Staying sober after completing a treatment program can present unique challenges for teens and young adults. They must find ways to occupy their time as they learn to navigate the real world without depending on substances. Extracurricular activities provide the perfect opportunity for teens to use their time wisely while being introduced to new ideas. We’re going to explore the many benefits that extracurricular activities can bring and look at how teen treatment centers in Iowa, such as Ember Recovery, can help teens along their journey.
Benefits of Extracurricular Activities While Maintaining Sobriety
As teens look to carve out a new path that does not include substances, they will find that turning their time and attention to extracurricular activities can have many benefits. Here are some of the ways these activities can help young people maintain their sobriety:
Build Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem has been linked to a host of problems, including addiction.[1] When young people participate in extracurricular activities, they can build their self-esteem as they learn and master new skills. When they focus on a task, they can see they are worthy of accomplishing goals. This can bring feelings of pride, which allows them to build their self-esteem.
Make New Friends
Part of maintaining sobriety is disassociating with those who lead to your addiction. Extracurricular activities allow teens and young adults to meet new friends and form relationships that do not focus on substances. They can develop social skills to help them interact with those with similar interests centered around their latest activities.
Discover New Interests
Extracurricular activities allow young people to discover new interests. Perhaps they always wanted to try a new sport or learn how to play an instrument. Now is the perfect time to direct their time and energy to these latest endeavors.
Keep Active
Boredom is one of the leading factors that fuels substance use among teens.[2] By keeping them active, they can prevent themselves from becoming bored and looking to old habits to take up their time.
These activities can also help keep them physically moving. Choosing to walk, run, or take part in another type of exercise can help release feel-good endorphins, which can help young people stay motivated to abstain from using drugs and alcohol.
Develop Leadership Skills
Extracurricular activities can often lead to leadership opportunities. Teens can become team captains or take charge of a new club or other activity. This can teach them how to make decisions and lead others. While it may take them out of their comfort zone, they are learning skills they can use throughout their lives. As they develop their leadership skills, they can also gain the confidence that is so crucial while trying to maintain sobriety.
Build Resiliency
Extracurricular activities can help build resiliency among teens and young adults. As they try new things, they may learn to adjust their approach to success. This helps teach them how to persevere when the road gets tough without using substances. The resiliency skills they can learn through their activities will help them stay sober.
Engages Self-Trust
Many teens going through treatment programs must learn how to trust themselves again. Engaging in extracurricular activities teaches young people how to trust themselves as they make productive choices to improve their lives. Each step to living a fulfilling life helps young people realize they have what it takes to maintain sobriety.
Types of Extracurricular Activities
There are many extracurricular activities for young people to try as they maintain their sobriety. These include:
- Sports
- Cooking & Baking
- Dancing & Singing
- Playing an Instrument
- Drama
- Educational/Academic Clubs
- Arts & Crafts
- Volunteering
This is the perfect time to try something new as young people are getting a fresh start and adjusting to a sober lifestyle. The key is for young people to find an activity that interests them so that they can stay interested and engaged. If the activity is not enjoyable, teens may be tempted to focus their energy on a negative path.
Are You Looking for Teen Treatment Centers in Iowa? Ember Recovery is Here to Help
Ember Recovery is committed to helping teens who are looking to overcome their substance use disorders. We provide programs specifically for teens and young adults. We know they face unique challenges that require different approaches than programs geared towards adults. Each treatment plan is customized to suit each patient because everyone’s addiction is different, and their road to recovery needs to reflect that.
Contact Ember Recovery today to learn more about our treatment programs in Iowa for teens and young adults who want to live sober lives.
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905528/ [2] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7305a1.htm
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.