The Collegiate Recovery Program, offered through the Georgia Tech Counseling Center, provides a safe and welcoming community for students in recovery from substance use disorders. Recovery is about more than just abstaining from alcohol and other drugs; a strong recovery program requires a complete lifestyle change that improves physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The Collegiate Recovery Program offers holistic programming that helps students develop life skills that their addiction caused them to neglect. An important part of recovery is learning how to take time for self-care. In addiction, and in the stress of college, it is easy to make everything a priority except yourself. Self-care is not self-indulgent; making the time to take care of yourself while a college student can be difficult, but is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. When self-care is no longer neglected, it promotes a healthy relationship with yourself, a work/school life balance, stress management and better physical and mental health. The new year is an opportunity to make a commitment to self-care and achieve balance throughout the semester ahead. There are many self-care practices that are easy to implement into your daily routine. Physical self-care can be as simple as listening to your body and taking the time to exercise, eat healthy and get enough sleep. Self-care also goes beyond the physical and involves implementing practices that encourage emotional and psychological health. Emotional self-care practices start with practicing self-love. Using positive affirmations and enforcing boundaries allows you to learn how to say yes to yourself and your needs. Journaling, reading a book, turning off your cell phone and taking part in an activity you enjoy, are all practices that foster healthy wellbeing.

For more information visit, http://counseling.gatech.edu/content/collegiate-recovery-program or email Christina.owens@studentlife.gatech.edu