Taking time off for recovery is anything but unproductive. People who have never had to do a sizable amount of therapeutic work to better their lives mistake this time for a “vacation”. Luxurious amenities and treatments can be involved in one’s recovery plan. That doesn’t mean the work of recovery for any combination of diagnoses is easy. Recovery takes work and is hard work for the first six months to a year. Maintaining recovery takes work for a lifetime. During the course of one’s treatment they gain valuable lessons and tools for how to live in recovery, which apply to every area of their life, including getting back to work.
Productivity during treatment looks significantly different than productivity when returning to work. Though you may have assignments or “homework” as well as a schedule to follow, your income and subsequent livelihood are not dictated by your productivity. Before treatment, the symptoms of your diagnoses got in the way of your ability to be productive at work. Through a carefully curated treatment plan, the guidance of a case manager, and the accountability of monitoring services, you make a valiant return to work, ready to be productive.
Show Up On Time
Timeliness is accountability and the better way to start a work day. Chronic lateness tends not to go unnoticed by employers and eventually leads to some kind of consequence. Arriving to work on time sets the day up for success with no extra time behind schedule.
Schedule Recovery Time
Getting back to work quickly escalates to being in work mode more often than recovery mode. Professionals of a variety of industries find themselves needing recovery but also needing to be at work. Finding balance between work and recovery is essential for managing stress, a common trigger for relapse. Schedule time for meditation, mindfulness practices, and checking with a case manager, therapeutic recovery coach or therapeutic recovery companion, are important daily practices. Though it seems like these suggestions would take time away from work, they actually increase productivity. The more you are meeting your recovery needs, the more apt you will be to meet the needs of your employer.
Cut Distractions
There are times to focus on recovery and times to focus strictly on work. Entire sectors of research are dedicated to finding the best practices for productivity. The brain is not meant to multitask. Rather than be productive, it exhausts the brain overtime. Cut distractions by setting blocks of time specifically for focusing on tasks needed to be done.
Meditation
Meditation is proven to improve brain functions like memory, clarity, focus, and attention. To gain the benefits of meditation, you need no more than 5 minutes a day of practice. Meditation is also proven to reduce symptoms of stress, cravings, depression, anxiety, and more. With a clear mind, you’ll be your most productive and recovering self.
Let the O’Connor Professional Group take the guesswork out of putting a treatment plan together. Our combined personal and professional experience empowers us to empower you with a private consultation and customized plan of action for getting the help you need. Contact us today for information: 617 910-3940
