Can I Work or Go to School While Staying in a Sober Home?

If you are struggling with addiction, you are not alone. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.5 million people suffered from a substance use disorder in 2023.[1]

While completing an addiction treatment program is a huge accomplishment, it does not mean your recovery journey is over. Transitioning from an addiction treatment center to independent living can be tough, especially when you are experiencing new triggers in your everyday life. Thankfully, sober living programs can help you ease this transition by offering the support and tools necessary for long-term recovery.

You are probably looking to get back into working or attending school now that you are out of an addiction treatment program. While you might be hesitant to enter a sober living home for this reason, getting a job or furthering your education is actually encouraged. Additionally, your sober living home will provide you with the support you need to be successful once you go back to work or school.

In this article, you will learn:

  • Can you work or attend school during a sober living program?
  • How can you make working while staying in a sober home easier?
  • What tips can help you cope with balancing school while you are attending sober living?

Can You Work or Attend School During Sober Living?

Sober living facilities are drug and alcohol-free living environments designed to provide you with the extra support you need while transitioning out of addiction treatment. A house manager will live on-site to ensure you get the services you need and enforce house rules to keep the environment safe and running smoothly. You will also have weekly house meetings that keep you up to date on the things going on in the sober living house and your recovery community.

While sober living homes and halfway houses have rules like nightly curfews and random drug tests, you are allowed a certain amount of freedom that you didn’t have during treatment. For example, your days will not be filled with required therapy sessions or treatments, which means you’ll have to find ways to occupy your time as well as pay your rent. Working or attending school is highly encouraged for sober living home residents.

Even further, some sober living environments require you to have a job or attend school. New routines can be triggering for individuals in recovery, especially in high-stress environments like school or work. Because of this, it is best to begin a new job or go back to attending classes while you still have the support of a sober living program.

How to Work While Staying in a Sober Home

If you do not have a job waiting for you, you might need some assistance in finding a career path. Sober living homes can connect you with job opportunities and vocational training, making it easier to begin working in early recovery.

Once you have a job, you need to learn how to healthily manage stress. Some tips for managing the stress of a new job during sober living include:

  • Choosing a part-time job until you are ready for a full-time schedule
  • Picking a low-stress job for the first year of sobriety to avoid triggers
  • Scheduling time for yourself each day to engage in calming activities
  • Attending support groups and therapy regularly
  • Asking members of your sober living home for support and advice on starting a new job
  • Taking time to connect with loved ones or sober support friends
  • Developing healthy lifestyle changes like exercising regularly, eating healthy, and sticking to a sleep schedule

Living in a sober environment during the first few months of working will ensure you have support when you need it the most. If you experience triggers during work hours, you will be able to go home and receive advice and care from your roommates and house manager.

Tips for Staying in School While in Sober Living

If you are going back to college during sober living, you might need some tips and tricks to help you cope. The first thing you should consider is your course load. It is best if you take on a smaller course load at first to get used to attending classes, studying, and dealing with the stress of college.

Another thing to consider is whether you do in-person classes or online courses. In-person might make it easier to receive educational support and tutoring, while online courses are better if you are dealing with social anxiety or triggers associated with being around other college students.

Other tips for attending school during a sober living program include:

  • Maintaining attendance at support groups like 12-step meetings
  • Caring for your mental health with therapy and/or medication
  • Leaning on your support system when classes become stressful
  • Reaching out to your college support services like tutoring, academic workshops, and career planning
  • Scheduling time for yourself to engage in self-care or fun activities
  • Sticking to a healthy sleeping schedule, engaging in exercise, and eating healthy
  • Using positive coping mechanisms when you feel urges to abuse drugs or alcohol
  • Staying away from invites to college parties where drug and alcohol use is prevalent

It is completely possible to be successful in college while you are living in a sober home. Make sure to keep up with your recovery maintenance techniques and adjust your course load if classes become too stressful.

Get Connected to a Reputable Sober Home in Florida

If you or a loved one recently completed an addiction treatment program, you might want to consider attending sober living. Sober homes provide a drug and alcohol-free environment that offers the support you need to ease the transition from treatment to independent living.

Contact New You Sober Living today to learn more about how our sober home can help you maintain recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

References:

  1. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Highlights for the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
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