Setting goals early in the recovery process is key.
When a person is in the early recovery stages of addiction, it is a transformative position for that person’s life. It is often filled with hope of what the future may bring. Uncertainties and the difficult aspects of making life-altering changes start to set in. Citing realistic goals during this period sets the person up for success as each goal, no matter how small, is an achievement that leads to the next, which eventually can lead to a lifetime of sobriety when taken seriously. Here are a few goals people in the early stages of recovery should set and a few ways they can achieve these goals.
Setting goals early in the recovery process is key. It gives the person an achievement to look forward to. Something to fight for. These don’t have to be difficult life-altering situations. It is better to set smaller goals and build up to larger achievements. Here are four attainable goals people in recovery should set when beginning the recovery process.
Rebuild Relationships
When it comes to rebuilding relationships, the person in recovery must understand they must take small steps. The other party may not always be receptive to apologies. Use actions and demonstrate commitment to sobriety. Over time, the steps the person takes will help once again gain trust to rebuild lost or damaged relationships.
Get a Job or Volunteer
Getting back in the job market is a great way to start. By obtaining a job, the person begins to learn responsibility and accountability once again. If it is difficult to obtain a job at the start, consider joining a volunteer movement within your community. Giving time to a cause is a great way to make connections, which may lead to a job in the future. Even if the person has a job, volunteering in their downtime is a great way to give back, stay active in the community and be accountable for their actions.
Reestablish Your Finances
Setting financial goals is another key aspect for those in recovery. For example, the person could set financial goals to obtain a place of their own or pay their bills or pay back those they may have stolen from. Getting financial responsibilities in place – like getting a job and paying for what needs to be paid for – is key for the future. It is more rewarding for the person when they can pay for their life themselves without help from family or others.
Focus on Physical Health
During addiction, many people lose a lot of their health, from losing weight to gaining weight, heart issues, stomach problems and much more. Speaking with agencies that can help get the person insurance can go a long way. It’s important to see a doctor and learn what damage has been done to the body because of the addiction and find ways to get healthy again. Many gyms offer inexpensive memberships. The YMCA is available for many people to hit the treadmill or lift weights to gain back body mass. As the person becomes healthy once again, their mind will become clearer and lead to other goals being achievable in the future.
Four Ways to Achieve Goals During Recovery
Attaining and achieving goals in the early recovery process is a difficult task. The person must be willing to fight through their addiction and be willing to want to change. However, help is available for those wanting to make a change who might feel overwhelmed by the process. Here are four steps those in recovery can take to achieve the goals they set at the beginning of the process to a healthier life.
Set Realistic Goals
The person in recovery must define what they want out of their life. They must be specific. They cannot choose wishy-washy styles of goals. These goals must be distinct and something that is achievable that the person can set outside of just being sober. Set terms for these goals, like: Reach back out to family within six months; Get a job in three months; Gain 40 pounds in eight months. Achieving these goals will go a long way as each is obtained because it shows through hard work that difficulties can be overcome and goals can be reached.
Create a Plan of Action
The first thing many people in recovery must do is create a plan of action by deciding what their goals are and how they can obtain them. They need to find people who can help, discard those old friends or acquaintances who can’t and move forward with life. They also need to find the resources that can help achieve goals through education, job market opportunities, volunteering or just speaking to family, for example. Creating a plan gives a guideline and a set of achievable goals the person is prepared for, no matter how difficult they may seem from the start.
Build a Support System
The person in recovery must create new friend groups. The people from the past obviously weren’t helpful so it is time to find new friends. It is never easy to find new friends as you get older, but you can find those who help you achieve healthy goals. Go to meetings. Join a gym. Volunteer. Find any group of people willing to help along the way. There are a lot of people out there who just want to help their neighbor.
Stay Accountable
The person in recovery must always have at least one person they can confide in. Finding this person early on in recovery process is key, as it gives them a safe spot to talk without being judged. Often in some recovery programs these people are called sponsors. It doesn’t have to be a sponsor, it can just be a friend or perhaps a cousin who has gone through the same situation. Just know that this person is there to listen and not judge but to give guidance and help when needed.
However, it goes both ways. The person in recovery must understand if they aren’t being truthful with this person, then there is no accountability at all. Find the person or group of people and be honest about life in recovery. Speak about the struggles, the difficulties and the achievements. These people will understand and help guide the person along a healthy path.
Early recovery is always the most difficult. It is a time of self-building, reconnection and understanding. By setting realistic goals and taking the steps to achieve them, the person can lead a happy, fulfilling life of sobriety. Always remember, these goals may not be for everyone. Each person has their own goal set. They must decide what is important to them and choose the right path to achieve that goal.
Don’t overlook the small wins. Every goal met, no matter how small, especially in the beginning of the process, is a victory. Over time, more goals will be set that are harder and difficult to obtain. By achieving the small goals, a person knows they are set up and ready to take on more challenges leading to a happier and healthier life for the future. 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.
Leave a Reply