You can’t change what you did in the past. You can only focus on the here and now and what you have control over.
Starting the new year is always an exciting time for new beginnings. If you are one of those people going through addiction and are deciding whether to make this new start on the path of sobriety, you must understand this isn’t a one-time decision. You must set goals and plan realistic ways of achieving them. During recovery, you will feel stressed and discouraged if you find yourself not achieving the goals you set in the right timeframe. To overcome these roadblocks, here are five tips to help you achieve your New Year’s resolution to get sober.
Create Time for Yourself
Daily life can become overwhelming for anyone. Between work, family and errands, it can feel like you have no time for yourself. When you feel stressed and exhausted, it is easy to overlook any signs of progress you are making in your recovery. This discouragement may make it tempting to slip back into your old lifestyle.
Avoid these feelings by making time for yourself each day. During these times, reflect on the progress you have made and how that makes you feel. Be grateful for the good things you have in your life and the steps you are taking to make a better you. A few ways you can keep track of your progress and help you reflect are journaling, meditation and yoga. Whether you only have 10 minutes a day or can block out an hour, taking this time for yourself will help you press on in your recovery.
Take One Day at a Time
Making the decision to get sober isn’t a one-time decision. To make a lasting change in your life, you must commit to recovery each day. Focus on your sobriety every day instead of a month, a year or even your entire life. By focusing on your sobriety one day at a time, you can make your sobriety goal less daunting. Remember, sobriety is a choice you must make daily.
You can’t change what you did in the past. You can only focus on the here and now and what you have control over. Each morning when you wake up, reaffirm your decision to lead a sober lifestyle. As time passes you will be able to look back and see the progress you have made as the days start adding up.
Find a Support Group
People in the midst of addiction often find the people around them don’t understand the struggle they are going through. Finding a support group with people who have been where you are and are going through a similar situation is a great benefit in helping with recovery. Thousands of Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings take place each day across the country. In these meetings, you will find resources to help you with your recovery, people who know the struggle and a recovery method that has worked for thousands of people. Search around to find the right group for you and it will help you fight the everyday struggle that is addiction.
Find New Hobbies
Odds are that during your addiction many of your past hobbies and activities you used to enjoy have fallen to the wayside. One key aspect of recovery is figuring out how to spend your time and how you think about spending your free time.
Finding new hobbies also means ending relationships with people you used to associate with. Making new experiences helps boost your personal growth and adds fulfillment to your life. Now that you’re not using drugs and alcohol, you have the time to put into your passions. Pick up that guitar that has been collecting dust for years, try painting, photography or maybe even pickleball. Recovery becomes easier when you replace former bad habits with healthy ones. Getting out and experiencing new things also helps you connect with new people who support your lifestyle.
Forgive Yourself if You Backslide
The worst thing that can happen if you relapse is you let it break your spirit. A lapse in your recovery is not a reason to give up completely. Use these moments, if they occur, to learn and grow. Recognize your mistake, address it, forgive yourself and start the next day back on the road to recovery.
Getting through the holiday season is often difficult for people in addiction. Creating a plan for the new year will help you start off right and set a path to recovery. Understand that it is not going to be easy. Addiction is not a sprint. It is a marathon. If you follow these few simple steps, it can help you start and stay on that path. FBN
By Roy DuPrez
Roy DuPrez, M.Ed. is the CEO and founder of Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff. DuPrez received his B.S. and M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University. Back2Basics helps young men, ages 18 to 35, recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Back2Basics is an adventure recovery program, up to six months, for young adult males ages 18-30 with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. In our program, clients are exposed to a weekly combination of both wilderness adventures and residential programming. For more information, visit back2basicsoutdooradventures.com, call 928-814-2220 or email rduprez@b2badventures.com.
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