Have you ever wanted to explore life skills in recovery, but you didn’t know which ones to try? In this article, we will cover 35 life skills that you can learn more about. Think about your journey and how it will affect the rest of your life.
As you ponder these things, make sure to focus on what is most important to you or what you believe will be the most important thing to you in the future. That will give you a great starting point! Grow as you learn new things, and watch how much easier recovery can be with joy!
You can also think about what your life needs and how your new life skill will impact not just your recovery, but also your life in general. You might be shocked at where one life skill in recovery leads. Before you know it, you will be crossing more than one off your list!
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Life Skills in Recovery: Things to Learn During Recovery
Learn these life skills in recovery as you are recovering, because they will help you when you get out of whatever treatment facility you are at.
The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold. – Psalm 18:2-6
Social Skills
Social skills are imperative for any future. There are very few jobs out there that don’t require social skills. When learning life skills in recovery, make sure social skills are at the top of the list.
Accountability
Accountability is about taking responsibility for your actions. If you are unwilling to do this, you need to extend your stay in your rehab facility. It’s important to be humble and know where you’ve gone wrong in life. Then, your sponsor or other authoritative figure can help you.
Honesty
Honesty is a critical attribute to develop when in recovery. If you are not honest while in recovery, you will not be honest when you are recovered. Any type of recovery program does you no good if you are not honest with yourself and others.
Self-Control
Being able to control yourself is a very important thing to know how to do while in recovery. When you are out of recovery, you’ll need to be in control and able to say no to things that once were temptations and triggers.
Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. – 1 Corinthians 15:33
Motivation
While in recovery, things that are said or people who build you up should be remembered. Know what motivates you so that when you get out of recovery, you will be able to motivate yourself.
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is a life skill in recovery that makes you aware of your words, actions, thoughts, and everything in between. Do you purposefully hurt people, or do you aim to help them? Knowing how you act and where you stand in terms of your values will help a lot.
Interpersonal
Interpersonal skills include teamwork, listening, dependability, responsibility, flexibility, leadership, motivation, empathy, and patience.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything. – 1 Corinthians 6:12
Communication
Communication skills are important no matter what stage you are in in life. If you lean more toward being a conversation holder, maybe you need to practice listening more. Listening is a valuable skill that can put you at the top of your game!
Learning
Learning skills will be relevant regardless of whether you are in recovery or not. It’s critical to know how to listen and learn from bosses, teachers, pastors, or other authoritative figures.
Read: How to Take Sermon Notes (Free Printable)
Life Skills in Recovery: Things to Know After Recovery
Learn these life skills in recovery for when you get out of your treatment facility, so that you will be ready for real life.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
Employment Searching Skills
You will want to get a job after recovery. This means you need a resume (most likely), know how to fill out applications, and know how to create a cover letter.
Money Management
Dave Ramsey or the Budget Mom are great sources to go to for money management tips and advice. They are experts in this field and can offer help with budgeting, money management, and investments.
Home Maintenance
If you “let your home go,” you will likely drive yourself crazy. No one enjoys sorting through a big mess or having unpaid bills. Get an organized system so that you can pay bills on time and keep a decluttered, clean house.
The Ability to Keep a Job
Keeping a job is all about getting along with your co-workers, at least while you are on the job, doing what your boss tells you to do or expects you to do, and performing all tasks successfully and on time.
Nutrition and Cooking Skills
You will have to be able to nurture yourself with appropriate food and drinks. You will also have to remember not to have a beer with your steak or a rum and Coke when you are stressed.
“God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
Interview Skills
As you look for a new job or look to reapply at your old job now that you are sober, you will need to know proper interview skills, like how to maintain eye contact with the person who is interviewing you.
The Ability to Apply for a Job
When you apply for a new job, you often need to know how to create a resume and/or a cover letter. You’ll also want to know how to use job boards to search for a job in your field. There are people who can help you with these things, but if you can learn on your own, that’s better.
Stress Management
Stress management skills are imperative to learn as a life skill in recovery. When someone makes you angry, what will you do? If they push your buttons, how will you react? It might be smart to talk to a therapist or counselor if you struggle with anger issues.
The Ability to Ask for Help
While learning new life skills in recovery, it’s important to humble yourself and ask for help when you need it. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed. It’s okay to let others know you could really use a hand with something.
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for Thou art my Praise.” – Jeremiah 17:14
Life Skills in Recovery: Things to Remember in Sobriety
As you continue on your road to recovery, remember these life skills in recovery – things that you probably learned in your treatment facility.
Goal Setting
One of my favorite activities is setting goals. I won’t say that I always succeed in accomplishing them, but they are fun to dream up and imagine doing. We have many free goal-setting articles and printables, if you want to check them out.
Goal Setting Articles and Printables:
- How to Set Up Your Goals
- Goal Examples and a Free Worksheet
- Keep and Set Recovery Goals
- How to Set SMART Recovery Goals
Making Routines
Routines are very helpful when in recovery or out of recovery. You may want to make a list to remind yourself daily what needs to be done. You could also try a smartphone app.
Time Management
We are only given so much time on this planet. Are you using and planning to use your time wisely? Try a scheduler or planner to keep things very organized for you.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Patience
Patience is a necessary life skill, especially with the way people drive today and the amount of traffic in major cities. Learn about how to cultivate patience in general and how to build the amount of patience you have when in a relationship.
Anger Management
Anger management is very important. If you have not seen a specialist for your anger issues, you should do so at your earliest convenience. It’s important to keep this under control.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1
Life Skills in Recovery: Specific Things You May Need to Know
If you are a student, parent, or leader, you should learn these life skills in recovery.
Study Skills
Study skills include focus, discipline, dedication, time management, and other skills that will help you succeed as you study.
Parenting Skills
Parenting skills include emotional support, nurturing, communication, discipline, teaching, empathy, stress management, and patience – to name a few!
Do to others as you would have them do to you. – Luke 6:31
Leadership Skills
Leadership skills include building and maintaining relationships, emotional intelligence, communication, problem solving, integrity, and motivation – to name a few.
Life Skills in Recovery: Things to Understand for Your Life
This list of life skills in recovery contains additional things you should understand as you lead a life of recovery.
Problem Solving
Problem solving is what you probably guessed – solving problems. You can build this skill by doing crossword puzzles, solving logic problems, or joining a complicated group of some kind.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” – Ephesians 6:10
Decision Making
Decision-making is an area in which I don’t excel. I love the opinions of others, especially when the decision is emotional or complicated. If you are like me and want to build this skill, try a decision matrix (there’s even an app called T-Charts that lets you weigh pros and cons).
Building a Support Network
Having a strong support network is critical in recovery. You need a sponsor and accountability partners. They will offer support when you feel like you might slip up.
Humility
Humility in recovery will certainly help you succeed on your road to recovery. Humility is all about lowering yourself to others’ levels or elevating them so that the two of you are on the same level. Don’t look down on others. You don’t know their struggles.
Helping Others
There are many ways to help others, as mentioned in this article. It’s wise to reach out and put others first every now and then. Often, when we help others, we feel much better.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking makes your brain tingle. Think about doing a crossword puzzle or working on a difficult puzzle. If you really want to challenge your mind, consider flipping the puzzle upside down so that you only see the grey back.
Assertiveness
Assertiveness does not necessarily mean that you get to boss everyone around. If you are a parent, even with fur babies, you might need to be firm if they try to step into traffic to save their lives. However, an assertive person isn’t pompous; rather, they are confident.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness occurs when you let the past go, even for a moment, and stop worrying about the future. Instead, you take this time to just enjoy the moment.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
Cultivating New Interests
If you are able to find new things that interest you, that can be one of the greatest life skills in recovery that you will ever learn. Be flexible, not picky, when it comes to trying new things. Think about what you love the most and find enjoyable activities that will enhance that interest.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed our article on the life skills in recovery that you need to know. Our prayer is that they enrich your journey and make your recovery easier. Which will you start with? How do you think it will help you grow? Leave a comment!
Let your light shine before others. – Matthew 5:16
