A halfway house in Florida can be an important step on your road to recovery by offering a safe place where you will be held accountable for your actions. A halfway house offers a structure you can use to learn self-discipline and skills that will serve you well through life, and this temporary living arrangement can be your key to a productive future.
Moving into a halfway house can seem intimidating and even a little frightening at first, but it helps to understand what you can expect. The following are some of the most important do’s and don’ts during your time in a halfway house.
Halfway House Do’s
You can make your time at a halfway house more productive and enjoyable by doing the following:
- Go to NA or AA meetings. There will likely be many meetings in or near the halfway house. Try to go to as many meetings as possible and make connections with people who have at least a couple years of sobriety.
- Stay on top of any chores or cleaning responsibilities that are yours. Not only is this a condition of your stay, it will also help you adapt to a new lifestyle and improve relations with other guests.
- Get a job. In most cases, finding employment is a condition of staying in a halfway house. This is also one of the best things you can do for yourself because finding a job will instill worth ethic and teach you responsibility and discipline. It will also keep you on schedule and fill your time to aid in your recovery.
Halfway House Don’ts
Every halfway house has rules, but the most important rule is to stay sober and avoid drugs and alcohol. Maintaining sobriety is essential to your own recovery and you will likely be kicked out of a halfway house for using drugs or drinking. Many halfway houses use random drug tests to help you stay accountable.
Don’t break curfew, if your halfway house has one. Having a curfew may be frustrating at first as an adult, but think of it as a way to stay accountable. A curfew can help you delegate your time as efficiently as possible. This is one of many rules in a halfway house that are designed to instill personal responsibility and help you learn life skills.
Finally, don’t try to hold secrets for other residents in the halfway house. While you probably don’t want to feel like a snitch, keeping a secret may put someone else in danger and you may put others at risk if you hide the fact that you know someone relapsed.
Ready for a good start in your recovery? Call (866) 963-7200