The Power of Routine on the RISE Pathway
Before entering recovery, many people describe lives shaped by chaos.
One RISE resident explained that alcohol had taken over completely:
“Every day, at least a bottle of vodka, cans – that’s gone on for a couple of years… I couldn’t move out the house, or even walk down the road without a drink.”
Another described her life during active addiction in stark terms:
“I was sticking intravenously. I was smoking crack cocaine. I was smoking spice. Give me any drug and I’d take it.”
When people arrive at RISE, one of the first things they notice is its structure. Service-user, T, describes the impact clearly:
“It put a bit of structure into my life, a little bit of a routine.”
He later recalled a doctor telling him it was “life or death” if he continued drinking.
In our residential rehabilitation services, days follow a timetable. Residents attend interpersonal group therapy in the morning and workshops in the afternoon. Activities are scheduled, meals are shared, and expectations about attendance and behaviour are clear. On a typical day, structured activity can run from 9am through to 7pm.
As one resident put it:
“Everything is sorted for you so you don’t have to worry about anything. You can just focus on getting yourself better.”
For some, this consistency feels like safety. Another service user said of RISE:
“Even though you’re in a bubble, you’re safe and protected. It’s like being at home with an extended family.”
For others, the routine builds slowly. In the first few weeks, staff tailor expectations and ask individuals, “What feels manageable this week?”
Routine at RISE isn’t limited to timetables. Staff may ask residents to practise small changes – even something as simple as knocking before entering a room – to reinforce boundaries and slow impulsive habits.
Across different stories, the same words repeat: structure, routine, being busy. As residents progress, the structure of their days evolves to meet their changing needs.
After the 18-week residential programme, many move to Step Down. This 18-week service bridges rehab and independent living. Support remains available 24/7, but the intensity reduces as residents begin to shop, cook, manage money, and plan their time.
This intentional shift creates space for people to make their own decisions and build healthy routines. Staff compare their role to “stabilisers on a bike”, offering steady support while the person in recovery takes the lead.
At this stage, routine is no longer provided; it’s practised.
For service user K, consistently engaging with the programme was part of her progress. She attended timetabled workshops, group therapy, and one-to-one sessions, and later became a peer mentor.
The Friday morning Prehab group runs at 10.30am each week, offering a consistent first step into recovery. From daily timetables in RISE to increasing independence in Step Down, structure supports service users at every stage of the pathway.
Service users report many turning points in recovery. Yet, they consistently highlight routine.
As RISE team leader Natalie puts it, recovery is often found in “the quieter success”. The small, repeated actions that come from showing up daily help people move gradually from chaos to consistency.
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Need support?
Call our rehab service on 0151 474 0685 and find information about your local service here.
If you’re a friend or family member impacted by a loved one’s drug or alcohol issues, you can find help and support here.
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Here for you, wherever you’re at.