work of addiction recovery. It’s not about being selfish; it’s about being functional. Because if we’re running on fumes, we’re not just shortchanging ourselves—we’re shortchanging our recovery, our relationships, and our future.

That’s why I created this Free Self-Care Checklist—because let’s be honest, sometimes we need things spelled out for us. (I’m looking at you, fellow overthinkers.) It's designed to help you hit pause and check in with you. With simple, actionable prompts, you’ll build a foundation of habits that strengthen both your body and mind. This checklist is full of small, doable actions that can actually make a big difference.

These aren’t groundbreaking ideas, I know, but that’s the point. Recovery is built on small, consistent actions, not grand gestures.

Here’s the deal: we’re not going to nail this every day. Some days, we’ll crush it. Other days, brushing our teeth will feel like climbing Mount Everest. That’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.

This checklist is here to remind you that even the smallest steps count. When we take care of ourselves, we’re not just surviving; we’re setting ourselves up to thrive—to live in the real world as people that are just as important as anyone else.

So, put yourself on your to-do list and grab the free Self-Care Checklist. Print it out, stick it on your fridge, and check off each box like the Recovery Rockstar you are.

Because here’s the truth: you deserve this. You deserve to feel good. You deserve to heal. And you deserve to build a life worth living. And it all starts with showing yourself a little love.

1 Thing I Love About Me

Part of self-care is learning to accept and love ourselves. For some of us, though, that shit is a hard pill to swallow. Let’s be real—sometimes, the hardest person to show love to is the one staring back at us in the mirror.

And before you go rolling your eyes at me thinking, “Oh great, more ‘positive affirmations’ crap,” let me stop you right there. I’m not about to sell you some rainbows-and-butterflies version of self-love. NO. Not only does that shit not work, it has be known to actually backfire on those who need it most. I know, I’ve been there. I tried the affirmation route and it actually blew up in my face! No joke—it had me spiraling further into self-loathing because I couldn’t believe the words I was saying to myself.

But here’s what does work: starting small. While we’re focusing on those simple self-care tasks—like eating something nourishing or brushing our teeth—we start to lift ourselves up, bit by bit. It’s like laying a foundation. Once that’s solid, we can come to a place where we can finally grab our bootstraps and start building.

And an essential part of building a solid foundation in recovery means acknowledging our strengths. I know, I know. Yes, we have to own our bullshit—no arguments there. But I always say that if you’re going to own your garbage (and we all should), you've got to own your beauty too. Not in an arrogant way, but in a healthy “Hey, I am valuable too” kind of way. That's why the powerful step four workbook includes three positive lists too. You can check it out here if you'd like.

So, how do we start learning to accept and love ourselves? By finding those little (or big) things about us that are lovable. Because oh yes—we all have aspects or characteristics that are so very lovable. Especially addicts!

Maybe it’s your unique sense of humor, your killer strength, or just the way your eyes sparkle in the right light. Maybe it’s something huge, like your ability to survive when life has thrown everything at you. Whatever it is, here’s your homework:

Each morning, take a second to identify just one thing you love about yourself and jot it down. In fact, why don't you keep a running list. It could be on the second page of the Free Self-Care PDF download, the notepad on your phone, or even an index card. And don’t overthink it; just let it flow, and make it a habit to look at it at least three times a day.

This is a powerful way to help build or rebuild our self-esteem and reinforce our self-worth. It’s such a simple practice but can create profound shifts on how we see ourselves over time. This simple little practice, that takes just seconds a day, it has the ability to:

Example Entries:
"I love that I’m learning to forgive myself."
"I love my ability to make people laugh."
"I love how strong I’ve been in staying sober today."
"I love my curiosity and willingness to try new things."

In addiction recovery, learning to love ourselves is a game-changer. That’s why this space is part of the self-care checklist download to celebrate YOU—each and every day and remind you that you are most certainly worth celebrating.

Download the checklist now and start taking care of the person who matters most—you.

Reflection: Your Secret to Progress

While self-care helps keeps us grounded, reflection can give us the map to move forward. The 90-Day Sobriety Tracker & Journal is a place to record our personal recovery journey and includes Daily Prompts, Weekly Mantras, Powerful Letters-to-Self, Goal Setting, and more. It’s not just a journal—it’s a space to connect with ourselves, celebrate our wins, and navigate our challenges with grace.

While the Self-Care Checklist is our daily tune-up, the 90-Day Sobriety Tracker & Journal is our deep-dive. Together, they’re a powerhouse duo that supports us through the ups and downs of our recovery.

So, download the Self-Care Checklist and checkout the 90-Day Sobriety Tracker & Journal for the Bold & Brave. Start giving yourself the care and attention you deserve—because your recovery isn’t just about staying sober. It’s about building a life that makes you excited to wake up every morning.